Hat Sestriere Adventourfest, motorbike beyond the clouds

Although Sestriere is a universally recognized tourist resort in the skiing world, for some years it has been becoming a pilgrimage destination for enthusiasts of a relatively new specialty in the motorcycling world: adventouring. The association Over2000 Riders in fact, in just a few years it has managed to become the international point of reference for this type of event, which combines tourism and adventure on high-altitude dirt routes. The area of ​​military roads in the Italian-French Alps is the ideal terrain for taking non-specialist twin- or single-cylinder off-road vehicles, offering routes that are generally accessible to all, but with absolutely unique views.

Our adventure began on Friday morning at the Suzuki Italia headquarters in Robassomero, close to the Venaria Reale in Turin, where we picked up a V-Power 1000 specially rubberized Anlas Capra is preferably used for V-Strom Academy, the off-road school by Suzuki and Davide Degli Esposti (where we have already been this year, here you can find the article and video). The approach to Sestriere takes place initially on asphalt, first on the splendid curves of the Mont Cenis Hill, between Italy and France, and after crossing the Val Susa, on the first dirt stretch: after a few meters to take measurements, the road that takes us to the Colle delle Finestre It's starting to take shape as a big playground!

If on asphalt the Anlas Capra gravel. Once we arrive in Sestriere we find Nicola Poggio and Riccardo Capra, the organizers of the HAT Series, waiting for us for a short briefing and above all for the group dinner in the hut, which can be reached strictly by motorbike along a dirt road. The next morning we set off for the first real itinerary of our HAT Adventourfest, going up the hill Colle Basset towards Sauze d'Oulx, then following towards Usseaux towards Colle delle Finestre e Assietta, reference points in the area for motorbikes, bicycles and jeeps with a common denominator: a passion for off-roading.

Upon returning, in the late afternoon, we have just enough time to prepare for dinner and set off for the night excursion: not satisfied with the more than 150 km of the day, at 23 pm we set off for another seven hours of off road under a starry sky and the moon to illuminate us like a lighthouse. Finding yourself on top of a mountain, in the middle of the night, is a unique emotion that makes any type of tiredness go away.

The cheerful pace of the guide keeps us awake, the light from the standard headlight is truly excellent and allows perfect visibility so as not to slow down at all compared to the rhythms of the day. The hours pass, the kilometers increase, until 5:30 when we arrive at the top of the Mountains of the Moon just in time to enjoy the sunrise, a more than deserved reward that gives us great satisfaction. From there we still have about an hour to complete the 200 km of our tour and return to the Sestriere Olympic Village for breakfast and enjoy a few hours of well-deserved sleep.

Our V-Strom 1000, once the initial fear of its non-DOC off-roader size has passed, turns out to be excellent: the 1000 twin-cylinder is linear but powerful, once the traction control is excluded it allows long traverses standing on the footrests, printing smiles at every exit of curve. The ABS in turn works very well, so much so that I have never had the need to disconnect it (while for the TC there is a special button, for the ABS you have to remove a plug under the saddle): its intervention is always very gradual and never invasive, both at the front and at the rear, giving safety without making braking longer. As an off-road purist, I never thought I would be able to appreciate it!

Even returning to the motorway was particularly comfortable, thanks to the adjustable windscreen and the side bags that allowed us to carry everything we needed without additional luggage. The low saddle gives a lot of safety in manoeuvres, but is not suitable for dynamic riding: you have to stand up to appreciate the cycling qualities and it takes very little to gain confidence and play as with a real enduro. Its limits? Poor ground clearance and fork with little travel, in addition to the front mudguard too close to the tire. Let's say that these defects are noticeable in offroad use decidedly outside the natural comfort zone of the V-Strom, significantly more oriented towards road use while not disdaining, with suitable tyres, even challenging off-road excursions.

Speaking of tyres, Anlas' approach is commendable: their range perfectly marries the adventouring spirit, thanks to more or less specific products for off-roading depending on everyone's needs, thus giving everyone the opportunity to take their bike off-road. own motorbike while maintaining comfort and safety even on asphalt. The spirit of adventure that an off-road motorbike gives is an indescribable sensation, the advice I would like to give to all owners of road enduros is: try it, you will never go back!

Edited by Alberto De Bernardi