MOTO-GUZZI STELVIO (2008 - 2010) Review

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £250

I love this bike comfort character and sounds wonderful when you gun it lacks mid range punch but top end rush and pin point steering . The build is way better than expected strong and reliable just love every ride not sophisticated …. Earthy!

Buying experience: Great buy very happy and satisfied owner.

Year: 2008

superb pillion machine, once they have got on it! Comfiest bike we could find at the MCN show and bought it second hand after an excellent GS1150 that I had to sell. Lovely ride, good motor, brakes (non ABS), finish and it had ally boxes. Never missed a beat but i found that as my 'modern' bike I locked the brakes on 2 dodgy moments and then dropped it at a well known bike haunt when I avoided a looney van driver on a hill, went to put my foot down to find the the steep camber of the road meant i couldn't reach! The weight of it got on my nerves in the end and my pillion had to stand on a kerb to get on it when luggage. A roadster version would have been nicer but Guzzi only did the V7. Would like to try the

Buying experience: Bought privately from a nice guy who used a leaf dryer to dry the bike down (got one myself now)!

Version: Stelvio NTX

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £100

A characterful V-twin which is a pleasure to ride. I have ridden across Spain on it as well as down to the Italian lakes. Early 8 valves had problems with their bucket cam system and likely need upgrading (circa £500). Mine is a bucket cam but shows no problems with over 30k on the clock. I will upgrade when and if I need to. I am not sure that will be necessary as they changed the design in response to early problems post 2011 even though it remained a bucket cam. Very wide when riding with panniers so not easy to filter. 32-litre tank gives 300 mile plus range (no idea where MCN get their fuel consumption of 27 mpg! I get 50 mpg plus and I don't hang around!)

Version: lz

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £50

The best is driving through corners with my wife. The worst thing is when light service (every 10.000km) start blinking in the middle of desert (Sahara) ;)

Buying experience: Import from Italy small dealer. Great deal :)

Year: 2012

This bike two-up ridden reasonably gets 45-48 mpg. 38 if you flog it. I have beat 50 many a time. Measured, not computer.

Buying experience: Need more dealers.

Version: 8V

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £300

Very comfy, huge range, bags of character, sounds fantastic and you don't see hundreds of them on the road.

An amazing machine. My world had changed, I had slipped into a Parallel Universe of effortless travel. My first experience of a bike with a windshield - no wind tearing arms out of sockets. Smooth power – not arm wrenching like my Vmax, just on and ever on… I could even hear opera playing from my Bluetooth helmet at (very)high speed. The Moto Guzzi Stelvio - a class of it’s own. Full review here http://derekmansfield.co.uk/motorcycle-clothing-equipment-reviews-html/moto-guzzi-stelvio/

Everyone says Guzzi's are now much better quality since Piaggio took over. I beg to differ. Compared with my 1970s Lemans' the new bike is lumpy, slow, and badly put together. The dealer network is appalling! I have had my Stelvio (well either I or the dealers) since early March 2009. Issues I have with it and with Moto Guzzi are:- Fuel Consumption is awful with 34mpg when ridden quietly. I hope this will improve with mileage, Accessories are almost unobtainable. The starter motor failed at 1200 miles - it took 3 weeks to repair. The front seat mounting 'plates' wore through the live battery cables that they rest against. Hugely dangerous and entertaining with mucho smoke and sparks. Why has this not been subject to a recall? The dealer who fitted my new starter motor stripped the earth strap bolt thread and didnt tell me. Result another day off the road and not in work! The bike stopped at speed on the M61 on Friday the 22nd May. Again smoke from the wiring and flashing lights. No chance of a fix and taken home in a van. Bike back in dealers and I am demanding a refund or a new bike. Moto Guzzi Customer Care dont seem to understand these works and keep talking about a repair. I assume they dont understand the Sale of Goods Act in the UK!!! I would liove to have been positive but as I always loved Guzzis but all this cr*p on a new bike. You must be joking. Good job my Cagiva Elefant 900 (lighter, faster, more reliable, 30% better fuel consumption)is still chomping at the bit in the garage!!! I will report again to let you know if Piaggio honour their consumer responsibilities. If not, it is up to the man in the curly wig (and I dont mean Harry Enfield as a Scouser)!!!

WITH NEW MAP FLAT SPOTS ARE GONE

Collected my Stelvio last week- looks wicked in black. Great handling, motor, brakes and suspension. Much more svelte and original than a GS- be different!