polymorphself 

As in, peak 1980s purpose built touring bikes with triples, long wheelbase, low rider mounts, cantis, fender clearance, all the braze ons for racks and bottles etc. Obviously the Japanese and the U.S. were the #1 contenders here and the French and British had their share (and a large overlap with club cycling and randonneuring), but what of the Italians? I imagine Bianchi had something, but can't think of anything else I've seen.

noglider 

I don't know! Bianchi is an old and huge bike company, and they don't export all their models to the US. So maybe that was the case in that period. I had a ~1996 Bianchi Volpe which I bought used. It was good for the job. It was stout and stable and reliable. A bit slow and heavy but very capable. It was my SUV bike for a while.

polymorphself 

I've definitely seen a lot of love for the Volpe as a great all arounder

SpeedofLite 

What about Bianchi San Remo or Bianchi Randonneur listed in the table at the end of this article?

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...kes-berto.html

rgvg

I think there were a couple of Japanese Bianchis on our local cl in the past few months. I definitely remember they had long cage cyclones, and I think they had cantilever brakes, not too sure if they were triples. Ishiwata 022 I think. Asking price was 300 and 400 CAD, which was still a little to high for me since I already have a couple of tourers.

noglider 

Mine was made in Taiwan. It also had the durablest paint I ever had on any bike, and I've owned a lot of bikes. I'm horribly abusive to my bikes' paint, and this chipped the least.

noobinsf 

This thread suggests that Italian touring frames were not common: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-frames-2.html

3alarmer 

.
...I lived in Naples for almost a year, and the only people I saw with touring gear on bikes were from other countries. My impression was that they were big racing fans (there was almost always some sort of bike race on the television in 1970 there), but the Italians I spoke with thought riding around with camping gear was not something they'd enjoy. I could be wrong, I wasn't there in a situation where I could make many friends in the local population.

polymorphself 

This is interesting and I wonder if it’s changed much since.

randyjawa 

This early eighties Bianchi "Touring" is a wonderful, sturdy, nice to ride touring bike. It is waiting for me, in Jamaica, assuming that I ever get back to the island...

John Nolan 

I had a mid '80s Bianchi touring bike which I loved. Japanese, Ishiwata 022, very like Randy's but with Suntour derailleurs, and different cranks. A few years ago the RD went into the spokes, and the resulting damage toasted it.

blamester

Good bike. I like it

SJX426 

The way Italians drive their cars and mopeds, it would be a bit risky to tour on a bike!

RobbieTunes

I had a Super Corsa with eyelets.
Maybe they toured fast.

Old Fireleg

Maybe an Italian should be asked. I wouldn’t be surprised if he say: We’re touring with a Moto Guzzi or a Gilera.

artclone

Yes.

I have an early 80s Bianchi “Rallye” with triple, cantis, etc. Italian-made with heavier duty (SP or seamed, I forget) Columbus tubing.

Germany_chris

I got there semi regularly and I've not seen an Italian on a touring bike.

thinktubes 

Mid-90s Volpe. Had all the bells+whistles, including 3 bottle mounts. Used it for light touring.

Salamandrine 

Italians aren't much into camping, generally speaking. I remember laughing at some Italian campgrounds. Manicured lawn, pool, nice bathroom facilities, snack bar. As if to say, If you're dumb enough to want to camp, let's be at least a little civilized. Don't go crazy!

Of course there are always some exceptions, but you simply aren't going to find the equivalent of a Singer or Herse.

There were some Bianchis made for the US market, as previously mentioned

non-fixie 

On the contrary. I like touring in Italy. I find the Italians to be not only enthusiastic but also quite capable drivers and courteous towards cyclists.

bertinjim 

Freschi made the Super in Columbus 510 cro-mo with double eyelets and braze-ons. There's one for sale on Toronto's Kijiji:

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-road-bike/ci...ike/1517429501

Dfrost 

+1 to that. We credit card toured for three weeks through Tuscany, Umbria and Marche in 2001 and found Italian drivers to be just as extremely respectful as the French drivers we’d encountered on a similar cc tour in SE France three years earlier. I don’t even recall any bothersome scooter riders in Italy, unlike France.

But it’s also worth noting that we encountered almost no bike tourers in Italy, but plenty guys (no women) on fast day rides and a few odd looks. Almost everyone we encountered was unfailingly friendly and appreciative of our attempts at speaking in Italian. And that was even before they learned we were American. The trip started three days after the horrible 9-11 incidents. When our nationality became evident, we were showered with affection and hugs. The only unfortunate encounter was the train station person in Jesi who was adamant, “No! Velo impossibile!” despite signage saying otherwise. Oh well, the cycling we did back to Florence was some of the best.

We had an incredible experience when we met an Italian cyclist out on the road above a town in Marche where we planned to spend a day or two. His English was better than our Italian (he was a local policeman out on a day off training ride). We ended up getting a cycle tour of the town with him, including great hotel, restaurant and bike shop recommendations. The latter was particularly useful because my gel bike shorts had developed “leaks”, requiring immediate replacement!

Will we ever be welcome there again?

non-fixie 

I don't know whom exactly you mean by "we", but I hope to be riding in Piedmont in two weeks.

Dfrost 

I’m envious! Have a wonderful trip, take lots of pictures for us as vicarious travelers. Try not to eat and drink too well!

non-fixie 

Thanks!

And about the eating and the drinking, Piedmont is famous for its truffles and Barolo wine, so I am not even going to try. "Sorry".