Motorcycle paradise in Tuscany | financial times

Have you ever imagined traveling half a century in a two-wheeled time machine? If so, head to San Marino, which is set to become a motorcycling mecca for lovers of classic bikes thanks to a carpenter who lives near the foot of Mount Titano.

In a former stable, Pietro Casadio Pirazzoli has amassed a vast collection of classic 1970s bikes, from Italian thoroughbreds like Moto Guzzi’s long, lean 850 Le Mans, to Japan’s innovative Honda CB750 Four. In between are Nortons, Ducatis, Benellis, Kawasakis, BMWs, Moto-Morinis, and Yamahas, all housed within walls adorned with vintage motorcycle advertisements, garage memorabilia, and vintage riding gear. It is what Casadio Pirazzoli calls “the clubhouse”, and is the official headquarters of a recently launched company called walk 70 which aims to offer motorcyclists the chance to experience these chrome-rich classics on some of the most beautiful roads Italy has to offer.

“I grew up in the city of Imola, which is more famous for its racing circuit,” he says. “My grandfather took me to the 200-mile motorcycle race there in the early 1970s, and I was immediately hooked on the smell of fuel and oil and the sights, sounds and colors of motorcycles.” He was soon riding his motorbike to school, riding the streets of Imola and spending Sundays with friends walking up and down the mountain passes of tuscany and Emilia-Romagna.

In his early 30s, Pirazzoli was driving the latest plastic-coated race replicas capable of over 150mph. And then he became a father. “Until that point, I just wanted faster and faster sportbikes, but I had bigger responsibilities and had also grown tired of the modern motorcycle manufacturers’ race to make ever more powerful machines.” He switched to the classics and bought his first, a 1971 Honda CB500 in caramel gold, in the early 2000s.

I was hooked by the smell of fuel and the sights and sounds of motorcycles.

Using the money earned through his artisan carpentry work, he gradually built an impressive collection and eventually decided to turn it into a business. “Classic bikes from the ’70s have developed quite a following due to their retro looks and slower pace,” she says. “But they have become expensive to buy and restore, they need proper maintenance and, most importantly, regular mounting. Many people simply don’t have time for all of that, so Ride 70s gives them the opportunity to experience adventures on a classic superbike without having to own one.”

The first relaunched Ride 70s tour took place in late spring of this year, and as a lifelong fan of classic bikes, I didn’t need to be asked twice if I wanted to take part. As it was the inaugural event, Casadio Pirazzoli and his colleagues were on as steep a learning curve as some of the entrants, not all of whom were familiar with the quirks and foibles that often go hand-in-hand with classic bikes. These include gear shift paddles on the right instead of the left (as is the modern way); starter engines that require not only a Herculean leg, but also a basic understanding of the four-stroke combustion cycle; engines that are slower to respond and relatively less powerful than contemporaries, and brakes that often require a degree of “planning ahead.”

I rode a 1974 Moto Guzzi 750S and fell in love with its long stride and trot as we weaved our way east to west through the velvety green fields of Tuscany, rumbled between canyon walls and through avenues of tall cypress trees.

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The party of 12 strong was an intriguing group, with fascinating stories. Norwegian cycling champion Svein Langholm, for example, told us about his remarkable childhood, living alone in Oslo during his teens after his father moved to East Africa to found a Swahili-language newspaper. Mike Federer, owner of a Zurich-based bathroom company, described how he and his parents were forced to flee Vancouver in the 1960s for fear of the Canadian mob. New Yorker Kerry Sano spoke of a decade trying to gain acceptance as a lone mechanic in the world of Nascar racing before setting up her specialty Ducati repair shop and founding the cult cafe in Brooklyn. Tar pit.

The four day trip took us across the width of Tuscany from the Ride 70s HQ ​​to Montalcino, to the island of Giglio and back via Montepulciano. Our first night on the road was spent in Hotel dei Capitani in Montalcino, a charming old building with panoramic views of two valleys to the rear; on his return he spent the night in a small palazzo in Montepulciano with fabulous painted ceilings and moldings, which the owners were gradually renovating. But the highlight was Giglio at night two We ascended the steel ramp to a slow ferry and sunbathed on deck during the hour-long journey. Upon arrival, we were led along the island’s scenic coastal road to the remarkable Strulli Vineyard, a family-owned business clinging to a hillside that slopes steeply down to the sea. This was our place for an al fresco lunch, courtesy of the owners who had prepared a barbecue using only produce from the island. After taking the bikes on a post-prandial tour, it was time to check into the adjoining villas where the entire group was staying and enjoy a large communal dinner under the instructions of Ride 70s co-organizer and photographer Fabio Affuso.

Originally from Naples, he quickly sniffed out the island’s fish market, bought copious amounts of shellfish, and with the help of his many sous chefs, turned them into the best (and probably biggest) spaghetti vongole any of us have ever tasted. .

Returning to the mainland, the next day, the trip was interrupted after 100 miles with a visit to the hot springs of Bagni San Filippowhere the warm, sulphurous waters helped soothe some of the pain caused by three days in the saddle.

The ride was proof that there really is no such thing as a so-called “typical biker”. Cassie Bennitt, executive producer of the Netflix series Formula 1: drive to survivesummed it up best: “I was in dire need of a vacation, I love adventures and I love vintage motorcycles, so when I heard it was possible to hang out with some like-minded people and ride bikes through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, I signed up immediately.

“Being on any bike gives amazing freedom and makes it possible to see bits of a country that you’d probably miss in a car, but it’s enhanced by being in a classic. You slow down, you assimilate more. You come to love the bike.”

Upcoming Ride 70s tours include “Force of Nature”, July 12-17, six days from €1,650; Ride 70s x Casa Etronia II, from July 27 to 31, five days from €1,450; and “Forgotten Peaks”, from August 6 to 13, eight days from €2,450. paseo70s.it