Moto Guzzi Stelvio

[Nick Marshall]

No.. its not mine..
Its a demo i took out today... tried very hard to like it, but at the end of the day, the only real fun to be had is when you thash it!
Being a moto guzzi four valve head, the power delivery is a bit like the Centauro, power comes in strong at 5,000 rpm so some people would never notice it if you dont ride it hard.
Quite liked the vibration and sound, back brake is very good, as well as the front. Seat is hard, however had no problem getting both feet flat on the floor. Handling is very good, instruments are a bit naff and budget looking.
But what killed it for me, besides the looks from the front, and to a lesser degree the back. Is the lack of midrange, quite often the throttle was fully open, but unless you are above 5,000 rpm not much happens until the revs are up.
Was told by the dealer that things improve when it gets a few thousand miles on the clock, this bike had done about 800 i think, But as we all know.. i would have sold it by then!
I left on my 5 year old R1150GSA and it felt great!

 

[Ash]

nick!!!
was that from o y b

 

[Nick Marshall]

no!

nick!!!
was that from o y b

they have knocked guzzi on the head.
this one is from those very nice people at Forza Itallia on the Silverstone circuit.

 

[Ash]

.............

 

[AndyT]

No.. its not mine..
Its a demo i took out today... tried very hard to like it, but at the end of the day, the only real fun to be had is when you thash it!
Being a moto guzzi four valve head, the power delivery is a bit like the Centauro, power comes in strong at 5,000 rpm so some people would never notice it if you dont ride it hard.
Quite liked the vibration and sound, back brake is very good, as well as the front. Seat is hard, however had no problem getting both feet flat on the floor. Handling is very good, instruments are a bit naff and budget looking.
But what killed it for me, besides the looks from the front, and to a lesser degree the back. Is the lack of midrange, quite often the throttle was fully open, but unless you are above 5,000 rpm not much happens until the revs are up.
Was told by the dealer that things improve when it gets a few thousand miles on the clock, this bike had done about 800 i think, But as we all know.. i would have sold it by then!
I left on my 5 year old R1150GSA and it felt great!

Your supposed to say how you left with a deposit on one and how it is the best thing since sliced bread... I really like these and in the back of my mind know that my 115o GSA is a much better ride.

On the other hand surely these can be tuned for more mid range or is that more of a mechanical thing e.g. different cams, compression ratio etc...

AndyT

 

[Nick Marshall]

Your supposed to say how you left with a deposit on one and how it is the best thing since sliced bread... I really like these and in the back of my mind know that my 115o GSA is a much better ride.

On the other hand surely these can be tuned for more mid range or is that more of a mechanical thing e.g. different cams, compression ratio etc...

AndyT

would have loved to buy another Guzzi, had about 6 already and love the punchy power.. but.. think if you have to buy a guzzi then trash it every where.. it kind of misses the point.

also, spending about a £1000 playing with silencers, injectors etc. isnt going to make a great deal of difference i dont think, and could make it a lot worse.

 

[DutchBryn]

Many were expecting much from this 'bike. I almost contributed to another thread on this site (pub-talk or some such), but someone beat me to it. They said, "I really wanted to like this bike.."
Me too. BMw need competion. It's good for us and is good for them.
BMW have the had the field to themselves for too long. Pity Guzzi aren't a real force any more. I read a piece on the 1200 page. Someone said their plans (honeymoon) became more complicated than they might have been because
of mechanical failures. 1st reply was "so what?" Great..
I suspect our German cousins could do better, if they had to, ie if they faced real competion.

Here's hoping someone in Italy shall put a bit a cash in!

A Beemer enthusiast.

 

[DutchBryn]

Excuses in an advance for grammaticals, it's been a bloody long day!!

 

[retroman]

I like Guzzis a s a rule, but the Stelvio is ******* horrible, end of story.

 

[beemerboy9]

Guzzi seem to have temporarily dropped a bo**ock with the Stelvio. They have obviously been chasing the "headline" power output of the 1200GS, which this bike is aimed at, and dropped in the peaky 4-valve/cylinder motor. The Germans admit it would be more competitive, particularly off-road, with the 2-valver. The Morini Granpasso topped the Guzzi in a recent comparison test.
Guzzi have either got to fix the hole in the torque curve or do a more radical re-think.
The rest of the bike is really great apparently.

 

[Packer]

But the GS is a 4 valve/cylinder engine so it can only be a matter of cams, exhaust, fuel injection, airbox blah, blah, blah

 

[AndyT]

But the GS is a 4 valve/cylinder engine so it can only be a matter of cams, exhaust, fuel injection, airbox blah, blah, blah

Stop talking sense, this is a Sunday you know

 

[DutchBryn]

Sunday's gone now, so back to it!

