RIDING SUB-ZERO, PART 2: THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

In case you didn’t get enough ice for your liking in the recent ‘Riding Sub-Zero: Iceland’’ feature, we thought we’d fuse your tongue to the freezer a little more with another jaunt into the far north of planet earth – this time through northern Sweden, Lap Land and into the Arctic Circle.

Enchanting landscapes, snow-covered mountains and the breathtaking Northern Lights provide the backdrop for an incredible journey undertaken by the two friends, Alessandro Broglia and Alessandro Mollo. Following on from their trek through Iceland, they set their expedition-hungry sights on the Arctic Circle. Heading north from Italy into Germany and finally to Sweden, they ride into the Arctic Circle aboard their trusty Multistrada V4s – the two riders covering 7400km of ice, snow, moose, plummeting temperatures, and even an ice race track make for a bucket-list adventure for the ages.

Watch the short film and enjoy the photo story from the boys…

THE ROUTE…

DAY 0: FINAL PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKS WITH THE DUCATI TEAM

We plunge into the heart of the Borgo Panigale company, and together with the Ducati team, we work on the set-up of our bikes. No details are to be neglected.

DAY 1: FROM BOLOGNA TO INGOLSTADT – INITIAL RIDING IMPRESSIONS

Let’s get to know our Multistrada V4. The riding position is perfect, the seat comfortable and heated, just like the hand grips. Hours and hours on the motorway could well be arduous, but the plexiglass shields us and the ventilated helmet peak limits the ‘sail effect’, which prevents the muscles in our necks from becoming tense as we travel. With the radar-operated adaptive cruise control, you feel completely at ease, which in the long run means you feel less tired. After 630 kilometres of snowy passes through Italy, Austria and Germany, we arrive in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt.

DAY 2: FROM INGOLSTADT TO ROSTOCK – THE NORTHERN CHILL BEGINS TO SET IN

We encounter snow and ice, however our 170-horsepower bikes are seamless, regular and unwaveringly powerful, and our technical gear keeps us protected and, thankfully, warm. We travel several kilometres with snowflakes falling onto our helmets and in the late afternoon, we arrive at the shores of the North Sea, and from Rostock port, we set sail in the direction of Sweden. We put our special tyres on only once we have arrived in the Swedish capital.

DAY 3: FROM TRELLEBORG TO KUMLA. ICE & STUDDED TYRES

Today’s aim is ambitious: leave Trelleborg, a town located on the southern-most point of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and cover the 645 kilometres that separate us from Stockholm. However, the weather conditions prove to be dangerously unstable, quickly changing from snow to ice to sun. The DTC system, which gives you eight different levels of traction control, is perfect: it means you always have optimal control in all types of conditions, from dry and cold, to wet and even snowy, whether you’re using standard tyres or even snow or studded tyres. Fortunately, a friend (who lives in Kumla) offered to host us if we ever needed help. We recharge our batteries before continuing our journey north the following day.

DAY 4: FROM STOCKHOLM TO SKELLEFTEA – WITH A STOP AT THE DESMO CENTER

As soon as we’re up, we get back on the road and shortly reach the Stockholm Desmo Center, where special tyres (that had been sent across from Italy a few days before) are waiting for us, alongside a warm welcome party (that we particularly appreciate, given the –15°C temperatures). With our studded tyres now on, the bike feels notably different, and, even with the anti-puncture fluid, it remains extremely agile and precise. Our target for today is to ride around 750 kilometres north along the Gulf of Bothnia, which separates Sweden from Finland, and reach the city of Skellefteå.

DAY 5: FROM SKELLEFTEA TO AJERPLOG – NOT FAR FROM HALF WAY

Like every other day, our alarm goes off at dawn. However, it’s another chance to admire the work of those who designed and developed the Multistrada V4, because the front headlight literally makes it seem like daylight, and with the help of the additional headlights and the cornering function, there’s never anything unexpected, not even when travelling in night-time hours. We enter the remote wilderness of Lapland, heading towards Villa Björklund. The remaining 250 kilometres that separate us from our destination take us through an enchanting snowy scene. We slowly take in the unique landscapes that surround us, and in the evening we are rewarded with a jaw-dropping display of Northern Lights. Like every night, our bikes sleep outside: tonight the mercury drops to -31°C!

DAY 6: THE ARCTIC CIRCLE – WE’VE DONE IT!

At the first push of the ignition button, our V4 engines immediately come to life, despite the freezing temperatures during the night. Before the end of the morning, we reach the Arctic Circle. We weave our way through all the roads we can, relying on the bike’s adaptive Skyhook suspension, an innovative approach to the bike’s dynamics that results in a setup that’s always controlled, so with reduced pitching when travelling with a full tank, and with suspension that reacts to the uneven ground, making it feel as if you’re sitting on a cushion of air, enabling you to travel endless kilometres even on bumpy terrain without getting tired. At the end of the day, thanks to the equipment provided to us by Ferrino, we are able to fully appreciate the nature that surrounds us as we set up camp in a truly magical setting.

DAY 7: DESERVED REST

We pack up our tent and decide to go back towards Arjeplog, where we get a room in the same place we stayed two nights ago.

DAY 8: WE HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE COLMIS PROVING GROUND

We head straight to the Colmis Proving Ground, a set of tracks located on a frozen lake that we have all to ourselves for the day. We spend the day ‘playing’ with our Multistrada V4 bikes on the icy surface, having the time of our lives whilst gaining first-hand experience of just how effective these controls are, giving us perfect command of the vehicle even in completely unique conditions like these.

DAY 9: FROM ARJEPLOG, WE RETURN TO STOCKHOLM

We head back towards the south, as it’s time to begin the long descent home. The confidence that we now have in our Multistrada V4 bikes is incredible: therefore we decide to ride for 910 kilometres without stopping and try to get back to Stockholm by the evening.

DAY 10-11-12: KUMLA TO TRELLEBORG TO ROSTOCK TO INGOLSTAD – THE RETURN HOME

We hastily cover the last 2200 km along Germany’s high-speed motorways. Our heads are filled with memories, and our excitement helps to make the last two days of riding less arduous.

It’s time to take stock. Our bikes, tyres and clothing were not just the perfect travel companions, but they radically changed what we believed to be true – namely the hell we thought we’d have to endure to survive the cold. But actually, thanks to each and every individual who played their own part in designing the electronics, the materials and the technology, our minds were much clearer of any fear and worry than we expected, enabling us to enjoy the roads and landscapes to a far greater extent.