I have to put in a vote for Bianchi. Not well known over here either but I bought a Bianchi in 2001. Mine is the equivalent of a Grizzly as sold in the US but This is one bike that I can definitely recommend. The heart of any Bike is the frame and the ancilliaries depend on how much you want to pay. Mine came with a lot of Bianchi Branded parts and even they did not let me down.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan