I am active duty air force and have orders to aviano italy. i am going to have my bike shipped over there but i have some concerns. i have been searching for their motorcycle laws but havnt really come up with anything(specifically exhaust noise restrictions, and emissions). has anyone here been stationed in italy or know anything on the subject. do they have a smog law or is military exempt from this type of thing. if there is a noise restriction is the popo going to hassle me or can i get away with it being military. any help would be appreciated.

 

Italy might have laws (somewhere) but the bikes and scooter's aint read the manual .... lived there for a while ..... in rural areas there's not much in the way of enforcement of anything really ......

 

Dude, Italy is motrocycle country! I have seen all kinds of bikes over there, loud pipes etc. I dont think they have emissions testing over there. You should see some of the things they drive. The pollution is horrible. You can still get leaded gas there too.

Enjoy Italy bro. You will be up near the Alps and some great scenery for riding!

 

I totally agree with the others, I'm not sure there is any law regarding motorcycles. All the ones that I saw went as fast as they wanted anywhere and everywhere they wanted. I never saw so many riders with a death wish. Be sure to check out Venice (just south of Aviano) it's like Disneyland on the water.

 

I was stationed in Sicily twice for a total of seven years and you will not have any issues. There are a lot of military with bikes and I never heard of any problems from the Carabinieri.

 

The Italians consider it their moral duty to break as many rules as possible - this is just their way of life. The locals will ride like suicide jockeys, enjoy!

 

I've done a fair bit of riding around Italy.

Few things to now about Italy:

Italy is a police state. Just because you don't get caught doesn't mean you escaped their notice. It just means they couldn't be bothered at the moment. The national police (Carabinieri) are everywhere. They won't really mess with you, but if they give you a look, slow down. City/town police will mess with you. They can just give you a ticket for speeding if it looks like you are. They will also give tickets for dangerous riding (lane-splitting in towns, etc.). Oh, and don't even think of riding without a helmet, not even to switch a parking spot. I know they have tough emissions standards and, allegedly, noise standards. You wouldn't know it, though. You shouldn't bother trying to speed on the Autostrada. On the smaller roads, play it by ear. You can really open it up and go crazy. Watch the motoragazzi in their full leathers tear up those roads. But, you should really keep to the speed limits in villages/towns. In between villages, you can get away with more. Honk your horn twice to pass, and people will generally pull over for you.

The one good thing about the constant police presence is that violent crime practically doesn't exist there. And that's their goal.

If you want to ride with Italians, they'd love to check out your Harley. Harleys are very popular (and very expensive) over there. You'll see more Sportsters. There are HOG chapters that hold bike nights in cities and bigger towns. You might like to check one out, just to meet and hang with the Italian Harley dudes. (The one in Rome is the first and third Tuesday evening each month at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Via Veneto, near the American Embassy.)

Think about security. Disc locks, U-lock......something that is visible. Violent crime may not exist there, but petty crime is like anywhere.

Italians love motorcycles. You'll turn heads everywhere you go on your Harley.

 

the reason i ask is because i want to put on stage one aftermarket exhaust and air cleaner before i go and wasnt sure about the exhaust noise. so your saying i can go as loud as i want and probably not have a problem?

 

I ran drag pipes with no problems for 3 years in Sicily. Can't see it being that much different on the mainland.

 

very probably. The police are actually pretty busy there. They don't look like it, but they are. (Petty theft aside, it's one of the safest places in the world.) They will only bother you if your riding draws unwanted attention. Some motorscooters will be louder than your bike. Oh, and those little enduros they like......damn near make you deaf.

Plus, the motorcycle aftermarket is HUGE in Europe. All the moto-ragazzi have aftermarket cans.

Do you have to register your bike in Italy, or, since you keep it on base, will your US tags be fine?