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VINTAGE: A Lone Guzzi in Taiwan Makes a Statement
Written by: John Cerilli
vintagemotorcyclesonline.com   http://www.vintagemotorcyclesonline.com
04/29/2009
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
There are no Guzzi’s dealers in Taiwan. Kuan guesses that on the entire island of Taiwan, maybe there are 2-3 registered Guzzi’s on the street. (Photo: vintagemotorcyclesonlin » More Photos

Taiwan is an island of 22 million people. First discovered around the 16th century by Portuguese sailors, it was named “Ilha Formosa” or “Beautiful Island.”

There are 2.6 million people in the capital city of Taipei. There are 3-4 times that figure in the number of scooters (average size 150cc) and the typical Taiwanese family has at least FOUR scooters for every household. Why? Pretty simple, they are cheap, convenient, and easy to park in a city where finding a space is a total nightmare. Large displacement motorcycles (500cc or bigger) are rarely seen on the streets, and small-to-medium sized scooters are used exclusively for utilitarian purposes and everyday commuting, Full sized motorcycles are reserved for recreational use, much like in the USA.

So, what are the odds of running into a hard-core Moto Guzzi enthusiast here? I met Kuan Shern through the Wild Goose Chase Moto Guzzi Forum (http://www.wildguzzi.com/forum/), and he graciously agreed to meet me the next time I was visiting Taiwan. So, during a routine business trip, I decided to hook up with him.

Kuan, his lovely wife Yuan and their Golden Retriever “May-May” live in Taipei. Kuan owns his own successful interior design company, with a focus on architectural lighting design. He is also a long-time, passionate motorcycle rider and enthusiast. He has been riding on two wheels since the age 16, and currently owns / rides
three motorcycles: a 2006 Ducati S2R, a 2007 Ducati Sport 1000, and his pride and joy, a 1996 Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport.

I asked Kuan why he loved Italian motorcycles like Moto Guzzi and Ducati, and he told me he appreciates the unique design features, their timeless style, and their “character and soul” so common to all Italian brands.

More Photos from Taiwan


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