Stelvio Duecento Tributo purchase.

[Smartbazza]

If its ok. I'll keep this thread going through ownership. I think it will be a good read and log. I'm probably not the typical Guzzi owner. And this bike will clock up alot of km so it'll be interesting to see it unfold.

Bike number 406
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Please do, I love these bikes. we dont have a dealer in NI which is what is currently putting me off ownership, as if / when issues arise , a good dealer is essential.

I actually hired one in Gran Canaria last November for three days.

BArry

 

[streethawkonr1]

Done.

Returned rental bike.
1min on the RS and I knew I needed to change. Its powerful. Well engineered. But just no fun to play with.

I left work on the rental Stelvio in Off Road mode, foot out, sideways motocross style. So much fun to play with. Especially in the deserted little slick village roads. Can snake the bike up the road.

Deal is fantastic. Over €2500 discount (Guzzi currently have €1500 off) and the machined cylinder head protection added for free.
Happy with that.
And they will take the RS so basically a straight swap. I just pay for the official panniers.

Spartan, I hired one in malaga a year or so ago, as you say good bikes. But how will you get round the limited ground clearance, the pegs will be worn away.

 

[Spartan]

Yes. This is an issue. But I have to adapt my riding. The rental touched a few times in the faster corners. Just a little kiss but enough to warn.



I play to play with the suspension ASAP to get it set up and feeling like my bike. So maybe once sag is set etc it will sit higher in its stroke.

The plan is to enjoy playing with the bike at lower speeds. Slide it around in the hills and ride it like a big supermoto. But also enjoy it ticking off the Autopista km.

On the RS i raised the pegs then just let them grind away the bits that touch. Eventually it kinda made its own ground clearance. O think thats the best plan. Set up the suspension. Be sure its not squatting or compressing too low under load. Then let it grind away the bits it doesn't want.

 

[Oldrat]

Loosely point your toes downwards when leaning over, they’ll give you fair warning and skim the surface before your pegs have any chance to dig in.

 

[walkingpictures]

Not sure about the sliding around stuff,that's way beyond me but hope you enjoy the bike.Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Kimbo

 

[Spartan]

Thank you. PDI being done today.

I asked them to be thorough. Be sure all campaigns and software updates are done. As I heard there is improved radar software to prevent false triggers. Test 12V battery as bike has been waiting on storage for a while. The dealership seem great and the technicians seem keen and switched on.

Hopefully collect next week. But Spanish Matriculation is hit or miss on timescales.

 

[Neil W]

One thing I noticed after riding both mine and the demonstrator is that the standard Michelin tyres are not the greatest match to the bike , something about the front profile makes the bike suffer from slight understeer , not a huge amount but different makes of tyres with the same nominal sizes but with a slightly different front profile changes the handling characteristics and gets rid of the issue .
Took a set of Michelins with less than 800 miles off my bike and switched to Avon tyres

 

[Fluffmeister]

One thing I noticed after riding both mine and the demonstrator is that the standard Michelin tyres are not the greatest match to the bike , something about the front profile makes the bike suffer from slight understeer , not a huge amount but different makes of tyres with the same nominal sizes but with a slightly different front profile changes the handling characteristics and gets rid of the issue .
Took a set of Michelins with less than 800 miles off my bike and switched to Avon tyres

I fitted Conti Trail attack 3’s and they’ve been superb on the Stelvio. Surprisingly good on gravel to for a 90/10 tyre.

 

[MartinK]

I fitted Conti Trail attack 3’s and they’ve been superb on the Stelvio. Surprisingly good on gravel to for a 90/10 tyre.

Me too
CTA 3 on my Stelvio and my GS. Brilliant tyre on both bikes,(same size tyre on both bikes too)

 

[Spartan]

One thing I noticed after riding both mine and the demonstrator is that the standard Michelin tyres are not the greatest match to the bike , something about the front profile makes the bike suffer from slight understeer , not a huge amount but different makes of tyres with the same nominal sizes but with a slightly different front profile changes the handling characteristics and gets rid of the issue .
Took a set of Michelins with less than 800 miles off my bike and switched to Avon tyres

Good info. I have no experience with these types of tyres or wheels size. But I was pleasantly surprised at the rear grip and drive. Even trying to make it do something at lean it just bit in and drove.

