Thanks, just back yesterday (July 4th) afternoon. I left Friday the 21st so I was gone 14 days riding 13 of them. One day at the rally I didn't ride at all but the other two there we rode around that area of John Day Oregon on nice roads. One could spend a couple weeks just riding in Oregon and the roads there are well maintained too.
There and back I set my alarm for 4:20 and was on the road by a little after 5am. About 3-4pm I'd call ahead and book a relatively inexpensive motel 150-200 miles ahead and stop for the night around 5:30-6pm. I chose lower priced mom and pops when available otherwise Super 8, Motel 6, etc. Including tax (which can be 10% or so) they ranged from $62 to $108. Always best to ride in even numbers because price would have been about the same for two but I was by myself.
The Stelvio had 1,419 miles when I left so it was barely broken in. I'd done the first service myself at 960 miles which was basically changing engine oil and filter. I figured the synthetic oil would be fine but I took a 20 oz bottle along in case it used some (it didn't). My concern was if the tyres would last for 7,000+ miles (the rear didn't). So on the return in Colorado since I was near a BMW/Guzzi dealership which had the same Anakee rear tyre in stock, and with mine just about at the wear bars at 6,012 miles, I had them install a new one. The odometer showed 7,636 when I got back.
My plan was to take 2-lane highways most of the way there other than the first day. That first day I decided to slab it across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, hopefully to eastern Iowa. But I experienced countless slow downs, even stops and detours, on I-70 due to construction. And it was hot (around 35c), so I called it a day around 4 in eastern Illinois. The next 3 days were just about as hot because of the same hot front in the north central US. And this brings up the fact that the Stelvio is warm to ride in temps over 30c with all the heat coming from the engine, headers, catalytic converter, and radiator blowing up your inner thighs and torso. It's not as bad as some (KTM and Harley's for example) but worse than others. This was my only real gripe with it on this ride but I believe it would have been with most bikes. The Stelvio itself didn't run hot, the gauge never went above 1/2 way.
On the positives it was comfortable and wind management just about perfect with the brunt of the wind blast deflected smoothly around but with enough clean air hitting me which is just how I like it with the shield down. I'm almost completely out of wind and rain when ducking slightly down behind the raised shield. Throttling is perfect and it has plenty of power for passing, even at higher speeds (which is where the V85 suffers a bit). On open roads I typically set the cruise about 7-8 GPS mph over the posted speed limits. Limits on 2-lane ranged from 60-75 and 4-lane 70-80. So on a 2-lane road posted 70 mph the speedometer would show 82 and the bike would be going an actual 77. I did not record mpg but when I did the occasional check it was always over 40 mpg even on 4-lane roads, and 45 to 48 when going a little slower. (US gallons of course).
The panniers hold a fair amount and the luggage rack stout, though it'd be nice if it were a little wider, so it's easy to pack up.
I did check oil the first few days each evening when I stopped for the day and it never left the full mark so I quit checking until I got home and again it was right at the full line. The oil check is a little different than most bikes. When I changed the oil and filter I poured in 5 quarts which is just under the 5L max capacity. I check when the engine is warm then letting it idle 30 seconds or so before shutting it off. Then lift it on the centre stand, remove and wipe the dip stick, reinsert it (just one turn) all within 20-30 seconds.
Loaded and ready to go with probably too much stuff including either the air jacket or 1-piece Roadcrafter suit for cool and or wet weather in one pannier, tools, mini compressor and tyre plug kit, tent, chair, sleeping bag, mattress, clothes, etc.
First day, traffic on I-70 completely stopped east of Indianapolis. After 20 minutes or so I turned around and went a mile or so backwards to an entrance ramp, up it to loop 30 miles around the stoppage which was caused by a combination of the beltway closed for construction and a wreck 11 miles ahead.
