The boot hitting the swingarm was also an issue for me. Ok riding normally, but for sporting cornering with the ball of the foot on the peg, I also catch my heel. A bit of 'helicopter tape' applied with a heatgun and all good 
Stelvio Duecento Tributo purchase.
- Thread starter Spartan
- Start date
Also installed the front mudguard decals. I like it. Adds more colour and they've got the colour match spot on. Suits the bike i think.
Wheels got ceramic coated also. Which seems to have made them a bit darker/deeper.
Wheels got ceramic coated also. Which seems to have made them a bit darker/deeper.
Now that is nice! Its the new anniversary colours right? No front radar? Are they non PFF bikes?
Glad you like the updates. Its a good log of real ownership and once the bike is up over 50,000km etc it will be good to look back on the journey. See what went wrong if anything. And see the experience all unfold.
I collected bike from dealership tonight. But had no time to test it. I will go tomorrow and try it now I can use all 9500rpm. Get a better feel for the whole bike. With the oil leak- they said its common at first service. They re torqued the engine bolts. It seem dry for now. But I will do alot of km over the weekend so it will have a good test.
Also my side cases arrived. So I'll take some photos. Just awaiting the billet head protection guards.
Glad you like the updates. Its a good log of real ownership and once the bike is up over 50,000km etc it will be good to look back on the journey. See what went wrong if anything. And see the experience all unfold.
I collected bike from dealership tonight. But had no time to test it. I will go tomorrow and try it now I can use all 9500rpm. Get a better feel for the whole bike. With the oil leak- they said its common at first service. They re torqued the engine bolts. It seem dry for now. But I will do alot of km over the weekend so it will have a good test.
Also my side cases arrived. So I'll take some photos. Just awaiting the billet head protection guards.
Big post !!
First run on the bike now i can experience the full bike. Learnt quite alot.
First is- this bike is fantastic. A real hidden gem. I genuinely have no idea why they aren't more popular. I've had many road and race bikes. KTM, 600's, litre bikes. Naked bikes. Motocross bikes. Sports bikes etc. Dogs like the NT1100 DCT ES. Gems like the original SP1. As a complete package. The Stelvio is it. Maybe it the time of life I'm at. My riding style. Where I live/climate/circumstances etc. As a get on and do everything its fantastic. The R1300RS was amazing. But the car equivalent of say an M5. Fast ish. Handles well enough. Sports but not quite. But just missed that thing about a bike. Where you can throw on a backpack and go to the gym. And equally hop on and do 5 hour routes, commute, but also play in the mountains and have fun.
Today's discoveries. The motor is good. Just enough. Not fast but not slow. This bike is different to the rental. The rental felt like it fell off the end of the torque curve before it came on cam. So ride slow- good. Ride harder- good. Ride half and half to 6-7000rpm and it was always in a no mans land. This bike doesnt seem to have that. It pulls strong from low down then at 7 it comes on cam and the BHP takes over as the torque flattens. As a road bike engine its beautiful. The mapping is butter smooth. Best i have felt on a road bike. Actually very impressive!
Added 2 more click to rear preload. As once it was all run in the rear felt a bit out of synch with the front. 2 clicks re gained the balance.
Tyres and chassis- being able to use all the rev range has uncovered more things. Chassis is very good. If you check the geometry numbers actually set up quite sporty for an adventure bike. Front obviously cant take alot of load. But you can load it and it responds better trailing the brakes in but get off them before its too deep into lean. I want a little less rear grip to play with the bike more and have fun. So upped rear pressure to 3.1bar cold. And I have no idea what's going on but it gave it more grip, but also made it feel more progressive when playing. To describe it- faster sweeper, get it progressively loaded into the corner. It feel good and has grip. But the tyre cant take load. So mid corner when its at max lean get back to gas and just start to drive it and its like a drift lever. As you progressively roll on it starts to move, pause and it stays, keep rolling and it steps out more. Super smooth and huge fun. Never rode a bike like it!
TC- hmmmm. Quite stepped and basic. Not GSXS1000 basic. But for example. There is a local road here. Long sweeping uphill right. Its like ice. I'll try and make some videos to show it. TC works like it lets itself go too much then corrects itself. Rather than constantly controlling. Like if you make TC work the revs raise, then drop, raise, then drop.
TC 4. Works well. Bike barely moved.
TC 3. Similar but allows a bit more. This is probably the best setting for all round road use. Where you feel it move a little bit instantly the bike has caught it.
