Traverse 12 | Page 106

wheel and 21 inch front, they have had an absolutely wild ride through Eastern Europe, Turkey, all of the Stans, all the way to the Chinese bor- der and then back through the Pamir mountains, Uzbekistan and Iran. In Pakistan they had to have the regula- tion Police escort. Their bike, aside from the regu- lar oil change at specific intervals, needed only a fuel pump replaced; two changes of bearings for the rear wheel, it’s always the rear, and a new chain and sprockets after 43,000km. However, they did get a free replace- ment chassis from Triumph after hit- ting a rock in Iran, which incidentally did not disable the bike … “Eight months ago, we started from Italy with a dream”, Massimo says. “To travel around the world on a motorcycle. Besides a lot of joy and a lot of adrenaline while planning the ride, there was fear, worry and TRAVERSE 106 anguish. “We were not sure if it could be possible. We were not sure which road would be better, not even if we would manage to get beyond Tur- key, a land that seemed so far at the time…” “Now things are completely changed”, he adds. “We are aware that the will is stronger than all fear; that if you really want something in life you can do it.