beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
An Italian Gentleman named Francesco from the K1600 Forum is going to ride over to Florence to have lunch with us! https://www.k1600forum.com/forum/new-member-introductions/65121-k-italy-2.html
Tuscany by Scooter in 2014 with Edelweiss, Couples Tour.
- Thread starter beemerdons
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An Italian Gentleman named Francesco from the K1600 Forum is going to ride over to Florence to have lunch with us! https://www.k1600forum.com/forum/new-member-introductions/65121-k-italy-2.html
BackRoadBob
Well-known member
My niece lived in Florence for two years recently.
Here is her blog:
https://florenceforfree.wordpress.com/about/
And here is Florence for Free Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceForFree
Might have some good suggestions while you are there.
Safe travels...
Here is her blog:
https://florenceforfree.wordpress.com/about/
And here is Florence for Free Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceForFree
Might have some good suggestions while you are there.
Safe travels...
CopB8
Well-known member
Thank you!
Just 10 days away and I'm still trying to get my s**t together!
Just 10 days away and I'm still trying to get my s**t together!
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Ciao CopB8, just don't drink all of the vino and eat all of the pasta before we get there OK! jes' sayin' and nuff said, ese!
CopB8
Well-known member
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
Hey Don, I'm not sure I can round up a posse to hook up with you in Venice. My riding pardners get twitchy on freeways—and I can't blame them. OTOH, riding to Venice on regular roads is a massive PITA.
But I have tentatively booked a room for me at your hotel and I'll join you there. I may drive over or even take a fast train. Either way, I'll bring wine so we can celebrate in style and regret it the next morning, when we visit Venice on wobbly legs....
What time do you expect to arrive at your Venice hotel? How many signorinas should I show up with?
Hahaha...just kidding. I know y'all are traveling with wives in tow (and my own will execute me without due process for even thinking that)
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Hi Stef, we arrive at Venezia Santa Lucia Station at 1300 on Saturday, October 4. We then take the train up to Quatro d'Altino, rail schedule shows that trip as 30 minutes.Hey Don, I'm not sure I can round up a posse to hook up with you in Venice. My riding pardners get twitchy on freeways—and I can't blame them. OTOH, riding to Venice on regular roads is a massive PITA.
But I have tentatively booked a room for me at your hotel and I'll join you there. I may drive over or even take a fast train. Either way, I'll bring wine so we can celebrate in style and regret it the next morning, when we visit Venice on wobbly legs....
What time do you expect to arrive at your Venice hotel? How many signorinas should I show up with?
Hahaha...just kidding. I know y'all are traveling with wives in tow (and my own will execute me without due process for even thinking that)
We're also traveling 1st Class on the Fast Train, we plan on getting good and drunk on the complimentary Vino! LOVE ITALIA, can't wait to get to Land of Wine and Roses!
Itinerary for Mr Don Stanley
Sat, October 04 2014
10:55 AMFirenze S M N
1:00 PMVenezia S Lucia
2hr5min
Italo9982Venice, Italy
Wed, October 08 2014
10:07 AMVenezia Mestre
1:50 PMRoma Ostiense
3hr43min
Italo9983
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CopB8
Well-known member
We'll be at Venezia Santa Lucia in a week. Also traveling first class on the high speed train. Didn't realize we'd be drinking for free. What a great surprise!
CopB8
Well-known member
Sitting at JFK right now waiting to board our flight to Milano. Whoohoo! Finally all the planning is starting to happen.
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
Great! You'll love that train. But the only way to get hammered on board is to BYOB. Their cups are too small and they won't leave you the bottle...
If I make it to Venice, you won't have to worry about the wine. I'll bring enough for a memorable garden party
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Excited about riding the Italian High Speed Trains!
BigOgre
Well-known member
I'm sure you're well aware Don but in case others aren't, I'd be wary of any "well meaning" folks willing to help out at those ticket kiosks or around any other places in the stations for that matter.
Looking forward to seeing photos.
Looking forward to seeing photos.
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CopB8
Well-known member
we took the train from Florence to Siena but I was disappointed because it only hit 299 and we didn't hit 300. Man, I LOVE the European train systems.
CopB8
Well-known member
We had reserved a BMW R1200RT LC but when we went to pick it up they only had a GS1200LC because of the recall. Actually really like this bike. Rides lighter than it looks. Already went off the beaten path and rode it down the dirt roads right amongst the grape vines. Now I'm thrilled we got it instead. BTW, roads thru Tuscany are beautiful and fun. And Italy's acceptance of motorbikes passing anywhere is super handy!
teerex51
The Italian Scallion
Hi Bart, when I wrote you I may have forgotten to mention that not only do you get to pass almost anywhere but you definitely have a right to the pole position at stop lights. Always.
You come to a stop light where there are—say—four rows of cars ahead of you, you nimbly pass them on the white line and position yourself in front of them, or just at their side if the front row has already been taken by a swarm of pesky scooters.
The hard part—of course—is to unlearn all this when you return stateside...
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bgross
Recusant Infidel
Living and riding in SoCal, one doesn't really need to 'unlearn' so much as 'modify'.
Drivers here are not nearly as aware and accepting of scooters as in Europe, but at least we can legally share lanes & try to educate.
But the scenery and culture don't hold a candle...
Bon Voyage!
