2024 MG Stelvio

[Ollie]

A couple weeks ago I took a prairie buddy who is inline-4 and cruiser-minded to view the 2024 Moto Guzzi V100. No Stelvio in the showroom yet. He could not get away from it. Eventually we had to leave the place, me dragging him by the coat shoulder.

Guzzi has got a model streak going with their V85TT, V100 and now the new Stelvio.

I agree and I figure there is another bike or two based on the V100 drivetrain coming.

[Ollie]

This afternoon I took the Stelvio out for the first time, accompanied by Jim on his KTM1190. Weather was clear and had warmed to 45 (7c) when I left at noon and got to the mid 50's for a while. The bike had 1 mile when I left and when I filled up 7 miles from the house on the return, the odometer showed 192 with the low fuel light having been on the last 12 miles. We were on paved primary and secondary roads at 30-70mph indicated speeds with a 20 mile Interstate jaunt at 80 indicated (about 75 actual). Heated grips were on I or II (out of III) the entire time and worked well.

I'm 5'-11", 195#, with a 32" inseam and the ergonomics fit me well, if anything I could wish the seat to be maybe both 1/2"-1" taller and rearward for my achy old knees, but the seat itself is fairly comfortable and flat for a stock one. Handlebars are located perfectly and the windscreen and overall wind management is very good. The ergos seem very close to the V85TT but I was able to remove the bump in the V85's seat which lets me scoot rearward an inch. Can't do this on the Stelvio because the bump or rear of the rider's bucket is the front of the passenger seat.

The engine is delightful and pulls well even when I tried it down at 2,000 rpm in 4th. Fueling is spot on with no flat spots or hesitations anywhere. The throttle is better than on any other bike I've experienced recently with no abruptness at all, very smooth. No vibration or buzzing, at least at any speeds today. The bike idles fairly high at 1400 but Jim's KTM idles about the same so high idling is pretty common anymore.

The gearbox and wet clutch combine to give a light lurch and bang when selecting 1st gear, similar to a modern Harley. Jim's KTM does as well but maybe not quite as abrupt. It's something wet clutch bikes just do, some more so than others. Shifting up and down through the gears (no quick shifter) was nice and no missed shifts so the gearbox works well very, about the same as a Wethead BMW. My only slight gripe is the ratios seem closer than need be with 5th and 6th being a little short. 60 mph (actual) corresponds to 4,000 rpm which seems a little high for a bike with this much power and 6 gears. I wouldn't want 1st any taller, if anything it could be a bit lower, on a bike like this so it's not the FD ratio it's the gearbox ratios. It was fine for the riding I did today but riding in areas with higher speeds I just feel a taller 6th would be nice. I should add it doesn't need a taller gear to keep below an RPM where vibrations begin, at least to 80 mph.

The handling is fairly light and very neutral, it doesn't fall in nor does it need pushed. As a matter of fact I didn't even think about the handling until we'd been riding a while. Like seats I guess, if you don't think about it, it's probably pretty good. Going around a long 270* curved entrance ramp I am always making minor corrections to maintain the line through that curve, but it just followed that curve like it was on a track.

Brakes are strong with a very lineal feel. Surprisingly the rear is particularly good requiring little effort as well. Rear brakes on some motorcycles, like my V85TT and Tenere 700, require a healthy press yet still seem weak. Not so on the Stelvio.

The gravel/dirt road I live on had the front top part of the fairing jiggling around some which of course could be slightly heard as well. Both the instruments and windshield system mount to this area and I can see it all moving around some, more than I think it should. My hunch is it might get worse if ridden a lot on rough roads but maybe not, we'll see. This is really my only build quality complaint and the V85TT cowling area doesn't do this.

I want to get some kind of panniers for sure, preferably top load aluminium. I'll probably also do something with the seat, maybe just fit a sheep skin for longer rides or possibly replace it with an aftermarket one (if someone comes out with one). The windshield seems fine. The exhaust sounds great to my ear and there's no popping so I wouldn't change it if someone gave me one! All in all I'm quite happy with it, too bad about the dull paint finish.

[the Ferret]

Nice thorough report Ollie

[Ollie]

Thank you, ferret!

[GoldOxide_imp]

Good start Ollie.

Can't wait for more.

[Cormanus]

Well, Ollie, that sounds like you’ve done well.

[KiowaEagle_imp]

Congratulations Ollie!
I sat on a Stelvio when I dropped the Norge off for service last Saturday. I'm going back with a friend this Saturday so she can test ride a V100 and I'll hopefully pick up the Norge. I feel like I'm....

[Ollie]

Thanks guys. Kiowa, I hope she likes the Mandello.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Thanks guys. Kiowa, I hope she likes the Mandello.