TC 2. Lets it go quite a bit. Revs raise noticeably and bike steps out enough the bars turn. I think this would be a good lowest setting for the road. Where it would move alot but catch it before it went too far.
TC 1. Not sure of the point of this. Its basically the same as off but more dangerous. It lets it move alot then grabs it and snatches. Eg, slippy Hill, leaned to right, 100% throttle and revs jump from say 5000 to 7500 then it absolutely kills power like a switch. Thats basically ideal situation to make a highside.
TC 0. Actually better then TC1. Because it lets it go but doesn't grab it. So rear spins then just runs off the power curve. So 5000rpm, breaks traction but revs to 8000 and sits there spinning but controllable. I'll try to video this. It'll be easier to show.
Navigation app. Tried this. Its not got waze levels of warning but it does warn of cameras. Its a bit limited as you cant put in multiple way points. But it actually works very well. I was looking to fault it. But having the Navigation on the screen, speed limit warnings. Turns are clear and plenty notice. It was very good if say you are going to one destination. Here to Jerez for example. Rather than multiple way points in the mountains.
Panniers- theyre not worth €999. But do the job. Feel basic. Not quality like the BMW ones. But big plus is you can fit a full size helmet in each one. Right side is only tiny bit smaller with hump for exhaust. I think the also sit well on the bike and look good.
Next decision is whether to install a Mistral exhaust. The standard bike sounds great. But just a little deeper boom to the tone would be perfect. Sometimes it sounds a bit tinny.
Some photos with panniers installed.
First run on the bike now i can experience the full bike. Learnt quite alot.
First is- this bike is fantastic. A real hidden gem. I genuinely have no idea why they aren't more popular. I've had many road and race bikes. KTM, 600's, litre bikes. Naked bikes. Motocross bikes. Sports bikes etc. Dogs like the NT1100 DCT ES. Gems like the original SP1. As a complete package. The Stelvio is it. Maybe it the time of life I'm at. My riding style. Where I live/climate/circumstances etc. As a get on and do everything its fantastic. The R1300RS was amazing. But the car equivalent of say an M5. Fast ish. Handles well enough. Sports but not quite. But just missed that thing about a bike. Where you can throw on a backpack and go to the gym. And equally hop on and do 5 hour routes, commute, but also play in the mountains and have fun.
Today's discoveries. The motor is good. Just enough. Not fast but not slow. This bike is different to the rental. The rental felt like it fell off the end of the torque curve before it came on cam. So ride slow- good. Ride harder- good. Ride half and half to 6-7000rpm and it was always in a no mans land. This bike doesnt seem to have that. It pulls strong from low down then at 7 it comes on cam and the BHP takes over as the torque flattens. As a road bike engine its beautiful. The mapping is butter smooth. Best i have felt on a road bike. Actually very impressive!
Added 2 more click to rear preload. As once it was all run in the rear felt a bit out of synch with the front. 2 clicks re gained the balance.
Tyres and chassis- being able to use all the rev range has uncovered more things. Chassis is very good. If you check the geometry numbers actually set up quite sporty for an adventure bike. Front obviously cant take alot of load. But you can load it and it responds better trailing the brakes in but get off them before its too deep into lean. I want a little less rear grip to play with the bike more and have fun. So upped rear pressure to 3.1bar cold. And I have no idea what's going on but it gave it more grip, but also made it feel more progressive when playing. To describe it- faster sweeper, get it progressively loaded into the corner. It feel good and has grip. But the tyre cant take load. So mid corner when its at max lean get back to gas and just start to drive it and its like a drift lever. As you progressively roll on it starts to move, pause and it stays, keep rolling and it steps out more. Super smooth and huge fun. Never rode a bike like it!
TC- hmmmm. Quite stepped and basic. Not GSXS1000 basic. But for example. There is a local road here. Long sweeping uphill right. Its like ice. I'll try and make some videos to show it. TC works like it lets itself go too much then corrects itself. Rather than constantly controlling. Like if you make TC work the revs raise, then drop, raise, then drop.
TC 4. Works well. Bike barely moved.
TC 3. Similar but allows a bit more. This is probably the best setting for all round road use. Where you feel it move a little bit instantly the bike has caught it.
TC 2. Lets it go quite a bit. Revs raise noticeably and bike steps out enough the bars turn. I think this would be a good lowest setting for the road. Where it would move alot but catch it before it went too far.
TC 1. Not sure of the point of this. Its basically the same as off but more dangerous. It lets it move alot then grabs it and snatches. Eg, slippy Hill, leaned to right, 100% throttle and revs jump from say 5000 to 7500 then it absolutely kills power like a switch. Thats basically ideal situation to make a highside.
