ROME – the Harley files
Just days ago, several thousand Harley-Davidson motorcycles converged on the eternal city for a rally. It was fun to find out that behind all those skulls and leather armors, there are girls and boys only too happy to play with their expensive toys.
There were, perhaps, many more photo opportunities. But my attention span is limited, especially when dealing with hot, smelly, noisy pieces of machinery. So i took a few snaps at Saint Peter’s square and that’s it.
In any case, it was a wonderful weekend for everyone, and it was great to see, all in one place, motorcycles from Russia, South Africa, California… And it was even better to largely ignore the machines, and take a good close-up look at the people, instead. Hope you enjoyed!
Alessandro Ciapanna
27 Responses to “ROME – the Harley files”
Oh Boy! Enjoyable it really is!! You have turned all those HOGs into such interesting(and funny!) subjects in your inimitable way!! Really lovely post! 🙂
Thanks Know-All. Some bikers are odd people, but most were real friendly and smiling and just very happy to be who and where they were 🙂
This one is full of fun shots. I liked all of them. You’ve captured the free spirit of these people in your shots. I especially loved that one where the big guy is riding with the teddy bear as pillion rider.
Thanks, Irfan. The guy with a teddy bear caught everyone’s attention – a few seconds after i took the shot, he had about twenty people with cameras around him…
For a second I thought you were one on them boys with a big, noisy machine, but of course you were documenting. And doing it good. Glad to see you hade a wonderful weekend, probably warmer and sunnier than my wonderful weekend.
Haha – no: i rode my bicycle to the event. Warm it most definitely was, especially standing around hundreds of roasting, smoky motorcycles… Thanks, Bente!
I really love the 2, 3 and 5 photos. The second photo is really cute, riding with huge stuffed animal like that makes him look friendly 😀 I like the third photo because of the juxtaposition. I like how you relate his t-shirt and St.Peter. Anyway, are they friendly? Here in my town, they are such a bossy people. When they ride on the road, they turn on the siren (even pay the police to be their fore rider so they can ride freely), ask (not in a polite way) the other rider/driver to move aside. they’re very arrogant. It’s not strange if a lot of people hate them (even curse them or pray bad things) here. They might be good people, but on the road, the harley brothers (in my country) are very arrogant.
Frankly, Muthe, these people were a paragon of civil behavior. Regularly stopping to allow pedestrians to cross and generally riding slowly without raising hell. They were very well-behaved guests, and Rome was glad to have them. The only pricks (and there were very few) making noise by revving their engines were Italian, never a foreigner. Thanks!
That’s refreshing to be heard, such a great news for me (for maybe one day, the same brotherhood in this country won’t be as arrogant as their behaviour these days).
Great album, you caught some special moments – especially the one with man on bike with fluffy friend!
Thanks, Lianne. It really was a one-off event not likely to be repeated soon, which made being there all the more special.
C.O.O.L.
You must’ve had so much fun! 😀
It was an interesting form of travel in reverse: i stayed home, and the motley crue came to my town… And yes, it was a grand weekend of fun for everyone (even the Pope blessed the bikers!) Thanks, Aaricia! 🙂
Le tue foto rendono perfettamente l’atmosfera che avevo immaginato! Mi sarebbe piaciuto essere a Roma, trovo che gli harleysti siano soggetti molto interessanti 😉
Assolutamente interessantissimi. Anche perche’, se non sei nel giro, non e’ che capita spesso di averne cosi’ tanti cosi’ vicini…
Grazie! 🙂
Nice series, Alessandro. My favourite is the second one. Solo or with a friend, that is the question 🙂
He got the ideal solution. With a friend. But one who will not talk your head off during the long ride… 😉
Great images! A lovely way to sum up what looks like a great event! The b/w look works really well too! 🙂
Thanks, Ck! It was just good, loud, rowdy fun. Even the traffic police had a blast, something that doesn’t happen so often, in Rome’s maddening traffic… 🙂
Absolutely enjoyed this one! So vibrant and fun. Beautiful photos – as yours always are 🙂
Thanks, Ese’s Voice. It really was good fun for all involved, including passers-by… 🙂
This post was so much fun! I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Harley Davidson headquarters – and we’ve had numerous anniversary rallies here. The HOGS seem to generally be really nice people who just like to, as you say, enjoy their shiny, loud, expensive toys. When they do congregate in one place though they sure clog up the roads, restaurants, hotels, sites. It’s fun for me to see them in your very old and historic city!
Isn’t it great? Great weather contibuted to uplifting the already high spirits. Everyone had great fun and the whole weekend went by without a single hitch, skulls and crossbones notwithstanding… Be proud, my Milwaukee friend. Be very proud.
amazing pics..I love the B&W effect on pics..they look so beautiful even without any color 🙂 thanks for sharing with us
Thanks, Kavita. Whereas color is sometimes too loud, i find black and white enjoys the elegance of subtlety. 🙂
Amazing! : )
A one-off, definitely 😉