If Moto Guzzi is your cup of tea, and you are looking for an Adventure-Tourer versus a mile-eating Sport-Tourer, you may find that the Stelvio is more to your liking. With the same 1042 power plant as the Mandello, the Stelvio’s 115 hp 77.4 lb-ft of torque is mostly available at very low rpm (82%). Liquid cooled with its DOHC valve train, and now with advanced electronics, and a 6-axis IMU, this Moto Guzzi comes with throttle by wire and cornering ABS.
Tall, at a 32.7-inch height, its wide handlebars, mounted on 3.7-inch risers offer a great view. Those under 5’9” might find the Stelvio a bit tall, but lower seats are available as accessories. Having a slight cant of 6 degrees forward, a rider will find that legroom is not an issue.
Complete with shaft-drive the bike has great dynamics, partially because of the hypoid rear drive unit. The cast aluminium single-sided swing-arm is reinforced for off-road use, on the left side of the bike. The KYB cantilever mono-shock is adjustable for preload and for rebound, but not for compression. A quick-shifter is optional. With its great torque delivery at low rpm, it means one doesn’t have to fly up and down the gears to get enough out of the Stelvio.
The engine doesn’t have any substantive vibration, and combined with five ride modes delivers full power of 115 hp at 8,700 rpm. Sport mode is noticeably sharper and more exciting. Cruise control is standard. While optional, Moto Guzzi’s PFF Rider Assistance program can be had as a factory-installed option. Similar to Yamaha’s GT+, the Moto Guzzi PFF offers forward collision warning, following cruise control, but goes beyond with blind spot information system and lane change assist.
The Stelvio’s brakes are stellar utilizing Brembo brakes. The bike uses a 19-inch tubeless spoked front tire and 17 rear tubeless spoked rear. While capable off-road, it does not seem to be designed primarily as an off-road bike, more suited to gravel and dirt, rather than trails and rough rides.
The 5 inch colour TFT screen seems awkwardly high, at least to this rider. I would probably adjust to its height by sitting more erect in the seat, but after sitting on the bike, I found it a bit intrusive. However, it is both bright and very legible.
Having not been able to ride the bike as of yet, I’m looking forward to my impressions once able to run it through its paces off-road. I am attempting to arrange a formal ride and review for April. The Stelvio has a full LED lighting system with Daytime Running Lights and cornering lights.
If there is a bit of a downside to the Stelvio, it would have to be its weight, which comes in at 542 lbs. As the bike is rather tall, for shorter riders, having a bike with a higher centre of gravity, this might well lead to alternative options. However, considering that the bike has shaft drive, it either is worth it in the eyes of buyers or around 30 lbs too heavy for some of us.
The Stelvio’s price in Canada is $18,999 base up to $21,999 for all the options plus another $1,200 for PDI and freight for either option.
At $23,000 for the top of the line model, it puts it in the price range of the new BMW 1300 GS, at $22,795 CDN. This might prove a difficult sale.
I’ll have to wait till April to provide an honest opinion of the bikes chops in relation to its ride.
Ciao…
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