ITALIAN TRAVEL HERO

Long distance travellers are two-a-penny at British bike shows. Even manufacturers put up with dirt on their stands to show how rugged their new adventurer is. But here in Italy, Davide Biga’s Super Ténéré stands out. ‘It’s actually pretty clean right now – my sponsors made me wash it. But look at my downpipes. They’re still dirty,’ he says proudly. ‘I like the crazy English guy style of adventure. But not many Italians have the passion. It’s much easier to stay at home and watch Motogp on the sofa. I’m different. This bike has done 220,000km around the world. Minus ten degrees in Norway, and plus 51 in Death Valley. Through this, the engine has been completely rock solid.’ His screen is a very opaque carbon-fibre. ‘I like it, so I put it on. I cannot see. I ride slowly.’