Menus
- The all-way golden eagle
- Stelvio: the highest road mountain pass in Italy at an altitude of 2,758 meters, with 84 bends … Can we find a more engaging name for a machine dedicated to travel? ?
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- In the city
- Motorway and expressways
- Departmental
- Part-cycle
- Braking
- Comfort / Duo
- Consumption
- Conclusion
The all-way golden eagle
Stelvio: the highest road mountain pass in Italy at an altitude of 2,758 meters, with 84 bends … Can we find a more engaging name for a machine dedicated to travel? ?
Appeared at the Milan Motor Show 1989, its ancestor, the confidential Quota 1000, was also targeting bikers attracted by African rally raids. The new road trail from the Mandello firm was unveiled in Berlin in February 2007. Its marketing began in 2008 with the ambition of driving on the market tracks of the essential BMW R 1200 GS. For this, the transalpine has, like the German a historic engine architecture: the legendary but now very modernized V-twin at 90 °, 4 valves per cylinder, facing the road. This is a master argument that the Stelvio combines with many other qualities.
Discovery
Like all trails, the Guzzi offers an assertive aesthetic, rather rewarding. If its bulbous gaze intrigues at first glance, it is quickly forgotten and the complex and elegant design of the tank, the fairing, the careful integration of the indicators and the quality of the equipment quickly give a very favorable impression..
It is above all the general line of the machine that appeals. The Italians have the genius of design, it is clear that once again: the Stelvio seems light, very dynamic and its atypical engine block with exemplary finish attracts attention..
No hand guard as standard, that’s a shame. On the other hand, the Stelvio incorporates a trunk with electric opening controlled by the handlebars, in the right part of the non-metallic tank. Space is measured but is very useful at tolls.
Under the passenger seat, a small space with a 12-volt outlet allows you to take a small road map, summer gloves or a disk unit. An optional tank bag is also available as well as cases, whose aluminum brackets are already very nicely installed and serve as a tie-down point. A large luggage carrier completes the luggage transport possibilities of this rather welcoming traveler..
The motor is placed in a tubular steel frame, very discreet, fixed on 6 points to maximize rigidity.
The fully configurable Sachs shock absorber is adjusted using a wheel accessible from the left side, even when driving. The inverted Marzocchi fork, 50 mm in diameter, is also adjustable in any direction (preload, rebound and compression). Beautiful and good material.
The side stand is assisted by a very efficient central.
Of course, the transmission is acatene, housed in a carefully designed housing. Guzzi’s great experience in terms of gimbals gives transparent and efficient use. This is a CA.R.C. system, specific to the brand (Compact Reactive Gimbal).
In the saddle
Both rider and passenger are generously provided with comfortable seating space. The easily variable saddle height, from 820 to 840 mm, allows the fairest riders to easily manage the footprint of the trail. In addition, the weight (251 kilos dry) is well compensated by a good balance.
Wind protection is provided by a powerful and elegant screen whose manual height adjustment is a real pleasure, even while riding! This is probably the best trail ever. It also has the advantage, even in the high position, of allowing a little air for the pilot in hot weather and still limits turbulence. An even more efficient version is available as an option.
The speedometer unit deserves to be raised a few centimeters higher, but offers good ergonomics. The rev counter on the left has light indicators for neutral, reserve, ABS and even kickstand. An LCD window on the right, surmounted by indicators for turn signals, high beam and shifter (adjustable), groups together the information of tachometer, gauge (only 3 bars), a total odometer, clock, exterior temperature. In the lower part scrolls, via the knob of the left stalk: trip, average speed, max speed, average consumption and travel time. This digital screen should have been larger. Its reading is worse than on the benchmark of its kind: the XTZ 1200 Super Tenere.
The mirrors appear cramped but are surprisingly efficient and vibrate little. T fork, stems, cable management: the whole is rewarding and the tank / fork crown aesthetic is very dynamic. We can still see some ugly electrical wire thimbles at the headlight covers … a negligence that should no longer be noted even if BMW is not doing much better..
In the city
A simple push on the starter (without maintaining the pressure) is enough to awaken Mandello’s adventurer. Here, no valve-type device. A deep melody comes out of the exhaust, with a sober and stylish design. As a good baritone, it takes a few seconds or hundreds of meters to warm up and adjust his voice while gentle vibrations set the pace.
The gearbox and the clutch are very smooth, the gears lock perfectly.
Urban developments prove a controlled balance. The fork does not dive and the Stelvio is easily placed in traffic. The turning radius is not the best in the segment but allows for no-maneuvering U-turns. High and well-lit, you can see far away and other users can see your presence very well. Flexible, the V twin almost allows evolutions to less than 2,000 turns on the 6th report. The 3rd speed is more suitable and avoids jolts while allowing frank acceleration.
