Tag Archives: italy

My first time at EICMA

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Have you noticed how every year around October, you’re flooded with motorcycle news about the latest models? Well, you can experience all that excitement in person –  and as one of the first – at EICMA in Milan.

EICMA is the ultimate place to be for motorcycle enthusiasts, the sacred ground where the biggest motorcycle fair takes place. The Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori is held in early November at the Fiera Milano, a massive exhibition center northwest of Milan. For a week, everything that’s new in the world of motorcycles is showcased for the press, industry professionals and the public.

Visiting EICMA had been on my bucket list for years, and this year I can finally cross it off!


How to get there

Getting to the EICMA motorcycle show involves a few practical steps. But don’t let that hold you back – in hindsight, it’s surprisingly straightforward. Here’s a quick breakdown:

EICMA runs for nearly a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. The first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) are reserved for traders, press and influencers. From Thursday to Sunday, the event opens its doors to the general public. In early September, I booked a ticket for Friday at a price of €15. From mid-September, the price rises to €20, and tickets at the door cost €25.

I flew with Ryanair on Thursday evening from Brussels-South to Milan. But just as Brussels-South is not actually in Brussels but in Charleroi, Milan’s budget airport is located in Bergamo. From Bergamo, a shuttle bus (€10 one way) takes you to Milan Central Station in about an hour. From there, you can take the metro to any part of the city. For EICMA, hop on metro line 1 and get off at Rho Fiera, the final stop.

EICMA, here I come!

EICMA officially opens its doors at 9:30 AM, but like many other eager visitors, I arrived at 8:30 AM. Unsure of the exact entrance location (there are several), I followed the kilometer-long bridge with the poetic name Ponte di Mare, which cuts through the exhibition halls. It led me to a shorter line and conveniently to an entrance located between Halls 22 and 24. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was where Suzuki and Yamaha were set up, two brands I was particularly excited to check out.


At exactly 9:30 AM, the doors opened. Once inside, it didn’t feel too crowded, though that would change quickly.

My main goal was to check out the major brands, focusing on the latest releases. Beyond that, I planned to Continue reading →

Dilemma: Picos or Dolomites?

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It has become our annual tradition, we are once again planning a motorcycle trip for June this year. The concept remains the same: strap a tent on our bikes and off we go!

We had five destinations on our shortlist, of which Norway, Wales and Scotland have already been crossed off. That leaves us with the Picos and the Dolomites. We have roughly mapped out the routes for both trips, and now it’s time to make a decision.

Question: which trip would you choose and why?
And for those familiar with the area: are there any roads we absolutely shouldn’t miss?

Option one: Picos


I haven’t been to the Picos before, but I’ve heard enough good things about it to rank it high on our shortlist. The biggest disadvantage compared to the Dolomites is that it’s a bit further before we reach our destination. Although the journey is just as important as the destination of course.

On day 1, we’ll be ride quite a distance into France, just over 1,000 km on the highway.
On day 2 (blue), the winding roads begin just below San Sebastian.
On day 3 (green), we’ll enter the Picos.
On days 4 (yellow) and 5 (orange), we’ll ride loops through the Picos.
On day 6 (red), we’ll leave the Picos and head east.
On day 7 (purple), we’ll take a detour through the Bardenas Reales, cross the Pyrenees and end the day just across the French border.
On day 8, we’ll take the fastest route back home.

Check out the detailed routes.

Option two: Dolomites & Julian Alps


The Dolomites are etched in my memory as one of the highlights of my trip to the Alps in 2017. So I don’t mind heading back in that direction again, this time taking more time to explore. Maybe add some Julian Alps too? Why not!

On day 1, we’ll ride to Campitello di Fassa in the Dolomites.
Here we’ll stay for 4 nights and take loops on day 2 (blue), 3 (green), and 4 (yellow).
On day 5 (orange), we’ll head east.
On day 6 (red), we’ll say goodbye to the Dolomites and head into the Julian Alps. Our destination is Kranjska Gora.
We’ll stay here for 2 nights and take a loop on day 7 (purple).
Day 8: take the fastest route back home.

Check out the detailed routes.