Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BIKER’S PILGRIMAGE WITH A DREAM RIDE
With the worst of Covid hopefully in the rear view mirror and summer on the horizon, many of us will be planning holidays abroad.
Motorbike fans looking for something a bit different can now once again consider tours that take in visits to a couple of iconic museums. For some, it would be akin to a motorcyclist’s pilgrimage.
As an added bonus, both are in one of the most beautiful parts of the world – northern Italy – and are a comfortable two days’ ride apart.
First up is the Moto Guzzi museum in Mandello del Lario, in Lombardy. The town, sitting on Lake Como, has been home to the famous marque since 1921 and the museum has just reopened following the pandemic and a complete renovation and redesign.
The extraordinary bike collection on show is now subdivided into three themed areas of production, racing and military models, all of them arranged in chronological order.
Some 160 examples have been carefully restored by Moto Guzzi staff.
From the GP – a one-of-a-kind model that actually dates to before the official foundation of the firm – to the latest models currently on the production line such as the V85 TT, a visit is a journey into the history of this extraordinary Italian brand.
Entrance is free and guided tours can be booked in advance via motoguzzi.com.
Meanwhile, 170 miles away on the main road via Milan, or a bit further if you want to take a more scenic route, is the Ducati museum.
Also just reopened, it’s in Bologna, midway between Florence and Venice.
A visit here includes not only the chance to view a superb collection of historic bikes, but also a tour of the factory itself to see the production process of the latest machines.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of British rider Paul Smart’s 1972 Imola 200 victory, the museum is temporarily hosting his
750 Imola bike. That famous win kick-started production for Moto Guzzi and cemented a long-lasting bond between Smart and the Borgo Panigale company.
Admission to the museum is about £15 and with the factory tour it’s around £30. Both need to be booked in advance at ducati.com.