Stelvio....first thoughts.

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just like the bikermate…. Where’s my bloody key….. ooops, I left it dangling out of the lock on my top box.

Top box?
Don't use one much and it and my panniers are keyed to my ignition key, so no danger there - BMW are smart like that

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bollocks . Where’s my key fob ?

Have you looked under the bed ?

I am still under the bed, so just found it thanks

Is it safe to come out yet?


I have only been there for the last 3 years

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I have two bundles of keys for the bike.
It is a good job I do not have more than one bike then.

The keyless on my KTM does two things.

• it pings a signal to the bike, telling it that its owner is standing near it, thus allowing me to start it.
• Unlocks keyless fuel filling cap.
• It also unlocks the seat lock (which is the only lock on the bike that does require one to insert the key into) allowing me to gain access to a battery and an airman pump fly lead.

Therefore the key is permanently living in my jacket zippered chest pocket.

The second bundle of keys is for the RoadLock, Givi panniers/topbox and a chain/lock combo should I take it with me on a jaunt. This set of keys does live in my tank bag or in a pocket of my jacket.

I have only screws up twice leaving the keyless fob in the pocket of a GTX jacket, then packing it away into the pannier bag, whilst wearing my mesh jacket for example. But I’ve learned from my mistakes and try to remember not to repeat them again.

Anyway, back to the Stelvio’ “cheapo looking” key…

Like I said earlier, keyless sounds a faff

 

[Wapping]

sounds a faff

Sounds…. An important distinction.

 

[Clifton]

MCN's review seems mostly accurate to me, silly to find fault with the key though because it functions perfectly. And thankfully it's not needed to open or close the panniers like the "keyless" on another bike I have. Traditional key over a fob any day for me.
As delivered the suspension was awfully harsh both on smaller repetitive bumps as well as larger hits. Backing off the rebound 1/4-1/2 turn less than the base solo setting, along with a couple thousand miles of breaking in, really improved the ride over the small stuff like on a gravel road, and somewhat improved it over large bumps. But for me it's the large bumps like potholes and frost heaves are where the suspension still suffers.

As far as the gearbox, the clunk going into 1st from neutral is annoying and can't be good for it so I try to avoid it. I don't find the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts bad at all and certainly not "brutal" as passenger Alison described. Overall shifting does improve as it breaks in too.

The engine is a peach. Look at that torque curve, it's putting out over 40 lb ft at just 2,000! BTW the chart shows torque peaking at 71.6 lb ft @ 7,000, not 66.6. Most impressive to me is how smoothly the engine makes its power from 2,000 all the way to 9,000. Throttling is perfect with no abruptness at low speed that plagues so many bikes. And the motor sounds good.