Discovering Asia on a Harley

By Mattia Michielan

Donato Nicoletti left his home in Italy in July last year with the aim of exploring Asia on his Harley. The SoftCopy caught up with him on his way through Bangalore to discuss his

impressions of the continent.

After working for eight years as a mechanic in his hometown, Milan, Nicoletti decided he needed a break.

“I was tired of the monotony of the city life, and slowly the idea of leaving it all behind for an adventure began to grow in my mind,” he said.

He plans to travel as far as Japan before driving home through Russia.

Nicoletti originally budgeted €30,000 for his trip, but has managed to keep his spending down to only 30 percent of that amount thanks to sponsors helping him out with money and equipment.

“After leaving home I rode for 20,000 kilometers,” Nicoletti said. “I went from Pakistan—a friendly country—to India. I faced many difficulties at the border.”

He said he did not stay long in northern Kashmir.

“The wonderful places and clean air of Ladakh [a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India] made me forget the tension further north [in the state].”

With his rich experience as a mechanic, Donato considers himself to be a “bike doctor.” But even his know-how could not prepare him for every eventuality.

“After the heaven of Dharamsala, I went to the hell of Delhi,” Nicoletti said. He had to get his bike fixed in the only Harley Davidson showroom in the capital.

“When I got to Delhi, my bike wouldn't start. After two weeks of confusion we discovered that a stupid cable was fused,” he said.

He made friends with the staff there and decided to visit the other Harley showrooms in India during his travels. He rode to Bombay, and, after three weeks of R&R on the beaches of Goa, to Bangalore, where he is set to depart for the Karnataka coast before heading to Thailand.  European magazines are publishing episodes of Nicoletti's adventure and an Indian magazine wants to do a story on his sojourn in the country. When he gets to Japan next year, a journalist will be waiting to interview him.

An Italian’s take on riding in India

Nicoletti said riding in India is far from easy because of the dreadful condition of the roads, the innumerable speed breakers, and, especially, the volume of traffic.

“The driving style here is definitely unique!” he said.

He said he likes Indian food and has got used to the large amount of chili and spices in it. “I get a boost from the spicy chutney,” he laughed.

Nicoletti expressed disappointment with the rampant development in Bangalore. Friends that visited the city in 2000 told him to expect a green city. But instead of trees and lakes, he found malls.

“I suggest that Bangaloreans change the name of their city from Bangalore to Mall-alore,” he said.

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