Newbie from Italy!

[LuigiR65]

Hi everyone! My name is Luigi, I'm 42, I live in Rome, Italy.
I'm the lucky owner of an '82 black R65, that I got in febrary 2004.
I'm so happy to have found this community!!
Luigi

[Ed Miller]

Welcome aboard!  Nice looking bike, though I have to admit I'm partial to black.  

Did that bike come with dual disks up front?  I know they did in '81 but thought that starting in '82 they only had dual disks on the LS models.  

What's it like riding in Rome?  

[LuigiR65]

Hi Ed! Thanks for "Welcome"! I 'm the third owner, (the first one purchased july 7th 1982) I thought that the double brake was normal for that period in Italian market, but I really don't know if it was an optional or not.

I love the black for R65. I had in the past an R45 that was white. This one is really a good bike (engine, gearbox, everythings works welletc..), only the fairings are not at a good level but I don't think i'm gonna to restore it!
 
Rome is a beautifull city for riding a bike! You must only be carefull of the traffic and look the others to avoid problems...but...is beautifull to ride my bike seeing al the ancient beauty!!

Pardon for my english!

Luigi

[suecanada]

Welcome Luigi. Your English is really good! You ought to hear my Italian......it is non existent!
Your R65 is looking quite traditional in black and white pinstripe.

[Danie]

Hi Luigi
Don't worry too much about your English - my first languge is not English either, and I do make a lot of mistakes !

By the way, I visited your country during November 2003 - a few colleages at work, and myself, visited the international machinery / manufacturers exhibition in Bologne - and I really like Italy !

We also visited Venice, as well as Milan (we travelled by train from Bologne to Venice, and also by train from Venice to Milan)

Being very interested in history, as well as historic buildings myself, surely Venice must be one of the most interesting places on this planet !

In Bologne I saw hundreds of scooters, and I spoke to three scooter owners - all three were students. I suppose Bologne accomodates many of the students in your country?

During our visit we appreciated Italian   "La nostra esperienza al Vostro servizio" !

[LuigiR65]

Hi Danie,

Venice is unique in the world! In no other place you could find such a concentration of historic buildings. The 90% of them came directly from 16th century. The sea canals instead of street, the “gondolas” instead of cars, the people that goes by  walk from a place to another…the atmosphere you can breath is…amazing!

I’ve been in Venice 4 times in my life. The last one was with my wife and my kids. Especially they were surprised to see this beautiful place!

Bologna has an important university, one of the oldest of the country. Young people from all over the country goes there to study. Is a very “human size” city, people spend the most of time outside, in the street, in the coffee, in the “piazza”…The average age is lower than in other place in the country.

You should come back and visit Firenze and Roma (the place were I live). You couldn’t miss them! Every one of them is different from the other, Milano, Venezia, Bologna, Firenze, Roma, everyone has his properly character, habits, history, weather…

Luigi

[Danie]

Luigi
When we visited Venice, I was a bit sad because my wife could not join the trip - to share my exitement about  this amazing place. So I promised her afterwards that I will definately take her there , possibly during one of the future summer festivals.

I would definately like to visit Rome , and other places as well,  and I do agree - the places we visited were completely different from each other .

I really enjoyed my "Italian experience" - doing things the "Italian way" - talking to the friendly people of Italy.........listening to my favourite music (Vivaldi, Andea Brochelli, Luciano Pavarotti)........too many other things to mention !

Beleive me, I will come back !

Danie

[nhmaf]

I've been to Italy several times in the past 7 years, but it was always associated with work, so I never had much of an opportunity to
do any sight-seeing.   All that I experienced of Rome was the airport while waiting for connections.  I did get to see some of the areas
around Bologna and Milano as I was working with several industrial customers there.   One customer was even just 2 km from the Ducati motorcycle
factory and I had tried to make a reservation for a tour, but my boss had other plans..  $%^&#@ !  I never did get a chance to go to see
Venice or Florence - someday my wife and I hope to make a trip for own pleasure and see the beautiful things your country has to offer.

I do know one thing - some of the best food I have ever tasted (and also some of the oddest) came while I was visiting Italy !
 

[Danie]

I must admit - the other members of our group often dit not know where I was  when we visited Italy..........so by times I was not very popular.........    :-/

[not-so-fast-ed]

Welcome aboard Luigi!
Nice looking R65.  You've had a chance to enjoy yours far longer than I have mine.  After many years I finally returned to motorcycling in December.   Mine is GREAT!  Having a ball, although I have much to relearn.  
In a rare flash of sanity I completed a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course last month.  In our area of the country, and probably most of the states, there is no requirement for formal motorcycle training in order to receive a motorcycle drivers license.  We do have to pass both a written and riding exam however, that can be self taught by reading a manual and practicing.
I had no problem with the written portion and rode for a few weeks before an opening came up in a local class.  Best idea I've had in years.
Like many of the members mentioned above, I too spent a wonderful (though short) visit to Italy.  I vacationed in Cesenatico (near Rimini) about the time you were born.  
I visited San Marino and Firenze during my week there and had the time of my life.
Although both my children have been able to visit your country in the past few years, I haven't been able to do more than wish I could return.
Driving there in a Volkswagen was an experience.  I'm not sure my current motorcycle skills would be up to the task of riding there today.   :-/