From Motovarese, KTM bike, KTM motorbike, shop and rental (free pick up at Malpensa Airport), follow the directions for the horse-racetrack, then for Valganna (direction Ponte Tresa). Once in Viale Valganna (“Valganna street”) you’ll find the Lindt factory (you can feel the smell of chocolate from 1 Km!) and you’ll see the Poretti brewery, a beautiful villa overlooking the factory in which there is a beautiful collection of glasses. Just after the brewery there’s the “caves of Valganna", that is a spike/peak of rock (between the tunnels) from which a little cascade descends. The road is a nice “fast & slower” mix, and quickly you’ll find yourselves on long straight bits of the road, suitable for super-sporty bikes.
On your right (at the second straight) there’s the farm "San Gemola", where you can eat a good ice cream or delicious slices of meats and cheeses at reasonable prices. Continuing towards Ponte Tresa you’ll find the village of Ganna with its small lake, and right after the village centre, on your left there’s the way up to Boarezzo, that is the descending point of the variant proposed (just after the village of Ganna we recommend the famous restaurant "3 risottos" for those who love rice).
Going straight on, you’ll find the village of Ghirla with its little lake, after a series of fast bends on the lake edge to be done in full gear. The lake is really pretty and you can stop on its inner shore to sunbath on a "well equipped" lawn (you can see it from the road, on the opposite shore of the lake).
In the village of Ghirla the ascending road to Marzio begins (that is the starting point of the proposed variant- see below).
Continue straight towards Ponte Tresa up to the village of Cugliate Fabiasco, where you should turn left (after the petrol station) following the direction for “7 termini”. After the group of houses, there’s a narrow and winding climb, full of curves and bends, where light motorbikes can give their best performances. Even if the flooring is often "dirty" with sand and a few too many holes, the road is still fantastic for driving. Be careful to cyclists and pedestrians during chestnuts/mushrooms season.
After the top of the hill you arrive on a short straight bit of the road, where, unless there are people, you can make a nice impennata to release the adrenaline accumulated on the tight and dirty curves!!!. The descent towards Bosco Val Travaglia is surrounded by plants and gives you a nice sense of peace. Once downhill, follow signs for Luino and take the Cittiglio-Luino road (SS 394) towards Cittiglio.
The return journey can be made going uphill from Grantola (follow signs to Varese) which offers nice wide bends alternating with short straight bits, or going further on and then going uphill from Brinzio (after the roundabout of Ferrera, straight, then pick the first on your left towards Varese). The climb to Brinzio offers many curves where you can meet a lot of “crazy”-motorbikers (and you can have a little race…), but be careful to cyclists on Sunday mornings.
optional detour: the variant Marzio - Ardena - Alpe Tedesco - Boarezzo: Variant Marzio - Ardena - German Alps - Boarezzo is ideal for the "lone wolfs", hungry for curves, narrow roads and "dirty" ground. We like to do it starting from the village of Ghirla (from the main square turn left, and go uphill to a road that a seems to lead to a car-park). There the road begins immediately with curves and bends, but be careful and “control yourselves” especially if you have the AKRA, since there are some houses to pass by. Shortly after the houses, begins a series of curves and short straights where the bike is sometimes bended to rub the running boards/ pedals, or sometimes with the anterior part pointing to the sky!. You’ll began to breathe again on the hill just before the village of Marzio, where the woods give room to a wide view of the Swiss Mountains. The descent to Ardena is even better, but the famous "toboga" (that is a narrow passage between rock façades) is not forgiving if you make mistakes braking. In Ardena you’ll find yourselves literally on a balcony overlooking the Gulf of Ponte Tresa, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view (for those who smoke, it’s a good place for a cig).
The road on your left leads to the “Valganna road” (SS 233). At the stop sign, turn left and you can, once in Cugliate Fabiasco, go up to “7 termini”. On the contrary, if you turn right towards Ardena, you can continue trough the suggested optional tour: from Ardena descend on the lake (Lake Ceresio), finding yourselves on the “Ponte Tresa- Porto Ceresio” road, turning right towards Porto Ceresio. Just before the town of Porto Ceresio (in front of a sharp curve on your left), you’ll see the signs leading to “Cuasso al Piano/ Cuasso al Monte”: go uphill following signs to the “Alpe del Tedesco” (the German Mount), and you’ll find yourselves on a narrow street surrounded by woods (with a "dirty" surface), but where rarely someone is met, so ... you can speed-up/race!!!. This road takes you back to Boarezzo, from where you’ll descend to Ganna, passing trough long straight bits and u-shaped curves, making your way back.