I keenly waited for Kevin Ash's road test of the Stelvio. I could be completely barking up the wrong tree, but I sense he sat on his report (see below), hoping to get the factory to improve its biggest fault - the revvy engine. No joy, sadly.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...7/Moto-Guzzi-Stelvio-A-tale-of-two-bikes.html

 

[Ogmios]

Thanks Nick,

thats a good blunt honest write up.
... and a shame.
it's one of the very few Bikes i've seen in YEARS that i've considered selling up all my toys for - and putting all my Biking "eggs in one basket".

oh well.
maybe it was just the one you rode......

- eternally optimistic aint i?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I had one out for a day a few months ago and thought it was a real hoot as long as you thrashed it. It really want`s to go and wiped the floor with my 1200GS ADV at big throttle settings in my opinion.

As an all rounder, it`s not in the same league as a GS because of the power delivery but it`s a pretty good effort. It handles and rides well.

Nick`s report was spot on and I really wanted to like it a lot but was more than happy to be back on my 1200GS.

 

[AndyT]

I'm so tempted to take one of these out for a test ride but dare not as I know the end result will be one of 2 things... A shattered dream as I love them or another bike in the garage which I can't justify.

To those that have ridden them is it just gutless low down or very strong high up in the rev range. I ask this because one of the reasons I sold my first R1200GS was that it was so happy being thrashed and I was blasting it everywhere which I can do on any Jap bike. I traded it in for an Airhead which is so much more enjoyable to ride at slower speeds and won't loose any value.

Damn .. I wish someone would close this thread

AndyT

 

[cookie]

i hear that 4v griso's eat clutches and the 8v version is so much stronger, owners might consider buying in bulk.

wonder if that's why they have no mid-range?

 

[Hookster]

I'm so tempted to take one of these out for a test ride but dare not as I know the end result will be one of 2 things... A shattered dream as I love them or another bike in the garage which I can't justify.

To those that have ridden them is it just gutless low down or very strong high up in the rev range. I ask this because one of the reasons I sold my first R1200GS was that it was so happy being thrashed and I was blasting it everywhere which I can do on any Jap bike. I traded it in for an Airhead which is so much more enjoyable to ride at slower speeds and won't loose any value.

Damn .. I wish someone would close this thread

AndyT

Took Moto Strada's (Shipley) 08 one out a few weeks ago up to Devil's Bridge in the worst of conditions and it was confident enough. However, build quality and some finish areas were disappointing. I'd rate the handling better than the GS and anyone who tells you a big twin like that doesn't pull form low down or isn't fast enough is IMHO wrong. It's a lot lower than the GS or feels it so that may suit some. That said it just didn't do it for me and I went and bought a Multistrada 1100S instead. So, yep, it wasn't the looks that put me off.

 

[Arsey]

Finally tried a Stelvio today

Having read many write ups saying the Stelvio was lacking in mid range,I finally got to try my local dealers' demo today.


I was definitely prepared to not like it,but was VERY surprised.

I'm 6'1" and found the riding position very comfy with seat on high setting.

The seat is firm,which I like and has a slightly canted forward riding position.

The screen buffeted my head on highest setting and was better on lowest when it directed wind at me,which is how I have settled on the GSA screen as well.

Engine wise,I was pleasantly surprised.

The FI is very good and I found the motor nice and tractable at low revs,up to about 3000,the kind of range you would be using around mountain hairpins etc.

Between about 3 and 5000 it was lacking a bit but above that there is REAL power,unlike the GS12s etc.

The motor is totally different to the GS Boxer but has real character and a much nicer exhaust note.

Handling is very good but you have to be careful not to give it too much mid corner as the torque reaction can upset it a bit.

Brakes were ok,but the front seemed a bit weak-but I had just stepped off my Blade,which would stop a supertanker in 50 metres !!


Finish looked pretty good though I hear that the back of the exhaust is mild steel and is prone to rusting.

<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20090314-f754mqt3sk16ucfhkrw73w5htt.jpg" alt="14032009639"/>

<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20090314-k73k7mste76ewfn5geg314fum8.jpg" alt="14032009643"/>


So a real nice bike and I would consider one when the GS goes.

But for me :

PROS

Good riding position
'Alternative motor' with loads of grunt up top
Good handling
Looks
Luggage provision/bungee points


CONS

Mid range
Looks !
Dodgy finish in parts
Price has just gone up 10%
ABS not an option until TT turns up in April

 

[Riders Rest]

I have one, been through the cam recall recently has 5,000km on the clock and yes the mid range does improve from with mileage, The whole ride improves infact with mileage and of course getting used to its idiosyncrosies - At first I thought it was a little weak but I have lived with it now since October and am really loving it.

I also have an FJR1300 and a Triumph Rocket 111 and whilst it doesn't pull as quick or as strongly as either it is the one I get on the most recently.

Each to his own I am guessing, but I think once the TT is out with the new tank range and wheel size options for knobblies then I think it will give BMW a run for their money and that will bring the run for aftermarket parts which are lacking at the moment. Give it time it will become a strong contender.