The knees are away from the top engine and plastic-coated ergonomic stops prevent pressure on the injection systems.
Motorway and expressways
The rigid design of the Stelvio combined with the qualities of its suspensions make it a monument of stability at high speed. At 130 km / h, the engine rumbles serenely on the last report, at 4,500 rpm. A small twist of the accelerator easily propels rider and passenger to 150 km / h, 800 laps higher. We reach 170 then 190 km / h at 6,000 and 7,000 revolutions minutes respectively. The engine tows steadily to the red zone at 8,000 rpm, with maximum power of 105 horsepower delivered 500 rpm lower.
Bubble adjusted in height, the crew can swallow the kilometers. The legs are slightly bent and well protected behind the cylinders and the feet benefit from the air deflection of the shoe, unfortunately made of plastic.
Departmental
Among Italians, ramage often relates to plumage. Benefiting from the engine mapping of its over-equipped NTX sister, the Stelvio now delivers engine approval at all speeds. In the last gear, the big max torque of over 11 m / kg and the engine design provide great ease of use, all in the roar of an airplane. After 5,000 laps, the vtwin unleashes and climbs without ever slackening towards the red zone.
It’s a real joy to ride, whatever the road, whatever the pace. Particularly incisive and rigid, the trail takes you to the rhythm of its good vibrations. Discovery mode or more sporty driving, the Stelvio ensures and shifts from angle to angle without downtime and its good ground clearance invites you to tilt the machine without qualms. The grip and profile of the Pirelli Scorpions are also related to muscular use.
Bumpy roads and abrasive surfaces do not affect the handling and comfort of the Italian wader.
Getaways along the way are also satisfying. Without having the neutrality of a GS, the Stelvio brilliantly smooths over difficulties with its large 19 "front wheel and sturdy fork. The lack of traction control and engine multi-mode does not hamper its operating efficiency.
Part-cycle
Lively and comfortable, rigid, precise … there is hardly a fault to point out. The fork barely stiffened as it brakes on the angle. The gimbal does not elicit more comments. The fully adjustable suspensions will allow everyone, manually of course, to adjust the comfort as well as possible.
Braking
2 radial calipers 4 pistons at the front … powerful but with a reasonable attack, the braking is efficient, associated with an ABS, optional (700 €), without reproach. The 250 kg of the maxi-trail are not felt. The rear brake is as powerful as it can be dosed.
Comfort / Duo
Welcoming, the passenger handles are comfortable and well dimensioned, the footrests placed at a comfortable height, the Stelvio takes its crew without fatigue. For the pilot, the vibrations are not bothersome, even after 800 km.
The passenger should pay attention to the exhaust, the low end of which is very close to the left ankle. There is clearly insufficient protection here.
Consumption
The 18-liter tank, including 3.5 liters of reserve, allows stages of 250 – 270 kilometers before the indicator lights up and displays the accumulated kilometers traveled in reserve. Autonomy is therefore a bit tight for this type of machine even if consumption is generally less than 6 liters per 100 km.
Conclusion
With this maxi-trail, Moto Guzzi surely achieves the machine most able to compete with the R 1200 GS. Its comfort, its equipment, the approval of its engine, its character, linked as much to its performance as to its present but well filtered vibrations and to its bewitching sound, make the Stelvio particularly attractive against an excellent BMW much more subdued but perhaps more suited to distant adventures. However, the vast majority of maxi-trails will hardly come out of the asphalt and the Italian brings real added pleasure to riding.
On the price side, the Stelvio is offered at € 13,300 in the basic version and € 14,000 with ABS. Its over-equipped NTX version, at € 15,590 with additional lights, aluminum engine case protection, handguards, ABS and luggage … The BMW GS is available from € 14,100 without ABS … You have to spend more than 15,000 € for a basic GS Adventure too…
The Stelvio therefore seems better positioned in price.
Linked to the Piaggio-Aprilia group, the brand still suffers from a now unjustified reputation in terms of reliability and finishes and now produces rewarding and low-electronic motorcycles … while keeping an expressive personality both in design and in dynamics. . certainly an asset for boosting sales. For those looking for a machine in this segment, the Stelvio is one of the motorcycles to try absolutely … at the only risk of not being able to do without it..
Strong points
- motor character and flexibility
- cycle part performance
- solo and duo comfort
- gimbal neutrality
Weak points
- autonomy
- weight still a little high
Datasheet
Competitors: BMW 1200 GS, Ducati Multisrada 1200, Honda Varadero 1000, Honda Crosstourer 1200, Kawasaki Versys 1000, KTM 990 SMT, 1200, Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200, Yamaha XTZ Super Tenere 1200
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