GIVI Magazine - Maggio 2018

ENGLISH TEXT 10  Turismo PONTE CORSO A THREE-DAY TOUR DISCOVERING CORSICA. BETWEEN ITS PRISTINE BEACHES, BREATHTAKING CLIFFS, ANCIENT VILLAGES AND THE CHARM OF UNTOUCHED NATURE, THE LAND OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE IS THE IDEAL DESTINATION FOR A LONG WEEKEND FULL OF WINDING ROADS AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PREVIEW THE NEW THERMOFORMED BAGS BY GIVI ST604. Milan, 6.00pm. I nervously pace around waiting for my sporty travel companion (a YamahaMT-09) to be transformed into a dependable naked bike, suitable for lightweight tourismwith the addition of dedicated accessories. At 9.30pm the ferry will be waiting for me in Genoa! Will I make it?......I hope so!! ... I have been waiting for this moment for more than two months, to spend three days of thrilling bends in sunny Corsica with friends. After 15minutes of waiting unnervingly, the bike is finally ready; on the sides of the rear end I notice two semi-rigid expandable GIVI bags which do not spoil the sleek lines of the bike. All the clothing I need for my short break is shared between the two side bags and my waterproof backpack which I purposely compact to help me sneak through rush hour traffic. I’m ready, so let’s go! The first kilometres are an ordeal as the lazy, arrogant and delaying traffic is virtually intolerable for a rider dreaming of his holiday. I manage to freemyself from the subterranean jungle, taking the A7Milan-Genoa; 150km separate me from the ferry. I run them all in one breathmiraculously boarding theMT onto the ferry at 9.15pm; I meet my friends with whom I share a well- deserved Spritz and then I jump onto my “bunk/branda” as we have a lot of kilometres to cover on the first day, with few straight roads. 1st day: from Bastia to Porto Ota The sun is already blazing in the sky: we descend from the ferry at a snail’s pace and have a quick breakfast. At the exit of the port there is an abundance of pastry shops, bars and bakeries with everything needed to replenish your energy levels before setting off. The first intermediate stage is Moulin Mattei , a spectacular vantage point located at the top of the so-called “dito”. It’s easy to reach, from Bastia continue along the D80 heading northbound, first along the crystalline sea and then through the rugged mountains. On our arrival the mist had ruined the moment but I assure you that withmore forgiving weather, a stop at this point is highly recommended. We then head for Saint Florent , our lunch stop, but first, I suggest visiting the quaint village of Nonza with its black beach. We resume our journey after enjoying some grilled fish. We then take the famous D81, a toboggan run of varying bends, asphalted to the limit of perfection. If you have time it is worth taking a detour at Casta to visit the Saleccia Beach ; but if time is against you, continue to Isola Rossa , a charming town with a breathtaking view, and then onto Calvi. Here you will be faced with two options: are you a petrol head? If you are, then take the inner road, the D81... you won’t regret it! If instead, you love slow rides and landscapes, make a quick stop at the old city and then continue along the panoramic D81-bis. The two roads reunite near Galeria , where every sporting ambition is put aside as the road wraps along scenic cliffs overlooking the crystalline sea... a treat for the eyes. At sunset, we arrive in Porto Ota where we admire the sun plunging into the horizon in a blaze of colours. We have a refreshing shower and a typical Corsican dinner based on salami and wild boar, all washed down with strictly local wine. 2nd day: from Porto Ota to Porto Vecchio Our alarm call on the second day is far more relaxed: we spoil ourselves with a rich “French” breakfast, fill our tanks and head for Porto Vecchio with a stop in Bonifacio . We are still on the D81 that guides us through the unspoiled nature of the Natural Park of the Calanque di Piana ; it is difficult to stay focused on riding while among the red rocks and the glimpses of the sea. After Calanque, the road winds its way along the coast until reaching Ajaccio : if you miss chaos and traffic, take a short stopover, otherwise continue without delay onto the T40 towards Bonifacio. At the height of Olmeto, if you have time, make a detour for a visit to its beach. The T40, like the D81, has straights in short supply and between the curves and hairpin bends, it is a continuous dance up to Roccapina . From this