M-G Stelvio TT Touring

[charismaticmegafauna]

'mmonroe': I like a bunch of you, hang on the ADV forum. I really want to get an ADV style bike...

The Stelvio TT Tourer is something to behold, imho.To find: webbikeworld site, Home, Right side, 2009 Moto Guzzi Report and Pictures, Scroll down, voila.

Maybe someone here has better 'net skilz than my poor abilities...? -- and can post a pic of this beauty? :huh:

 

[Fred W]

'mmonroe': I like a bunch of you, hang on the ADV forum. I really want to get an ADV style bike...

The Stelvio TT Tourer is something to behold, imho.To find: webbikeworld site, Home, Right side, 2009 Moto Guzzi Report and Pictures, Scroll down, voila.

Maybe someone here has better 'net skilz than my poor abilities...? -- and can post a pic of this beauty? :huh:

How's this?

Named after this pass:

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Wonderful..!!

 

[Murph]

Interesting. From what I understand, Moto Guzzi has had enough issues getting parts to their dealers in the lower 48 so, although the bike has the appearance of durability, I don't think I'd want to risk getting stranded in Deadhorse, Inuvik, ..... or Tierra del Fuego.

Love that mountain pass though! :clapping:

 

[SockMonkey]

I too am very interested in this bike and have been following the discussions on various DS and Moto Guzzi boards (though the only real feedback is for the plain-jane verison of the Stelvio as the TT hasn't been released yet and there aren't any plans to do so in the US as yet...).

The most consistent complaint I've read is that despite the new 8 valve motor (4 valves/cyclinder), there's nothing down low and midrange isn't so hot either. It seems to be most comfortable at higher revs and higher speeds. Now this could have been addressed in this TT version, though MG hasn't mentioned anything to that effect...

 

[beemerdons]

Oh boy, I see teerex51 looking at this! I can't wait to see what our Italian Stallion has to say about the Moto-Guzzi Stelvio!

He, Mek & Hook pinned my ears back when I said I lusted after Ducati. Man, did the Italianos ever let BeemerDonS have it!

I really like the looks of the Stelvio; hell's bell's, I still think the Moto-Guzzi Falcone is one of the prettiest bikes ever made!

 

[teerex51]

I remember reading this bike's test report on German magazine Motorrad.

They were impressed with the Stelvio, especially so with its handling and suspensions. They found the bike well balanced, stable and agile.

Unlike its intended target bike, BMW's R1200GS, the Stelvio's front wheel offers good feedback.

An early production bike had proved somewhat gutless between 3500 and 5500 RPM. A later release of the EFI software fixed that problem to a degree.

Downsides: rather heavy (580lbs) No ABS option yet (this was July 08), vibrations that would probably spoil a long-distance trip.

To this you want to add a traditional lack of reliability that has been plaguing recent (and not so recent) Guzzis and a few sloppy details on the bike.

The price (in Europe) is very competitive vs. the R-GS. A Stelvio goes for some EUR 12,700. You can't touch a GS with a modicum of extras for less than 16,000-17,000.

Stef

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.motorradonline.de/test/einzelte...iebe.305104.htm Here's the ride test report from Motorrad that SockMonkey und Stef are referring to, where they are complaing about lack of low end grunt. Nice they've corrected it!

 

[mdisher]

Uh, less dealer support than BMW... I think I'll pass...

Looks sweet though.

 

[SockMonkey]

https://www.motorradonline.de/test/einzelte...iebe.305104.htm Here's the ride test report from Motorrad that SockMonkey und Stef are referring to, where they are complaing about lack of low end grunt. Nice they've corrected it!

Take a look at this review as well: Motorcycle.com 2008 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Review

 

[DucatiSSsp]

https://www.motorradonline.de/test/einzelte...iebe.305104.htm Here's the ride test report from Motorrad that SockMonkey und Stef are referring to, where they are complaing about lack of low end grunt. Nice they've corrected it!

Take a look at this review as well: Motorcycle.com 2008 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Review

And another review.....

https://www.motorcycledaily.com/13january09...lvio1200_4v.htm

 

[El Toro]

Friends don't let friends buy Moto Guzzis.

Piaggio may have deep pockets, but Moto Guzzi itself is in trouble. Piaggio has redistributed Moto Guzzi manufacturing and design activities. After what was considered a healthy manufacturing run of approximately 10,000 units in 07, Moto Guzzi admits that "fewer than 5000 units were manufactured in 08. Dealer support in the US is horrid..... only exceeded in lousiness by the horrible support that the poor dealers get from the US importer.

Moto Guzzi is not yet ready for prime time. As a former modern era Moto Guzzi owner and affecianado, I feel compelled to offer warning.

 

[teerex51]

I'm not a Guzzi hater, in fact I have fond memories of the early '70s when I rode a V-7 Special I had repainted black.

