At a 2000 year old Castle in Italy the sound of horse’s hooves is replaced by a throaty rumble from a V-twin. The old horse wagons stand ready for a different type of transport. Knights in armour are replaced by men in leather and it makes the peasants shiver. We’re ready to ride, Shiver in the morning!

The front wheel lifts slightly as I descend from the mountain where Castle Brando sits. The new SL750 makes all the right noises that escape through a beautifully designed underseat exhaust. Should even make old Count Brandolini’s haunted ghost’s timbers shiver!

The Aprilia test rider that I am following knows these mountains like the back of his hand and the pace is urgent straight away. We ride through some fast sweeping corners, through a couple of villages and then up one of the many mountains North of Venice. This is where we will test the Shiver for a day and a half.