point on, long straights, with a few speed cameras, will finally accompany you to the scenic Bonifacio. We take a break with a view of Sardinia in the old citadel and then dowse the heat with a refreshing drink along the mundane quay of the port. The T10 that winds along the east coast acts as a connection to Porto Vecchio and is pure formality; we run it at a brisk pace and with our stomachs rumbling... a delicious fish dinner awaits us. 3rd day: from Porto Vecchio to Bastia The start of our third day of adventure begins early in the morning; the kilometres of curves that separate Porto Vecchio fromBastia are many and all in the tortuous hinterland of the island. After loading the Givi bags onto the frames for the last time, a quick and intuitive operation, with my bag strapped tomy back andmy Givi 40.2 X-Fiber helmet onmy head, we head for L’Ospedale , with a capital letter, a pretty village surrounded by the lush greenery of the Corsemountains. Here, the landscape seems almost alpine. The road runs along a lake that submerges the trunks of the conifers, ring any bells? I’d say yes! The D368 continues its sinuous course up to the village of Zonza . Here, you’ll be faced with two options: either continue up to Aullène , take the D69 and become dizzy with the curves/bends and fragrances all the way up to Vivario , or go down to the coast with the D268 and enjoy a break from the curves and hairpin bends to Ghisonaccia , then rejoin Vivario using the D344. The choice is yours. Having reached the T20 highway, we continue to Corte , an oldmedieval village and former capital of Corsica. If you have time, depending on the ferry departure time, stop for a visit at the towering castle on the top of the hill. After filling our stomachs, we leave for Bastia continuing along the T20 until we reach the airport, then onto the T11 heading northbound ... and alas to our final destination, the ferry terminal. Our itinerary was mainly designed for driving pleasure, but there are so many places that deserve more in- depth visits. In other words ... to combine both aspects in a satisfying way, visitors should dedicate at least one week to touring this wonderful island. Au revoir! SEE MORE PICTURES CAPTIONS 5) IN THE LARGE PHOTO: VIEW OF ILE-ROUSSE. THE MOTORCYCLE USED FOR OUR TOUR: THE YAMAHA MT-09 SP. 6) IN NONZA, UPPER CORSICA, THERE ARE LESS THAN 100 INHABITANTS. THE VILLAGE IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF CAPO CORSO OVERLOOKING THE SEA. ITS BLACK BEACH IS DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT. 7) ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, THE BEACH AT SALECCIA AND THE SPLENDID FORTRESS AT NONZA. SHOWN ABOVE THE VILLAGE OF SAINT FLORENT; BENEATH THE PANORAMIC POINT AT MOULIN MATTEI. 8) ABOVE, THE FJORD AT BONIFACIO AND A NARROW STREET OF THE OLD TOWN. THE ROMANTIC BEACH IS THAT OF OLMETO. IN THIS IMAGE, A GLIMPSE OF THE CALANCHI DI PIANA. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, THE POND NEAR L’OSPEDALE AND THE CASTLE AT CORTE. MOTORCYCLE GEAR/ EQUIPMENT Specifically for this tour, we equipped the MT-09 SP with the new ST604 preformed bags. A pair of side bags boasting sleek and sporty lines, with the capacity to store everything necessary for a long weekend. The GIVI 40.5 X-Fiber full-face helmet and the “MERAK” jacket provided by the HEVIK brand were both greatly appreciated by our tester. The ST604 Multilock panniers are expandable with support straps and they benefit from an internal capacity extending to 22 litres each side. In an effort to reduce bulkiness when mounted on a motorcycle, volumes and shapes have been totally enhanced. Made of thermoformed EVA coated Polyester, the ST604 side bags are supplied with rain covers as standard and include handles for carrying by hand. The GIVI 40.5 X-Fiber full-face helmet is made from composite fibre and is produced in two different shell sizes to cater for all the different sizes available across the range. Weighing just 1,300 grams, it is equipped with a smoked sun visor as standard, a main visor that is Pinlock ready, double “D” fastening strap, an exceptional ventilation system and an hypoallergenic interior that is totally detachable and washable. Available in four colour options. The MERAK jacket by HEVIK is a short, ventilated jacket, produced from high-tenacity nylon and equipped with CE certified Level 1 protectors on the shoulders and elbows and a pocket in the back to accommodate the HEVIK H-Full Back Armor back protector.