TC 0. Actually better then TC1. Because it lets it go but doesn't grab it. So rear spins then just runs off the power curve. So 5000rpm, breaks traction but revs to 8000 and sits there spinning but controllable. I'll try to video this. It'll be easier to show.
Navigation app. Tried this. Its not got waze levels of warning but it does warn of cameras. Its a bit limited as you cant put in multiple way points. But it actually works very well. I was looking to fault it. But having the Navigation on the screen, speed limit warnings. Turns are clear and plenty notice. It was very good if say you are going to one destination. Here to Jerez for example. Rather than multiple way points in the mountains.
Panniers- theyre not worth €999. But do the job. Feel basic. Not quality like the BMW ones. But big plus is you can fit a full size helmet in each one. Right side is only tiny bit smaller with hump for exhaust. I think the also sit well on the bike and look good.
Next decision is whether to install a Mistral exhaust. The standard bike sounds great. But just a little deeper boom to the tone would be perfect. Sometimes it sounds a bit tinny.
Some photos with panniers installed.
I'm hoping the Stelvio engine will be in a good looking naked bike sometime soon
The pannier criticism is really valid which is why I went with SW Motech DUSC and the pro carriers, so still “clean” when the side carriers are popped off.
Mistral kit is fantastic, I’ve got them on the V7, but I’ve not found any aftermarket can that improves over the looks of the stock, only one close IMHO is the SC-Project, and because of the huge cat, not many improve on the sound.
Having ridden a few gravel roads on mine, the Hepco and Becker bash plate was well worth the outlay, and it rises high enough to protect the front engine cover.
Mines back from having the forks replaced under warranty now
Mods wise on mine I’ve got
Sw-Motech adjustable footpegs
ASV adjustable levers (The stock just didn’t have the right span adjustment for me)
OEM Spotlights
Hepco Skid olate
Chigee AI06 with ODB Module for data logging etc
SW-Motech Yukon tank bag
SW-Motech DUSC panniers and Pro side carriers
OFBStar Diagnostics device (also resets service indicator)
20mm Risers
Tall comfort seat
Final drive protector
Thunderbox accessory connector
Additional Duocento decal kit
Pyramid fender extender
WRS Short sports screen and WRS deflectors (Both the same tint, just my OCD kicking in)
Paint protection film on the tank
Suspension setup sweep by Kai’s in Manchester
Nice to see you are getting along with it.
Mistral kit is fantastic, I’ve got them on the V7, but I’ve not found any aftermarket can that improves over the looks of the stock, only one close IMHO is the SC-Project, and because of the huge cat, not many improve on the sound.
Having ridden a few gravel roads on mine, the Hepco and Becker bash plate was well worth the outlay, and it rises high enough to protect the front engine cover.
Mines back from having the forks replaced under warranty now
Mods wise on mine I’ve got
Sw-Motech adjustable footpegs
ASV adjustable levers (The stock just didn’t have the right span adjustment for me)
OEM Spotlights
Hepco Skid olate
Chigee AI06 with ODB Module for data logging etc
SW-Motech Yukon tank bag
SW-Motech DUSC panniers and Pro side carriers
OFBStar Diagnostics device (also resets service indicator)
20mm Risers
Tall comfort seat
Final drive protector
Thunderbox accessory connector
Additional Duocento decal kit
Pyramid fender extender
WRS Short sports screen and WRS deflectors (Both the same tint, just my OCD kicking in)
Paint protection film on the tank
Suspension setup sweep by Kai’s in Manchester
Nice to see you are getting along with it.
The pannier criticism is really valid which is why I went with SW Motech DUSC and the pro carriers, so still “clean” when the side carriers are popped off.
Mistral kit is fantastic, I’ve got them on the V7, but I’ve not found any aftermarket can that improves over the looks of the stock, only one close IMHO is the SC-Project, and because of the huge cat, not many improve on the sound.
Having ridden a few gravel roads on mine, the Hepco and Becker bash plate was well worth the outlay, and it rises high enough to protect the front engine cover.
