Long regarded as one of the world ’ s foremost motorcycle roads , Australia ’ s Great Ocean Road is a sublime ribbon of tarmac stretching from Torquay in the east to Warrnambool in the west , the best riding between Anglesea and Apollo Bay , and it was in the latter we caught up with a unique bike rental company offering the GO Road with a twist .
First impressions of Fabio Paderno are those of a man who has a passion , a love of motorcycles , a love of riding , and a love of his location . Apollo Bay is a fabulous place for motorcycle riding , located on Victoria ’ s west coast , the scenery is breathtaking , and although the seaside town is slowly succumbing to the ways of the modern world it has a feel of the past , some would suggest that it remains a 1970 ’ s destination . We can ’ t disagree and we won ’ t complain .
Fab doesn ’ t disagree either , it ’ s part of the draw of the region and it forms a huge basis for his motorcycle rental business , retro styled bikes , café racers and scramblers ... 73Moto .
Passion exudes when Fab speaks of his bikes and the region , he prefers a style of riding that has become synonymous with the Great Ocean Road , a laid-back style on bikes that are capable for a quick squirt when required . The Great Ocean Road is no longer the domain of the ‘ boy racers ’, no , it ’ s now a culture of cafés , restaurants , and bars .
“ The lifestyle down here , is chilled , relaxed ,” smiled Fab . “ It ’ s what we want with 73 Moto . Cool looking bikes that fit the road , the locations , and the lifestyle .
“ I ’ m a child of the 1970 ’ s ,” he continued . “ I wanted something that reminded me of that .”
Continuing , Fab explained that his first interaction with motorcycles was watching a ‘ gang ’ park on a footpath , his
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