As part of the celebrations for “Giovanni Pascoli nella valle del Bello e del Buono” 43 motorbikes all dating from before 1945 roared into Barga this morning and pulled up outside the Hotel Villa Moorings. The Indians were in town. The Indian motorcycle company started making their bikes in 1901, Indian was not only the first American motorcycle, it was the world’s best-selling bike and, having introduced the first V-twin motorcycle to the world in 1907, the most technologically advanced.

While the 2 3/4 horsepower single and the five horsepower twin have been retained, two new models will be presented and a seven horsepower twin. The radical changes of the Indian, however, will consist in a mechanical oiling device, free engine and two-speed gear, and a new spring fork. — New York Times, January 9, 1910

By the time the above appeared, Indian motorcycle riders had been roaming the dirt trails and rolling along the wagon-wheel ruts of America for almost a decade. Hitting the road in 1901, Indian was not only the first American motorcycle, it was the world’s best-selling bike and, having introduced the first V-twin motorcycle to the world in 1907, the most technologically advanced. Harley-Davidson 1910 models, by contrast, were all singles, producing five horsepower or less. More information about these bikes cam be found here

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The Mayor of Barga, Umberto Sereni and the assesore of sport, Gabriele Giovanetti were both at the Hotel Villa Moorings as the motorbikes arrived to greet the organisers. With them was a surprise guest, Paolo Nutini who is in Barga this weekend on a photo shoot for the cover of his new CD, (article here)

This afternoon at two o’clock the motorcycles moved off further up the valley to Castelnuovo and then on to Gallicano, Fornaci and then back up to Barga to the hotel where the bikes will be on display until the morning.

Included in the collection of motorbikes were not just Indians but also AJS from the UK and MotorGuzzi from Italy.

This evening the riders are all invited to a concert in the Teatro dei Differenti to listen to music and poetry, of course from Giovanni Pascoli.

This event was organised by the Cramer group, the Registro storico Italiano Indian Motorcycle in collaboration with the Comune of Barga and with the moto club of Fornaci di Barga.

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