Touring Tuscany On Four Wheels

The BMW R1200 GS is a marvel of modern machinery, but there's one nuance to which I am not accustomed.

Up until now, every motorcycle that I've ridden, including the BMW F800 GS fires its pistons vertically. The R1200 has a boxer engine which is a completely different experience because its pistons fire from side to side.

The thing that surprised me the most about the boxer engine is how well balanced it is. One would think forces firing wildly from side to side would severely affect the balance of a two wheeled vehicle. The only proper explanation is that the camshaft of the R1200 is fashioned from the same wood from whence came the fabled Elderwand and the pistons are forged from the same Unobtainium guarded so fiercely by the Na'Vi. This mix of magic and rare material has created the near perfect balance that allows such a large machine to be so light and so powerful at the same time.

I say that it is near perfect because, the bike lists slightly to the right. Through various experiments which involve removing both hands from the handlebars, commonly known as "Ghost Riding The Whip", I've found that the R1200 will always lean to the right. There are numerous factors involved here, and you'll have to take my word for it, that the motorcycle likes to lean to the right.

The reason that I mention all this is because, regardless of how balanced it is, the bike vibrates like a sonofabitch. So, it was great that I happened to have some friends in the area on their honeymoon who let me spend a day with them, because it gave me a proper excuse to have a day off of the motorcycle.

Enough with the words. Here are some pictures:

[caption id="attachment_965" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Sunflower Fields Forever"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_967" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Tuscaneddie"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_968" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Tuscan Skyline"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_971" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Tusken Raiders"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_972" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Fluffy Clouds"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_973" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="The Sun Gets Low"][/caption]

If you find yourself in Tuscany, it won't be hard to find fresh pasta. Also, be sure to sample some of the Brunello wine. If you prefer white wine, the region also offers an appellation called Vernaccia; it's worth trying, even if you're a diehard red wine drinker.

Over the next few days, we head east from Tuscany to the backside of the boot, which borders on the Adriatic Sea.