Drivers here are not nearly as aware and accepting of scooters as in Europe, but at least we can legally share lanes & try to educate.
But the scenery and culture don't hold a candle...
Bon Voyage!
CopB8
Well-known member
Just back from an AWESOME trip in Italy! I'll fill in more details after I catch up with everything else. The absolute highlight though was the days we spent touring in Tuscany on the GS1200. Great bike (couldn't live with the jugs hanging out the side though). Thank you to all of you here who contributed and helped me plan my trip. If anyone's interested I'll post my riding itinerary here for future reference.
One thing struck me while I was riding around there though. BeemerDonS, your doing a scooter tour, correct? Two up per scooter? From what I've seen and read on this forum you're a pretty big guy like myself. We passed several convoys of scooter tours as we wormed our way around the countryside and boy, were they S...L...O..W! I think I'd be terrified poking up some of those steep hills, around blind corners on those things. It'll be interesting to hear back from you and your perspective since your coming from some high powered motorcycles to these more 'liesurely' scooters.
Good luck. I pray you have the same amazing weather we had. You're going to have a great time!
One thing struck me while I was riding around there though. BeemerDonS, your doing a scooter tour, correct? Two up per scooter? From what I've seen and read on this forum you're a pretty big guy like myself. We passed several convoys of scooter tours as we wormed our way around the countryside and boy, were they S...L...O..W! I think I'd be terrified poking up some of those steep hills, around blind corners on those things. It'll be interesting to hear back from you and your perspective since your coming from some high powered motorcycles to these more 'liesurely' scooters.
Good luck. I pray you have the same amazing weather we had. You're going to have a great time!
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
CopB8, I first rode the hills of Tuscany two up in 1969 on my 1966 BMW R60/2 which had only 30 horsepower and weighed 450 lbs.! Miss Donna and I are riding an Aprilia Scarabeo 500 with nine more ponies and it weighs 100 lbs. less! The Beemer was just fine in 69 and I am sure the Aprilia 500 will serve us well on this trip also. Ciao!
"The Aprilia Scarabeo 500 is a modern scooter wrapped in a classic skin. Talking about style, the Aprilia Scarabeo 500 ie features a pretty retro front end with a round headlight and vertically mounted turn signals. You also get a small, adjustable windscreen and a fat front fender. In terms of ergonomics the Aprilia Scarabeo 500 ie is fitted with a pretty comfortable seat, a modern handlebar and spacious foot rests.
The scooter is propelled by a liquid cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, single overhead cam (SOHC) engine with a total displacement of 460 cc. Fire up the engine and you’ll be rewarded with a maximum output of 29 kW (39 HP) at 7,500 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm which is pretty impressive for a scooter."
"The Aprilia Scarabeo 500 is a modern scooter wrapped in a classic skin. Talking about style, the Aprilia Scarabeo 500 ie features a pretty retro front end with a round headlight and vertically mounted turn signals. You also get a small, adjustable windscreen and a fat front fender. In terms of ergonomics the Aprilia Scarabeo 500 ie is fitted with a pretty comfortable seat, a modern handlebar and spacious foot rests.
The scooter is propelled by a liquid cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, single overhead cam (SOHC) engine with a total displacement of 460 cc. Fire up the engine and you’ll be rewarded with a maximum output of 29 kW (39 HP) at 7,500 rpm and 43 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm which is pretty impressive for a scooter."
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CopB8
Well-known member
So that's a pic of the scooter you'll be using? With 500cc I'm sure it'll be more than ample. It seemed the ones we saw were tiny little things. One couple in particular were ascending a pretty steep hill and the going was so slow they were almost weaving going up the hill. I thought, hell I'd think I'd rather walk than tightrope that thing all the up the hill.
How many miles will you trip be on the scooter? We covered about 450 miles during our 4 day trip.
How many miles will you trip be on the scooter? We covered about 450 miles during our 4 day trip.
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
470 miles per the organized tour, but since this is a Custom Tour I arranged through Edelweiss Bike Travel we should be riding an extra 100 miles or so.
Rest of the riders, such as Dr. Rich and his lovely wife Susan, are riding Vespa 300's solo, since I set up the tour Karin Gritsch provided me with the big scoot!
AT A GLANCE START/FINISH:
Florence
NEAREST AIRPORT: Florence DURATION:
7 days vacation, 5 riding days
ROUTE:
Total distance 470 miles (750 km). Daily rides 100 - 160 miles (150 - 250 km). The entire route runs on good asphalt roads.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
A comfortable middle-class hotel.
REST DAYS: At any time – it’s up to you. HIGHLIGHTS:
Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Arezzo, Fiesole, Pisa, Chianti, Mugello
Rest of the riders, such as Dr. Rich and his lovely wife Susan, are riding Vespa 300's solo, since I set up the tour Karin Gritsch provided me with the big scoot!
AT A GLANCE START/FINISH:
Florence
NEAREST AIRPORT: Florence DURATION:
7 days vacation, 5 riding days
ROUTE:
Total distance 470 miles (750 km). Daily rides 100 - 160 miles (150 - 250 km). The entire route runs on good asphalt roads.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
A comfortable middle-class hotel.
REST DAYS: At any time – it’s up to you. HIGHLIGHTS:
Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Arezzo, Fiesole, Pisa, Chianti, Mugello
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