The front. I felt the same. Not so much understeer. I'd class that as the front actually sliding and basically nobody is catching a front tuck on a road bike. But it did feel vague . Like you have to kind of offer the tip in to the bike. Rather than just making it turn. Needed feel and gentle smooth inputs. But felt vague tipping in. I put that down to how a 19" wheel with dual purpose tyres must feel like.

Once it was turned though and settled it felt fine to me.

My opinion currently is i wont put road based tyres on it. I dont want to increase grip and lower fun. Also the suspension is fairly basic. It wouldn't be too hard to over tyre the bike and it'll tie itself in knots. Keen to see how long they last though.

I believe the bike will be ready on Tuesday. So probably collect Wednesday.

 

[Spartan]

Crazy day. But I have the bike. Flat out all day. Rushed by dealership with my daughter at 7.30 to collect. Rode it 10km home with her on the back. So not tried it out much.

Quickshifter doesn't work. No symbol on dash. I text the salesman. They've not coded it to on at PDI. Something felt a bit off with the bike on the short journey. Just investigated. Bars are squint in the clamps. Spent a bit of time aligning. Good old Italian quality. All the effort on styling. Then cant put bolts in or press the right coding buttons. Their cars are the same.

Bike felt and sounded amazing apart from that. As I say, my commute is 80km each way. So tomorrow I will go to dealership for 9am opening.

Accessory panniers and the billet head protection hasn't arrived. But its booked for 1st service in a week time so hopefully get it all installed then.

 

[Davey B]

Bad form of the dealer not sussing the cock-eyed bars on PDi. Enjoy the new bike.

 

[Neil W]

Crazy day. But I have the bike. Flat out all day. Rushed by dealership with my daughter at 7.30 to collect. Rode it 10km home with her on the back. So not tried it out much.

Quickshifter doesn't work. No symbol on dash. I text the salesman. They've not coded it to on at PDI. Something felt a bit off with the bike on the short journey. Just investigated. Bars are squint in the clamps. Spent a bit of time aligning. Good old Italian quality. All the effort on styling. Then cant put bolts in or press the right coding buttons. Their cars are the same.

Bike felt and sounded amazing apart from that. As I say, my commute is 80km each way. So tomorrow I will go to dealership for 9am opening.

Accessory panniers and the billet head protection hasn't arrived. But its booked for 1st service in a week time so hopefully get it all installed then.

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Just remember that somebody stole the Moto Guzzi Factory tub of grease so steering head bearing etc tend to be very dry BUT on the plus side they found 1000 litres of industrial military grade threadlock compound so every bolt is slathered in that to make up for the lack of grease

 

[littleade]

Bad form of the dealer not sussing the cock-eyed bars on PDi. Enjoy the new bike.

Perhaps they're all like that....

 

[Spartan]

I think this is the general standard these days. People dont care.

Issues happen in manufacturing. Thats why there is a PDI. But the techs have basically let air out the tyres, set the time and checked nothing.

This was the big selling point. I know there may be some issues. But I need a dealership i can trust and techs who have high standards. My R1300RS had 3 services and each time it came back with an issue. Maybe I am too hard on my technicians in my workshop but the standard is there. The cars leave perfect and have 2 final quality checks before client collection.

Lets see what happens tomorrow. I want to speak to the head tech. Introduce myself etc. We need a relationship going forward.
The dealership have agreed to cover the cost of the 1st service as an apology.

Anyway. In the short time I have had it. I like it already. I'll get up early and try and fit in 150km or so before the dealer opens. The. Do another 100km taking the long route to work using the mountain roads all the way.
Personal opinion but I believe first 100km especially and up to 200km are the critical km for break in. It needs one long heat cycle and rings seated in that one main initial run. Then the rest is just giving the gearbox time etc.

The box feels great. Smoother than the BMW.

 

[Cortina]

I think this is the general standard these days. People dont care.

Issues happen in manufacturing. Thats why there is a PDI. But the techs have basically let air out the tyres, set the time and checked nothing.

This was the big selling point. I know there may be some issues. But I need a dealership i can trust and techs who have high standards. My R1300RS had 3 services and each time it came back with an issue. Maybe I am too hard on my technicians in my workshop but the standard is there. The cars leave perfect and have 2 final quality checks before client collection.

