Suzuki at the 41st Stelvio International Motorcycle Meeting

For the 2017 edition, the Japanese company Hamamatsu organized a very captivating itinerary, thanks to which we arrived at the 41st Stelvio International Motorcycle Meeting, with a journey that took us to the Stelvio Pass by motorbike, with its 2.758 meters of altitude , one of the most famous places for motorcyclists and beyond, the highest pass in Italy. A peak with a breathtaking view, the Stelvio Pass is located within the National Park of the same name, close to important peaks, such as Mount Livrio, Scorluzzo and Ortles.

But let's get back to us: we left as a group from Monza, where we had taken possession of one at the Cirafici dealership Suzuki GSX-S 750, a medium-sized naked bike with a gritty soul, we set off on an adventurous journey towards Santa Caterina Valfurva, 198 kilometers of pure fun and breathtaking landscapes, crossing Morbegno to arrive at Passo San Marco, a pass rich in history and which connects Val Brembana (BG) to Valtellina, characterized by a route immersed in nature, where looking at what nature offers is something magnetic, but always keeping your attention on the guide.

It's not a complicated road actually, on the other hand we and our Suzuki were getting closer and closer to our destination for dinner and overnight stay. Our destination for the first day was Santa Caterina Valfurva, which is not located at the top of the Pass, but about 50 kilometers away.

The following day, after covering ourselves with our clothing, given the low temperatures, we returned to the saddle. Yes, you understood correctly, low temperatures, because we can assure you that at 2.758 metres, despite it being the first of July, the cold was felt incredibly throughout the entire journey. Temperatures of around 10 degrees, but even less, given that the snow showed itself in some places, which required adequate clothing, with a leather jacket and its winter internal lining, sweatshirt, t-shirt in technical fabric, bandana around the neck, gloves and technical shoes. Needless to say, for a good part of our journey, we wondered what temperatures can be reached in these parts in winter.

Set off towards the classic snake, which can be seen in the most common photographs and web pages, the Stelvio Pass, with its quite obvious slope, is gentle and pleasant to travel and above all allows us to admire respectable curves and landscapes. The road begins to climb warmly, accompanied by meadows and rocks that only nature offers.

The arrival at the top is expected in about 30 minutes, here there is no need to go fast and there is no need to even achieve the best time. Here you have to have fun and enjoy the priceless landscape, which only it can give you, with its fairly wide road, except for a few narrower stretches, busy with motorbike enthusiasts; a lot of concentration is required, but at the same time it is satisfying to drive through the continuous bends that follow first gear hairpin bends, where our Suzuki GSX–S750 has always proven to be up to par and easy to handle, both on the hairpin bends and on the long straights encountered on the journey .

Going up and looking down gives you a sensation that you won't easily forget. Once we reach the destination, the view from above overcomes any symptoms of tiredness and fills the heart, but it is also a reason to rest and drink something hot, because as we have mentioned, on this day our traveling companion was the cold, which accompanied us for much of the journey.

What is immediately striking is the variety of motorcycles you encounter, from the old 2-stroke Piaggio Ciao to the latest current production bikes. A large group of participants, who we later discovered were 4.606 as official members. Sondalo is the base of the Stelvio International Metzeler motorbike rally, where enthusiasts, but also motorcycle manufacturers, meet to try out the latest innovations in a special and satisfying context.

Precisely in Sondalo, about 40 kilometers further downstream, passing through Bormio, we head to reach the center of the activities of the 41st Motoraduno Stelvio International, an edition which marked the definitive relaunch of the event, but also full of novelties, of organizational liveliness , of renewed meeting opportunities, populated by two-wheel lovers who have the opportunity to try the most interesting motorcycles, including the Suzukis made available for demo rides, thanks to which they can evaluate the characteristics of the various models.

The event is also a meeting point, also to buy some clothing and enjoy the spectacle of the freestyle bikers. The Stelvio Stunt Competition Match was one of the novelties of the 41st edition, a race that pitted professional stuntmen in competition with each other, engaged in skill tests to show the best evolutions they are capable of while riding a motorbike. This is just one of the proposals that revolve around the Motoraduno Stelvio International.

However, for us the time had come to return home, carrying the beautiful images imprinted in our minds that only nature can offer and very satisfied with this wonderful experience together with Suzuki. A trip to the Stelvio Pass is one of those routes that every motorcyclist must do, at least once in his life, even better if on the occasion of the Motorcycle Rally which is held every year in this period.