Up and Down the Stelvio on the Crosstourer

[russ_fae_fyvie]

For those on the CT and ADV Forum, apologies for repeating this !

Anyway we returned from a 3200 mile jaunt from Fyvie to Austria (Ried in the Tyrol) and the CT and it was a revelation.

Not having done that sort of milage on any of my own bikes for years (although been to NZ twice and hired bikes although with slightly less miles) the CT was bought last year with this sort of trip in mind because the Blackbird was now too much hard work for the old joints !

Anyway set off from Fyvie and nearly 400 miles to Cheshire for an overnight stop, then the following day to Folkstone for another overnighter before getting the chunnel the following morning (which was a much easier experience than a ferry by the way and it was our first try on it).

Following morning after getting off chunnel, headed for outskirts of Brussells and then to an overnight stop in Trier. Following day a run south through the Black Forest (and part of the B500) down to Titisee for another overnighter. Following day past Lake Constance down into Austria and to the hotel in Ried for a 5 night stop.

One of the days (unfortunately for us it was a Saturday) we went up the Stelvio Pass and although it was a great run, had an altercation with a corner while avoiding the idiot cyclists coming down. (note to self, next time dont go at the weekend!). Bike was a bit scratched but only on the crash bars thankfully.

After 5 nights in Ried we headed back north for an overnight stop in Heidelberg
followed by another overnight stop in Rochfort in Belgium before getting the late afternoon chunnel back to Folkstone. We then stopped off in Cheshire the following day again before finally getting home.

Total milage was just over 3200 and to be honest we were fresh as daisies at the end, no bum ache and we both felt great.

During the run I leant a couple of things about the bike.

First of all the MRA Screen and X Screen were ideal, absolutely no wind in the face, unfortunately because it was so hot (37 degrees at some points!) I actually wanted ! No pleasing some folk ! It was a very good set up though with no bus on the visor and I could ride at motorway speeds with the visor cracked open without being blasted.

I did find the centrestand grounded a couple of time when fully loads, 2 up, but it was mainly on bumpy roads in the UK on corners, even with the suspension wound up, so I'll have to have a look at that and maybe take it off, If you look at the photo below you will see what I mean.

All in all it was a brilliant holiday and has now whetted our appetite for more long distance runs on the CT as we now know its and ideal bike for it.

Here are a couple of videos of the run up and down the Stelvio, I need to edit out some of the stops and after just over 4 minutes of the 'up' ride is where we fell off !

On the way up...
http://youtu.be/nNVv0puKpwA


and going down.....

http://youtu.be/c7IGKcMkV80

 

[Fenlander Strasse]

I was up there a couple of months ago on my Multistrada, very enjoyable.
At 4:13 the two cyclists are no where near you, and are right over the far side of the road so how is that possibly their fault?

 

[GADGET]

I have just switched my GS for a CT, pannier frames just arrived today, so getting it sorted out for touring. Interested to know what the tank range/fuel consumption worked out to on this trip.

 

[columbus]

At 4:13 the two cyclists are no where near you, and are right over the far side of the road so how is that possibly their fault?

Need to agree with that but sometimes it's easier to blame others than accept we are at fault, I found that out the hard way.

More importantly how do you find the CT comparing it with the blackbird. I went to an 1150GSA from a bird nearly 10 years ago and I've been contemplating a change. Interested in your views.

Glad your wife wasn't hurt to badly footage is good to.

 

[cookie]

At 4:13 the two cyclists are no where near you, and are right over the far side of the road so how is that possibly their fault?

much as i'd like to blame cyclists (for anything really), that little off was simple rider incompetence.

honda ridas

 

[darkhorse]

that's one way of trying to get around one of the corners

great road, have had some laughs going up there

 

[r_atwal]

Incompetence

I don't understand how you are blaming the cyclist, to me that was plain poor riding. Learn from it and move on.

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

As much as some on here are blaming me, you obviously didn't see the cyclists coming down the hill that the camera didn't see, not just the one straight ahead.

If I'd have thought on, I could have quickly whipped the cam off and shown them, but having the bike on top of me took precedence !

 

[Rasher]

The Stelvio is only a "tick off the list" type of pass IMO, unless you are pass bagging or need to get from one side to the other on the way somewhere it ain't really worth the bother.