Lets see what happens tomorrow. I want to speak to the head tech. Introduce myself etc. We need a relationship going forward.
The dealership have agreed to cover the cost of the 1st service as an apology.

Anyway. In the short time I have had it. I like it already. I'll get up early and try and fit in 150km or so before the dealer opens. The. Do another 100km taking the long route to work using the mountain roads all the way.
Personal opinion but I believe first 100km especially and up to 200km are the critical km for break in. It needs one long heat cycle and rings seated in that one main initial run. Then the rest is just giving the gearbox time etc.

The box feels great. Smoother than the BMW.

Agree that early miles are most important - I would generally try and not overload things (much) , but that does not mean low revs all the time. Make it do a bit of work but don't overheat / over stress (hard to put into words). I don't know what Guzzi say is the first service interval , but if it was mine - I would want an oil and filter change in the 500 to 800 mile range (approx). I generally find that dealers (workshop people) don't really know what they are doing. sad ! I know of one exception , but as it's a Honda dealer in Hull , that does not help you much !

 

[Neil W]

Perhaps they're all like that....

Mine is fine mire like the gave a bog eyed mechanic

 

[Spartan]

100km done. 4500rpm max. But all mountain roads. Motor and box feel better already.

Returned to dealer at 9am. They switched on Quickshifter in coding with the laptop. And I asked about the bars. He said they didnt road test the bike to avoid adding km. So missed it.

All good. 1st service is now free.

Only thing I've changed so far is I moved the lever position a bit. And added 8 clicks/ turns of rear preload as it was wound right off to 0 and bike felt a bit lazy. Feels much better now.
Not touched anything else so far. Forks feel fine to me. Damping is compliant but nice and firm with no soggy sponge feeling like the rental. So I'll leave it alone for now. Quick shifter and blipper are great. All much better than the RS in that area.

Brings me to a point I make alot. About reviews. Many many reviews with guys who cant ride. Or in the reviews the test nothing. Ride along at 60kph commenting on brakes etc. But actually test nothing. There appears to be a big thing on Google about clunk into 1st and also QS poor. Yes there is a clunk. But its smooth. Not grinding. Feels natural as a design of the bike.
The QS is super smooth. Up and down. The manual states it only works from 2500 onwards. I have no idea what these guys are doing who find fault . For me it is beautiful and matches the bike perfectly with that very slightly longer throw of the gear lever.

Set up the modes in order of ascending assistance.
Sport everything off. TC. Abs. Power 1.
Road TC1 and power still 1
Tour more relaxed. TC2 Power 2.
Then progress upwards with Rain TC3 and power back to 3.

Paired phone and helmet. Interface is great. Can play music via dash. Phone calls. Navigation. Operate grips, TPMS, seats and screen.

So far only 2 things bug me. In the dark the yellow radar lights are bright. Distracting. But i suppose thats the point. But I find the radar great. Very useful here in traffic where there are scooters up your inside at 80kph when waiting at a traffic light .

And the menu control. There are so many screens. If you flick right to get to screen position. Then go past it. You have about 8 more presses to cycle back through all the menus to return to it.

Overall. 100km and 4500rpm. Absolutely love it. Very impressed! Especially after reading online of how bad the brand is.

I'll keep updating as I gain more seat time.

 

[littleade]

Brings me to a point I make alot. About reviews. Many many reviews with guys who cant ride. Or in the reviews the test nothing. Ride along at 60kph commenting on brakes etc. But actually test nothing. There appears to be a big thing on Google about clunk into 1st and also QS poor. Yes there is a clunk. But its smooth. Not grinding. Feels natural as a design of the bike.
The QS is super smooth. Up and down. The manual states it only works from 2500 onwards. I have no idea what these guys are doing who find fault . For me it is beautiful and matches the bike perfectly with that very slightly longer throw of the gear lever.

Most wouldn't read the manual, they're professional testers afterall so don't need to

 

[Spartan]

Yeah. Like me just reading more of it and finding out if you ling press the mode button it goes straight to screen raise/lower. So no need to toggle menus.

I like this bike more every passing hour!