Stelvio -v- V85TT

[retroman]

I called in at Thunderroad Cwmbran whilst out and about today; lo and behold, they finally have both a Stelvio and V85TT demonstrator, plus three Stelvios in stock in the showroom

First time I've seen a Stelvio in the flesh and I have to say it looks fantastic with impeccable build quality. HOWEVER I was a bit alarmed when I actually sat on it: the bike feels really heavy, with all the weight at the top ... such a contrast to the BMW Boxer Twin of my R1150GS for obvious reasons ...

In contrast the V85TT felt so much lighter and easier to manage, so I'm wondering if this might be the deciding factor if/when I come to buy next Spring (plus, the large price difference).

Anyway .. time will tell, I'll test ride them both soon and report back.

 

[wessie]

the V85TT is a contender should I replace the R1200RS. I rode one when they first came out and nearly pulled the trigger but Covid came along.
I have moved to the boondocks of Mid Wales a few months ago but spent the last couple of weeks looking at options. The Stelvio is out of contention, didn't even sit on it. Retirement and a reduced income would mean dipping into savings to buy one, but they do look nice. I visited Frasers in Gloucester and A&D in Denbigh. I rode an Aprilia Tuareg and sat on the V85. The Tuareg is very nice but chain drive. The V85TT felt right, just as it did on the test ride some time ago. Shame it is not 200kg.
I was not enamoured with the value of my "high mileage" RS at 33k so will be keeping it over winter and probably past my May 2025 trip to Spain.
There are a few 20235 spec V85TT Touring bikes on Autotrader in the Northern Wastelands. £10499 new. A lot of bike for the money as the new 2024 version is £13300.

 

[TIJ650]

Was kinda tyre kicking them too cause simply can’t get a hard on for the Himalayan. Totally different bikes I know, but all my pennies are prisoners and can only imagine the Enfield being relatively worthless in a few years when falling to bits?! lol
The Guzzi 85 has been around a while and might hold its value better.
Lot of bike for £10k - for sure

 

[Arsey]

Was kinda tyre kicking them too cause simply can’t get a hard on for the Himalayan. Totally different bikes I know, but all my pennies are prisoners and can only imagine the Enfield being relatively worthless in a few years when falling to bits?! lol
The Guzzi 85 has been around a while and might hold its value better.
Lot of bike for £10k - for sure

Why would the Enfield fall to bits ?
Companies like Nomadic Knights take people all over the Himalayas on them because they’ll go anywhere and be dependable .

 

[AustinW]

I’ve had my V85 for over 5 years and 32k miles. I still like it.

 

[TIJ650]

Why would the Enfield fall to bits ?
Companies like Nomadic Knights take people all over the Himalayas on them because they’ll go anywhere and be dependable .

Apologies for my assertion, but until the bike has proven it’s metal to me - I remain kinda neutral on them. I actually quite like them, but something was missing. The one I test rode felt quite timid on my usual roads (compared to the GS). Not slagging though and still think it’s exceptional value. Although Indian quality control and health & safety are virtually non existent. I’m probably just being a racist cock - so forgive me.
All things being equal, I just think the V85 is a better proposition for someone looking a for a good long distance travel companion

 

[Arsey]

Apologies for my assertion, but until the bike has proven it’s metal to me - I remain kinda neutral on them. I actually quite like them, but something was missing. The one I test rode felt quite timid on my usual roads (compared to the GS). Not slagging though and still think it’s exceptional value. Although Indian quality control and health & safety are virtually non existent. I’m probably just being a racist cock - so forgive me.
All things being equal, I just think the V85 is a better proposition for someone looking a for a good long distance travel companion

Pretty sure the Himmy 411 has proven itself . I’d expect the 450 to be even better .

Quality control and health and safety non existent?

More assumptions? Even been to India ?

 

[SBD]

Yes.

Ran a design office there for three years.

Like most other places you can get outstanding brilliant staff to do exceptional work, and utter plonkers making a dog’s breakfast out of simple stuff.

 

[retroman]

By coincidence, I visited today on my 2018 Himalayan!

It's a great little bike (my go-to cheap runabout) and build quality seems fine, I can't see it falling to bits any time soon. I've just put RE box panniers (1) because they are useful (2) if/when I ever decide to sell, it might be more appealing to a prospective buyer.

I'm keeping my R1150GS but it's 22 years old and I'm not sure about going overseas on the old girl anymore, hence the need for a new-ish bike.

 

[TIJ650]

More assumptions? Even been to India ?

Yeah, only Goa though. I actually rented a 250 or 350 Enfield too. It looked quite cool next to the other scooters. Was a total pile though.
I found India on a bike quite interesting……….especially the railway crossings with no barriers and pretty fast fucking trains!! Lol
Bought a six pack of Lacoste polos that were all slightly different sizes………and one lap of the tumble dryer fucked them!!
Admittedly that was over 15 years ago and the new 450 I rode recently was light years ahead of the thing I rented in India.
Don’t assume everything, just some things.

 

[TIJ650]

………..I used to work for big Japanese company and our main factory was in Shenzhen. Thought they had a whole bunch of hi tech robots building shit, but did they fuck. It was all people (of all ages too). People are cheaper than machines in China. They also found it perfectly acceptable to have one fatality/ week without any investigation. Hope that answers your H&S query?! lol
India same same

 

[TIJ650]

By coincidence, I visited today on my 2018 Himalayan!

