Text/photo: OAI
Italian motorcycles have an X-factor few others have – you have to experience to understand
The Italians, led by Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Aprilia, have something the others don’t, and they each offer in their own way unique experiences and riding pleasure that hits some of us with cruel precision – right in the heart. With passion comes demands and expectations that those who support us possess experience and knowledge – especially on the technical side where a little more insight and expertise is required than that required by mass-produced products.
Guzzists, for example, are often highly competent and passionate mechanics who know exactly what they expect, and the customer group should therefore in no way be underestimated. They often build great self-produced editions as shown below. This one was built by Sturla Gundersen from Ulefoss in Telemark and is completely unique.
Among the Guzzis we also find passionate drivers who simply take care of Guzzis from the 1970s and one of the country’s largest sidecar communities. These communities are often completely self-sufficient, they often make parts themselves and sell spare parts from private emergency stocks for the benefit of everyone in the community. There isn’t one thing you can’t ask these communities. They possess a great deal of knowledge.
The Motorcenter has managed to build up a solid environment around Aprilia and Moto Guzzi in a very short time. The trio of Erik Grøndahl, Charlotte Anderson and Markus Karlsen (the latter referred to as the Moroccan carpet salesman) have managed to build the commercial and technical capacities that we really need in this part of the Italian environment. Without expertise and experience, we don’t get very far and customers quickly become dissatisfied. Motorcenteret, which is also big on Honda and Vespa and has so much experience that you, for your own risk, can hardly or should go outside this environment if you are in buying mode. Erik and Markus are old-timers in the industry and Charlotte, who has resumed her own driving career, both sells and keeps the team at Rud in order.
Unfortunately, we don’t have many female salespeople in the motorcycle industry, which is why it’s extra nice that they’re finding their way back to an interest in motorcycles and the joy of riding, as Charlotte has done.
The Italian part of the motorcycle market and environment is by no means the largest, but it is growing. More and more people are being charmed by the Italians, who have this “something” that the other brands don’t have. It’s not easy to put my finger on what this “something” actually represents, but I’m starting to want to research it. The fascination and ownership of this interest group appears to be something significantly different from what we find in groups that run other brands from larger and serial productions. It is therefore quite interesting to find out if there is a common explanation as to why these bikes evoke such strong emotions and loyalty. Personally, I’m not that loyal, but I love Italian motorcycles and keep coming back to Moto Guzzi.
With Erik Grøndahl and the Moroccan teepee salesman at the helm, a solid, competent and capable Italian community has been built up in Bærum. Ducati has similar environments in Fredrikstad and Holmestrand, but it would also be nice to have a solid Ducati environment in Oslo.
“We’re very pleased that Erik Grøndahl and his team have built up a solid Italian community and are happy to help more people open their eyes to Italian motorcycles. We follow the Italians closely and regularly have very good riding experiences with these brands that more and more people are discovering.
The Guzzistas have their own club that works very actively to safeguard the interests of its members. The club even has its own member magazine “BICILINDRICA” which is published in four editions a year and has been doing just that for more than 40 years. In addition to the member magazine, the Guzzi club has its own website (www. motoguzzi.no) and a Facebook page that takes care of communication and dissemination needs among Guzzists. The members, led by
Elin Vandevjen, willingly share knowledge and information with you. All in all, the Guzzistas themselves, together with the Guzzi Club and the dealers, make up a very competent environment.