Mines back from having the forks replaced under warranty now
Mods wise on mine I’ve got
Sw-Motech adjustable footpegs
ASV adjustable levers (The stock just didn’t have the right span adjustment for me)
OEM Spotlights
Hepco Skid olate
Chigee AI06 with ODB Module for data logging etc
SW-Motech Yukon tank bag
SW-Motech DUSC panniers and Pro side carriers
OFBStar Diagnostics device (also resets service indicator)
20mm Risers
Tall comfort seat
Final drive protector
Thunderbox accessory connector
Additional Duocento decal kit
Pyramid fender extender
WRS Short sports screen and WRS deflectors (Both the same tint, just my OCD kicking in)
Paint protection film on the tank
Suspension setup sweep by Kai’s in Manchester
Nice to see you are getting along with it.
Excellent info. Thanks for replying. This is the kind of discussion I was looking for.
Yes i agree on the levers. Both a little far even on closest setting. I see there is some thread on the pin that goes to the lever so maybe its possible to adjust there? But if there's an excuse to buy ASV levers I'll take that option
. I ordered the Mistral frame plugs. They look good quality with the logo engraved etc. I saw a video of a guy who has a Mistral Avión exhaust fitted. He has a few raw bike only sound videos of riding in the hills. It sounds good. Yesterday I did 300km. The standard is loud enough. I like bikes to be fairly quiet as I don't want any attention or to be noticed when playing in the hills and the sound to be travelling. I tend to go out very early in AM or late in evening when all other bikers are gone. So i can play alone with no attention etc. But yesterday once really hot the exhaust sounded good but a bit tinny. The pops on overrun are great but can sound like a stone in the heatshield at times. I dont want more DB. Just a deeper more powerful full sound. Like an old school twin. SP1, Firestorm etc. But i suppose they were pre can and Euro 5 nonsense.
Adjustable footpegs sound interesting. They are now 1mm away from starting to wear away the rubber part so something a touch higher or with less material under the peg would be good. Although the centre stand is touching on the right and its caused the bike to move a bit when that touches.
Bash plate also sounds good. After every ride the bike is wiped down with a ceramic detailing spray. Its also a good chance to check it over at end of every day. But the front engine area takes alot of dust etc. In rain in winter it looks like it will be a nightmare to clean.
Yes. PPF is fantastic. The whole bike is done. Fork legs. Screens. Painted parts etc. We have cars come into work with damage and literally once the PPF is removed the panel is barely marked. Its an absolute must! Same with ceramic coating wheels etc. The dirt/dust just doesnt stick.
I am thinking of wrapping the silver part of the panniers with white vinyl. The silver doesn't look bad. It just doesnt look like a natural fit/match to the bike.
AI made a mock up
Also. The service light. Can someone explain to me how this works because it makes no sense.
Surely the strategy is to come on with say 500km warning then count down. Bike was serviced with just under 1500km. Dealership tell me they cant reset it until it is on. So 20km later when it hit 1500 the spanner came on.
It doesnt seem right. You'll be riding. Service light pings on. Then you make the booking wait 2 weeks and by then its 1000km over due.
I'm mindful also about putting on am exhaust or going in myself with diag kit because this bike will have a hard life. And if it blows up I dont want hassle with warranty.
Surely the strategy is to come on with say 500km warning then count down. Bike was serviced with just under 1500km. Dealership tell me they cant reset it until it is on. So 20km later when it hit 1500 the spanner came on.
It doesnt seem right. You'll be riding. Service light pings on. Then you make the booking wait 2 weeks and by then its 1000km over due.
I'm mindful also about putting on am exhaust or going in myself with diag kit because this bike will have a hard life. And if it blows up I dont want hassle with warranty.
The service light does not trigger early in my experience of modern Guzzi ownership, and even with PADS the dealer can’t “stop” the service light from coming on when it his the mileage / time.
I wanted my 6k mile service doing before I left for a trip earlier this year but the service light was not on, got the bike serviced fine but as I got part way through Germany, the service light came on.
I bought the Guzzi specific ODBStar tool, so fault code diagnosis and service light reset and coding things on and off is simple. It works with my V7 as well as the Stelvio (well any Guzzi with an ODB port) and I’d stuck that in the top box in anticipation so reset the light myself (it would have bugged the tits off me)
I also used the tool to code in the Piaggio OEM alarm I fitted and I’ve disabled the rear heated seat. I never carry a pillion, and it was an extra click in the menu to go past to get to the adaptive cruise and windscreen adjustment.
Panniers look good wrapped in white, I think that would be my move with the OEMs.
The service light is a quandary, but based on everything I’ve searched and every question I’ve asked, that’s how it works, it’s almost hard coded to trigger at X miles and even the PADS kit can’t modify that, only reset! Once triggered.
I wanted my 6k mile service doing before I left for a trip earlier this year but the service light was not on, got the bike serviced fine but as I got part way through Germany, the service light came on.