It's a great little bike (my go-to cheap runabout) and build quality seems fine, I can't see it falling to bits any time soon. I've just put RE box panniers (1) because they are useful (2) if/when I ever decide to sell, it might be more appealing to a prospective buyer.

I'm keeping my R1150GS but it's 22 years old and I'm not sure about going overseas on the old girl anymore, hence the need for a new-ish bike.

I agree the Enfield is a decent little bike, but just not for me. For fucking around I use my wife’s 300 Vespa.
I’d rather buy a used and proven V Storm for around £5-£6k over the Himalayan
No right or wrong here, just different.

 

[snelly]

Was kinda tyre kicking them too cause simply can’t get a hard on for the Himalayan. Totally different bikes I know, but all my pennies are prisoners and can only imagine the Enfield being relatively worthless in a few years when falling to bits?! lol
The Guzzi 85 has been around a while and might hold its value better.
Lot of bike for £10k - for sure

I like that blue and white with the red frame;

 

[snelly]

By coincidence, I visited today on my 2018 Himalayan!

It's a great little bike (my go-to cheap runabout) and build quality seems fine, I can't see it falling to bits any time soon. I've just put RE box panniers (1) because they are useful (2) if/when I ever decide to sell, it might be more appealing to a prospective buyer.

I'm keeping my R1150GS but it's 22 years old and I'm not sure about going overseas on the old girl anymore, hence the need for a new-ish bike.

Why the lack of confidence on the 1150; i guy has just posted his 2 up adventure abroad on an old 1100 with getting on for 100,000 on it with no problems.

 

[retroman]

Why the lack of confidence on the 1150; i guy has just posted his 2 up adventure abroad on an old 1100 with getting on for 100,000 on it with no problems.

... mines on 70k with a few issues becoming apparent, it's also getting a bit too heavy for me as I get older (hence my concerns over the Stelvio), I'd like a lighter and newer bike for longer distance. Plus I've always fancied a Guzzi anyway, and I'm now in a position to own three bikes for various types of trip.

 

[Neil W]

Local Guzzi dealer has both the Stelvio and the V85 demo bikes available and have decided that I will go and test both back to back before the end of the summer.

Looks like if it works out the r1150gs and ktm 1090 Adventure S will be going the journey to be replaced with probably a Stelvio ( maybe the R1250 GSA might go as well)

No way am I buying a new R1300 GSA

 

[retroman]

No way am I buying a new R1300 GSA

... I'm in the same boat. Ludicrous money for a bike that looks like a fridge. I've tried to like it (and the standard GS) but I can't face the prospect of seeing that thing pointing out of my garage everyday. Or the potentially horrendous hole in my finances, once luggage & satnav are added ....

 

[Wrinkly]

I'm on 3400mls on my Stelvio now. The gearbox has loosened up nicely, it still clunks a little into first but nothing like it did. Otherwise the gearbox is very nice. It's a quicker bike than it appears, I often glance down and think 'whoops' A couple of slight niggles. One of the screen adjuster pivot pins went AWOL, soon replaced. I discovered a slight oil leak at the bottom of the engine gearbox mating. There was an 8mm bolt missing. I suspect it had never been put in. I had a suitable bolt which I put in and have had no problem since. I have spent ages messing with the suspension. I have also dropped the triple tree one ring down the forks. The suspension now feels OK but I'll still swap it when anything suitable is available. Overall it's a great bike and I'm still loving it.
Is it a better bike than the V85? I would say on the whole 'yes' but the V85 is still a better bike on the tight gnarly back roads. I made a mistake swapping the V85 for a V7 but it's going back and a V85 is on it's way...

 

[Neil W]

I'm on 3400mls on my Stelvio now. The gearbox has loosened up nicely, it still clunks a little into first but nothing like it did. Otherwise the gearbox is very nice. It's a quicker bike than it appears, I often glance down and think 'whoops' A couple of slight niggles. One of the screen adjuster pivot pins went AWOL, soon replaced. I discovered a slight oil leak at the bottom of the engine gearbox mating. There was an 8mm bolt missing. I suspect it had never been put in. I had a suitable bolt which I put in and have had no problem since. I have spent ages messing with the suspension. I have also dropped the triple tree one ring down the forks. The suspension now feels OK but I'll still swap it when anything suitable is available. Overall it's a great bike and I'm still loving it.
Is it a better bike than the V85? I would say on the whole 'yes' but the V85 is still a better bike on the tight gnarly back roads. I made a mistake swapping the V85 for a V7 but it's going back and a V85 is on it's way...

My last 1200 and the 1250 are Basic ie non ESA and suspension is good as standard but I have Maxton units which were on the 1200 and will be going onto the 1250 , all the BMW techs who rode my 1200 with Maxton shocks stated that it was the nicest handling 1200 gsa they had ridden. It would be the route I would take with a Stelvio

 

[Wrinkly]

My last 1200 and the 1250 are Basic ie non ESA and suspension is good as standard but I have Maxton units which were on the 1200 and will be going onto the 1250 , all the BMW techs who rode my 1200 with Maxton shocks stated that it was the nicest handling 1200 gsa they had ridden. It would be the route I would take with a Stelvio

I believe Maxton have done one for the Mandello, but nothing for the Stelvio yet.