An adventure on the road to the borders of Europe: Gabriele and the dream of Capo Nord on bike
Travel stories is the Mistral Special Parts section dedicated to the incredible on-the-road stories of our customers. Every motorcycle trip is a unique adventure, made of endless roads, breathtaking views and unforgettable moments. Today we take you with us in Gabriele experience, that with his bike has explored extraordinary places, reaching to North Cape.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you started to travel by motorcycle. How long ago?
I first started traveling with fantasy in 1974, and then in 1979 with my first Vespa 50. Over the years I have tried all kinds of bikes from Cross to Trial, from old regularity to enduro. Now only road bikes, just all terrain.
Which bike are your riding today?
My first Moto Guzzi was the new V35 Imola bought in 1983 at the age of 18. In 2005 I returned to Moto Guzzi with a Breva 1100. Today I have a V7 850 Special Edition, from 2023, a beautiful Griso 1200 V8 SE of 2017 and then my favorite and tireless, a 5-star travel cruiser: Audace 1400 of 2016.
Your first motorcycle trip?
With my Moto Guzzi V35 Imola, I made a tour of the beautiful Sardinia.
How do you prepare your bike before a trip? How do you choose the right equipment?
Maybe the most difficult thing is just the preparation, sometimes you take away so much useless stuff that then you do not use. But I leave nothing to chance and I have never been a fool, I always do load tests and road tests before departure.
Can you describe a memorable journey you made? Is there any particular moment that you remember with affection or that left an indelible mark?
Nordkapp, North Cape. It’s a trip I made alone in July 2024. A trip of 24 days, including 17 days with lots of water, wind and a minimum temperature of 4 degrees. But it was amazing… I would do it again! It left a deep mark and many emotions.
Are there things you would like to know before you started travelling? Which piece of advice do you like to share?
Unfortunately the pieces of advice that I received many times were wrong, and the results are on my skin. Today, online there are many specialized sites that give good ideas, which I recommend to consult. But we are not all the same and my suggestion is to evaluate well your own needs.
What are your next projects or dreams related to motorcycle trips?
At the moment I have no big projects, I’m still getting rid of the Nordkapp “hangover”. This year only tours in our magnificent country, Italy. Everything is still to be planned… except my stop Mandello, in September we will be there!
At the end of the trip, Gabriele stopped by in Mistral and wanted to forever engrave the memory of his journey to North Cape. The famous “North Cape Globe” is now engraved on the Exclusive exhaust of his V7 850 Special Edition, the iconic sculpture that marked the arrival point for him and many other riders of an unforgettable journey.
Thanks to Gabriele for sharing his passion and extraordinary travel stories with us. His experiences remind us how the road can be an incredible source of discovery, freedom and emotion. Every motorcycle trip leaves indelible memories and teaches something new, enriching those who live it. Keep following us for more Travel Stories and be inspired by those who, like you, love to explore the world on two wheels.