I bought the Guzzi specific ODBStar tool, so fault code diagnosis and service light reset and coding things on and off is simple. It works with my V7 as well as the Stelvio (well any Guzzi with an ODB port) and I’d stuck that in the top box in anticipation so reset the light myself (it would have bugged the tits off me)
I also used the tool to code in the Piaggio OEM alarm I fitted and I’ve disabled the rear heated seat. I never carry a pillion, and it was an extra click in the menu to go past to get to the adaptive cruise and windscreen adjustment.
Panniers look good wrapped in white, I think that would be my move with the OEMs.
The service light is a quandary, but based on everything I’ve searched and every question I’ve asked, that’s how it works, it’s almost hard coded to trigger at X miles and even the PADS kit can’t modify that, only reset! Once triggered.
As a side note, if anyone in the Northwest wants any Guzzi stuff diagnosing or coding I’m happy to help.
I fitted Oxford heated grips to the V7 as the Guzzi ones are dire, used the OEM connectors and then just enabled the function with the ODB Star, so all controlled from the menu and left switch gear and nicely integrated.
Apologies for the slight off topic post.
I fitted Oxford heated grips to the V7 as the Guzzi ones are dire, used the OEM connectors and then just enabled the function with the ODB Star, so all controlled from the menu and left switch gear and nicely integrated.
Apologies for the slight off topic post.
And regarding the forks. You said they discoloured before they failed?
Like this?
How easy was it to get a fix through warranty? And do you know what the issue was and if the new part is modified?
Like this?
How easy was it to get a fix through warranty? And do you know what the issue was and if the new part is modified?
Yes, exactly like that. Internal bushings are changed I believe with the new forks as it’s a heat related issue.
Initially the dealer got the usual Piaggio rejection but they pushed back, and got it accepted, they sent the new forks from Italy inside 2 weeks.
It all happened with me on some fairly spirited riding up and down the passes on this years trip, and the forks went stiff, as Inmentioned before it was like the compression damping was wound on 200% and the front wheel skipped a few times on tight bends on the Rombo (from memory) as they just were not compressing to soak up imperfections and braking forces.
Normal riding never gave me any further lockups but the more spirited sessions in the passes saw it manifest again to different degrees, which then triggered a confidence bug in my brain.
I’m yet to really test the new forks to see if it’s remedied or if I just had a bad set originally.
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Interesting. How long from the initial discolouration until you felt the forks go hard?
The new parts arw modified in some way? I assume so. I wonder why all the bikes then dont have this issue, only a few within a certain buildi window.
How were Piaggio with the warranty claim? Did it go though no problems? Or was it a drawn out process of weeks and battling?
From what I read Piaggio are difficult to deal with. But then again its like everything- you only read the bad experience on the Internet. People rarely hop online to spread news about the good.
The new parts arw modified in some way? I assume so. I wonder why all the bikes then dont have this issue, only a few within a certain buildi window.
How were Piaggio with the warranty claim? Did it go though no problems? Or was it a drawn out process of weeks and battling?
From what I read Piaggio are difficult to deal with. But then again its like everything- you only read the bad experience on the Internet. People rarely hop online to spread news about the good.
It took an email and phone call to the customer service manager at Piaggio UK to resolve it and get it approved under warranty. The initial fob off was due to the factory being closed for summer.
Once Sally the super sorceress got on the case (dealer principal) then things moved quickly. Not only that but she also got me a goodwill bonus thrown in too.
That’s my gripe with Guzzi. Piaggio, you HAVE to have a a good dealer that’s not going to roll over as they have a habit of off hand rejecting warranty claims.
I love the bike, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned in your posts but Piaggio U.K. are awful to deal with. Other regions may be better of course.
Piaggio’s attitude has made me want to throw the towel in and just go buy a V-Strom 1050 with a 10 year warranty and Japanese build quality.
Totally love the Stelvio still, it’s great to ride, makes me smile, makes me look back at it when parked up, but I just know that if I have an issue, Piaggio are going to be their usual awkward selves.
Apart from the forks, my other warranty issues have been minor, but only ONE of the issues went straight through, everything else was rejected and required further pushback from the dealer and more evidence. I think I listed those earlier in the thread.
I’m kind of thinking, typical Italian, maybe the first two years all the bugs will be ironed out on mine and it will be perfect from then on
Just to add, it’s not a hit piece on my Stelvio, two BMWs I owned where FAR worse, the difference being BMW just sorted it out.
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