[Ollie]

I thought I'd update my experience with the Stelvio with a brief report of my ride to the Guzzi Rally in John Day, Oregon.
I left on the longest day, Friday June 21st and was gone 14 days, riding 13 of them. One day at the rally I didn't ride at all but the other two there we rode around that area of Oregon on some excellent roads. One could spend a couple weeks just riding in Oregon and the roads there are well maintained too.

There and back I set my alarm for 4:20 and was on the road by a little after 5am. About 3-4pm I'd call ahead and book a relatively inexpensive motel 150-200 miles ahead and stop for the night around 5:30-6pm. I chose lower priced mom and pops when available otherwise Super 8, Motel 6, etc. Including tax (which can be 10% or so) they ranged from $62 to $108. Always best to ride in even numbers because price would have been about the same for two but I was by myself.

The Stelvio had 1,419 miles when I left so it was barely broken in. I'd done the first service myself at 960 miles which was basically changing engine oil and filter. I figured the synthetic oil would be fine but I took a 20 oz bottle along in case it used some (it didn't). My concern was if the tires would last for 7,000+ miles (the rear didn't). So on the return in Colorado, since I was near a BMW/Guzzi dealership which had the same Anakee rear tire in stock, and with mine just about at the wear bars at 6,012 miles, I had them install a new one. The odometer showed 7,636 when I got back.

My plan was to take 2-lane highways most of the way there other than the first day. That first day I decided to slab it across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, hopefully to eastern Iowa. But I experienced countless slow downs, even stops and detours, on I-70 due to construction. And it was hot (around 96), so I called it a day about 4 in eastern Illinois. The next 3 days were just about as hot because of the same hot front in the north central US. And this brings up the fact that the Stelvio is warm to ride in temps of upper 80's and over with all the heat coming from the engine, headers, catalytic converter, and radiator blowing up your inner thighs and torso. It's not as bad as some (KTM and Harley's for example) but worse than others. This was my only real gripe with it on this ride but I believe it would have been with most bikes. The Stelvio itself didn't run hot, the gauge never went above 1/2 way.

On the positives it was comfortable and wind management just about perfect with the brunt of the wind blast deflected smoothly around but with enough clean air hitting me which is just how I like it with the shield down. I'm almost completely out of wind and rain when ducking slightly down behind the raised shield. Throttling is perfect and it has plenty of power for passing, even at higher speeds (which is where the V85 suffers a bit). On open roads I typically set the cruise about 7-8 GPS mph over the posted speed limits. Limits on 2-lane ranged from 60-75 and 4-lane 70-80. So on a 2-lane road posted 70 mph the speedometer would show 82 and the bike would be going an actual 77. I did not record mpg but when I did the occasional check it was always over 40 mpg even on 4-lane roads, and 45 to 50 when going a little slower.
The panniers hold a fair amount and the luggage rack is stout, though it'd be nice if it were a little wider, so it's easy to pack up.

I did check oil the first few days each evening when I stopped for the day and it never left the full mark so I quit checking until I got home and again it was right at the full line.
Loaded and ready to go with probably too much stuff including either the air jacket or 1-piece Roadcrafter suit for cool and or wet weather in one pannier, tools, mini compressor and tire plug kit, tent, chair, sleeping bag, mattress, clothes, etc.

First day, traffic on I-70 completely stopped east of Indianapolis. After 20 minutes or so I turned around and went a mile or so backwards to an entrance ramp, up it to loop 30 miles around the stoppage which was caused by a combination of the beltway closed for construction and a wreck 11 miles ahead. I think I'll avoid I-70, especially anywhere near Indianapolis, from now on when on a motorcycle.
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Iowa Rt 3 is a pleasant road to cross the northern part of the State.
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I think a Stelvio is a good alternative to an R1200/1300GS. Performance is about like Wethead GS 1200 which is plenty for me. It sounds nicer, runs well, and is quite a bit less than a new R1300 GS.

Badlands SD.
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Day 6 Wednesday took me across Idaho into Oregon and even though the rally didn't begin until Thursday I was able to set up. There were already about 25 there including Mick and Mark from Australia. Mick (wearing the hat) still has the first motorcycle he ever bought, a 1969 Triumph Bonneville, along with 15 others. He keeps one in the States for when he comes every year. For Mark it was his first time here and he had arranged to purchase a Guzzi SP which he picked up from the seller in Cali which he rode it to the rally and will ship back home.
They hadn't seen a new Stelvio in person and Mark was eager to see how it felt.

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On the return, after a new tire in Colorado Springs, in NW Kansas. I find long, straight, roads interesting simply because they are so different from what I'm used to.
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In summary; the Stelvio is a very good travel bike and most of a day comfortable. By mid-late afternoons I would start squirming a little. It handles well on all types of roads and doesn't lack for power even loaded down, up grade, at higher elevation.