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Norge Conspiracy theory

Fergo

Fergo

Just got it firing!
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
9
A few years ago I rode my Cali through Norway to Nordkapp. From there we dropped down to Europe and I fancied trying to at least partly follow the route famously taken by Carlo and Guiseppe Guzzi which laid the foundation of the Norge legend.

All good, except that despite vast research effort then and again recently, I can find no details at all; not a date, not a map, not a newspaper report, nothing from Moto Guzzi themselves.

Look at a map and the nearest, most accessible point on the Arctic circle is at Rovaniemi, in Finland. To get to Norway by land would mean essentially passing through there, then crossing Sweden, a difficult and somewhat pointless task. Of course they could enter Norway via Denmark and a ferry, but then the treck to the Arctic Circle is complex. Exponentially so before fiordland had roads and ferries as today. Even we abandoned that for a route through Sweden. Had they gone through Finland to Nordkapp, then we would have heard about that.

So did some marketing guy in 1929 decide that a "Suomi" just wouldn't sell?

If anyone has some better information, I'd be really keen to hear about it.

cheers,

JFerg
 
Seems the explanation is simple: the machine is named after the destination's country (the destination itself being already used as the name for another Piaggio model!), not after the route taken...
 
I don't realy mind if the story is true or not. Drove already my 2007 Norge twice to Nordkapp : once over Norway , once over Sweden. Great trips and the Norge just drove fine. Will pass the +100k Km by end September.Take care . Marc (Belgium)
 
RJVB said:
Seems the explanation is simple: the machine is named after the destination's country (the destination itself being already used as the name for another Piaggio model!), not after the route taken...
Click to expand...

Maybe, except they claimed Arctic Circle not just Norway

We should be kind to John, he's only just come to terms with the fact that there are other types of tyres than beaded edge and that gear change levers (sorry, change speed levers) don't have to be tank-mounted
 
All very wonderful, but still avoiding the main issue; where is there any period mention of this legendary trip?

It is regarded as a very big deal now, and these days we refer to the original GT as the "Norge", but where is some proof? A period photo at the arctic circle? Extracts from their journals? The newspaper reports? Civic reception for the returning heroes? Surely there was published a map showing the route of this great exploit? They'd have it on every dealer's showroom wall, wouldn't they, being as it was such an achievement? Why didn't Mario Colombo include a few details in his fabulous book? Even the factory museum has no details.

Apparently and allegedly there is a report of the ride in MotoCiclismo from early 1929, but my local newsagent has sold out. I am chasing this, and one day will find it. I might ask someone at the GMG....

The factory themselves were of no help, either in '06 when I was chasing this seriously, or now. However, no answer is a common response, so is not conclusive.

The current version of the story has grown somewhat from the original claim, which was "to the Arctic circle in Norway", or words to that effect. Nordkapp is a new addition.

And Pete, tank-mounted gates are for girls, just like positive stop 'boxes. I just won't have a machine taht's smarter than me, a problem 'coz I'm not too bright anyway...


JFerg
 
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