All,
On Admiral's suggestion, here's a brief (really...??!!) write-up about myself:
I'm from Italy. My hometown is Rosta, near Turin, N-W of Italy. I work for a British company and currently I'm located in India, running and expanding a small production unit.
I've always loved Harley Davidson: in fact, when I was a kid, I used to fix with a cloth pin an old postcard to the rear of my push-bike, in order to try to replicate the "thump-thump", as the spokes of the wheel would spin around. I've always rode bikes, starting with small 50cc mopeds all the way up to a BMW R90 D6. In between I had a Montesa Cota, a Fantic Motor 301 (a trial bike), a Yamaha 600 XT, a Honda Shadow C2 750.
In 2000 I finally bought (with my wife Silvia's full support!!) my first HD: a Fat Boy. This was the last model allowed to be sold in Italy with a Carburettor: I'm really glad about it!. In 2003 I bought a centenary V-Rod. I still have both these bikes and occasionally enjoy riding them, especially the Fat Boy!
In 2005 I bought an Ultra Classic (the last year in Italy, with the 1440 cc/88 ci engine) but after the rear tyre (with only 4000 km/2500 mi on it), burst on my way back from Ireland, I kind of felt betrayed by her and so, in 2007, I decided to give her in for a FLHTCUSE2.
I'm really pleased with my new beauty, although I've already had my share of problems: in August 2008 (with only 7000 km/4300 mi on it), I received a recall letter from HD claiming that they would replace the heads of my CVO. Pity that I was on a tour with my wife, to the south of Italy (I had already clocked about 1500km/930mi), when a massive white cloud of smoke came out of my left exhaust: the valve guides had slipped out of their seats and oil was pouring into the cylinder. To make a long story short, it took me 4 months to get my bike repaired in warranty and I had to call HD USA personally (on 26 November 2008, just before Thanksgiving!!), in order to get the missing heads shipped to Italy. Finally, when I came home for Christmas, I had my beauty restored to Factory conditions. I have to re-run it in, because my HD dealer replaced cylinders, pistons, rings as well.
Unfortunately it is freezing and snowing over here, but still, I manage to go out for brief trips. The only thing is that I have to rinse her up every-time, due to salt spray from the roads... But it's worth it!!
I am planning to ship my CVO to the US of A in Summer 2010, in occasion of the graduation of my son (he's studying at Gettysburg College) and ride with my wife in the US for 30-40 days.
That's all for the moment.
Ride Safe and Enjoy,
Daniele (Geppo63)
Author
Topic: Hi from Italy (Read 5922 times)