The views are quite nice and the west ramp has some half decent bends, the East ramp is annoyingly tight for the most part and IMO easier going down as you can see what is coming the other way and plan far easier - plus it is generally moving slower, certainly oncoming cyclists are not approaching at any speed

With the Bernina and Gavia so close by, and the Splugen, Julier, Albula, Fluella, Maloja not far away I would not bother in riding the Stelvio if in the region again.

Best to avoid middle of the day, we went up at about 3:00pm on a sunny Saturday and had little traffic, coming back down about 4:30 the road was also very light on other traffic. This year we rode over it 1st thing in the morning, heading up at about 9:30, stopping for just a few minutes and back down the other side at just after 10:00, traffic was pretty good, but still heavy by many pass standards where you can go right over without seeing another vehicle.

 

[Bryn]

As much as some on here are blaming me, you obviously didn't see the cyclists coming down the hill that the camera didn't see, not just the one straight ahead.

If I'd have thought on, I could have quickly whipped the cam off and shown them, but having the bike on top of me took precedence !

Two up on those hairpins, going up , on a tall bike is not the easiest of rides....

My Mrs hated the Stelvio... in fact she still goes on about it now and we did it in 2010

 

[Packer]

Re the centre stand, judging by the way it looks in your first image you may be able relieve the stops a bit so that it sits higher. I guess the limiting factor will be the swing arm at full suspension extension.

Glad there was no serious injury/damage, the CT is a heavy lump at 275Kgs and Honda's figures don't make it clear if that is with/without fuel.

A pillion, even a Tosser-lite one, and topbox won't have made it easier .

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

We did the Bernina on the way back, not coz we wanted to, it was just on the way back to the Hotel, the Stelvio was a one off, as we were staying not far away it would have been rude not to !

You are right about the CT being big, TBH our F8GS would have been better up there but I didn't fancy riding 2 up and loaded all the way from Scotland just so it was easier to go up the hill !

The CT was ideal for the long trip and we never had any sore bums or aching bones so now we are planing the next trip !

 

[Wapping]

As much as some on here are blaming me, you obviously didn't see the cyclists coming down the hill that the camera didn't see, not just the one straight ahead.

If I'd have thought on, I could have quickly whipped the cam off and shown them, but having the bike on top of me took precedence !

Ya fell off, ya Tosser

Why? Because you ended up going at a right angle across the apex, right across the steepest and most broken up bit. Tricky to get the power on (and its power you need to get yourself out of the mess, of course) as it may catapult you straight into the opposite wall, to which you are heading straight towards anyway, not least as you are looking at it. Close the throttle or brake in that position and naturally the bike will most probably topple over, gravity and a lack of forward motion being what they are.

Your picture in the opening post shows you (or someone) trying to do the same thing on another bend.

Get in deeper, the bike wants to be turning at a point much closer to the bottom edge of the picture or deeper again if possible, opening the bend up much more.

It's not the end of the world ( we all cock 'em up from time to time) and you didn't break your pillion's leg. So cheer up.

Me? I like the Stelvio. Is it the best pass? No, just iconic.



PS How's your corrosion going? http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3482182&postcount=26

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

twas me above, just glad I didn't know how close the centrestand was to touching down !!

As far as the GS, I eventually got the local stealer to give me 70% discount on the 2 casings which I picked up yesterday, I actually think he screwed up as well coz I only got charged £130 for the two casings !!

I'm happy for a change !!

 

[Rushy]

At 06.39 after you remounted there is a Stelvio coming down the Stelvio

 

[Dave56]

Russ-far-fyvie, you have a PM........

 

[Rasher]

twas me above, just glad I didn't know how close the centrestand was to touching down !!

Anything that far inward takes a lot more lean to deck so probably not as bad as it looks.

I would say soggy suspension and lack of damping is the culprit, I have rarely found a bike well sprung for two-up use, and two-up with luggage they are normally all collapsed with no significant damping even when adjusted right up.

I would call MCT or a similar outfit and get it sorted if your gonna do a lot of this, it makes touring so much more enjoyable when you can chuck the bike around almost as easily as when solo with no weaves, wallows or decking out - plus it will be more comfy for both of you.