That's the kind of bike I could afford back then. A clumsy, lumbering old crate driven by an agricultural engine.

But I loved it and you could fix it with steel wire and duct tape.

Today, you need a more reliable type of machine and a good dealers' network. MotoGuzzi can't offer either.

In fact, Guzzi closed down its historic factory at Mandello del Lario in December. The new owners claimed the facility needed structural work and would reopen at the end of January. This is probably BS. They'll move the machinery to Piaggio's scooter works in Pontedera (that's a few hundred miles away near Pisa of Leaning Tower fame) and that'll be a new era for MotoGuzzi (not necessarily a good one).

Meanwhile, you can imagine what a 2-month production halt means for the availability of spare parts (never a subject Italian manufacturers like to bring up).

Stef

 

[beemerdons]

https://picasaweb.google.com/beemerdons/Alps2007Ride# Wowser Stef, what a newsflash that is regarding Moto-Guzzi closing down the Mandello del Lario factory! That would be like Harley-Davidson moving out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I am super glad I took the factory tour at Lake Como when I did and got the photographs before they abandoned the plant!

Completely off topic, other than it involves Moto-Guzzi! Stef, please do not spend a lot of time on this; but I know that you know everybody and his brother in Italian Motorcycling! If in your normal travels, you come across a cherry and fully operational Falcone for sale, just kick the tires with its owner and find out some information about it and what the asking price would be. Back in March of 1969 in Augsburg, Germany when I bought my first BMW, a 1966 R60/2, I had two other choices: I was also looking at a Zundapp 600KSS and a Moto-Guzzi Falcone. Traditional Falcone, not a Nuovo modern one.

I still occasionally jump on www.cycletrader.com and go to USA Moto-Guzzi Club websites looking for old Falcones for sale.

https://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.a...=pg507n&x=0 Exposed flywheel!!!

You're probably right that moving the factory will kill M-G! By the way, outstanding photograph of you on your V-7 Special!

 

[teerex51]

.... By the way, outstanding photograph of you on your V-7 Special!

Man, I still needed a hairbrush in those days! :lol:

A pristine 1956 Falcone can cost as much as Eur 15,000 More info per PM.

Stef

 

[beemerdons]

.... By the way, outstanding photograph of you on your V-7 Special!

Man, I still needed a hairbrush in those days! :lol:

A pristine 1956 Falcone can cost as much as Eur 15,000 More info per PM.

Stef

Oh Boy, that's what I was afraid of Stef! I was hoping that perhaps the Falcone still had not been discovered as a "collectible" in its native country of Italy. But obviously it is the same situation there as it is here. When I have found a Falcone available for sale it has always been with a $20,000 USD asking price. Found rough one for sale in Mexico City for $15K few years ago.

 

[Murph]

In fact, Guzzi closed down its historic factory at Mandello del Lario in December. The new owners claimed the facility needed structural work and would reopen at the end of January. This is probably BS. They'll move the machinery to Piaggio's scooter works in Pontedera (that's a few hundred miles away near Pisa of Leaning Tower fame) and that'll be a new era for MotoGuzzi (not necessarily a good one).

:blink: ?!!!?

My wife and I will be going to the Lake Como area in late April (unfortunately, not a bike trip) and I was planning a visit to the Mandello del Lario factory. Thanks for ruining my day, Stef. Seriously, I'm really disappointed to hear about the shut down but glad you shared the info.

Despite my warnings about parts availability, my brother-in-law bought a Guzzi last summer. And .... get this ... he lives in an area with little dealer coverage.

I stand by my earlier comments in this thread. The Stelvio appears to be an interesting bike but at this time it's just not worth the risk of getting stranded.

 

[teerex51]

Murph, the original press blurb released by MG and gobbled up by the trade press hinted at a total revamp of the plant.

Germany's Motorrad magazine, however, a well-informed and authoritative source Piaggio can't buy, calls the plant's closure a given.

We'll see the outcome at the end of this month.

Moving the production to Pisa makes a lot of sense from the point of view of Mr Colaninno, the almighty owner of the Paggio Group. The lakefront property is worth a damn sight more than Guzzi would ever bring in profits. Hell, they've been in the red since time immemorial.

On the Italian Forum we coined a new joke. A frantic Mrs Colaninno calls Missing Persons and says: you've got to help me. My husband left a few hours ago. He said he was just going out to buy a bunch of journalists but he hasn't come back since.

We also ran a cartoon. It's a spoof of course. :lol:

We made up a poster by Colaninno Realty, advertising lakeview villas in Mandello del Lario.

 

[MotorToad]

I like Guzzis. I don't know why, though. I guess I have a soft spot for them because they keep doing what they do despite the fact that everyone else knows better. But an adventure tourer? Owning one is adventure enough if you live on the same block as the dealer.