2026 MG Experience - Italian Alps ride

[egschade]

The 2026 Moto Guzzi Experience calendar is out https://topbikersteam.com/en/moto-guzzi-experience/

I signed up for the Italian Alps ride starting May 30th https://topbikersteam.com/en/project/belpaese-alpi-mge-2026/

Looking forward to riding the famed Stelvio pass and visiting the factory. Reasonably priced too...

Has anyone else done this tour or ridden the Stelvio pass? Looking for a little feedback on what to expect - thanks.

[Pescatore]

Are you riding Stelvio on your own?
I don't see it mentioned in the itinerary, maybe I missed it.
I agree the price is more affordable than other organized tours I've seen.
And you will see the factory before the invasion in September.
There are a few threads here about Stelvio and the  MG experience.

[egschade]

Are you riding Stelvio on your own?
I don't see it mentioned in the itinerary, maybe I missed it.
I agree the price is more affordable than other organized tours I've seen.
And you will see the factory before the invasion in September.
There are a few threads here about Stelvio and the  MG experience.

It's Day 5: June 3: Mandello del Lario-Canazei, 360 km

We leave behind the sweet call of the lake and prepare for a day at high altitude: we quickly travel the Valtellina without being distracted by a landscape that seems like a living painting, with vineyards climbing the hills and charming villages, because three formidable peaks await us. The first climb is to the famous Stelvio: one of the most iconic streets in the world, an endless dance between motorbike and road, with every curve revealing a new panorama, immersed in a lunar landscape between imposing peaks. The magic continues through the Gardena Pass, where the peaks of the Dolomites stand out against the blue sky: the road winds through fir forests and expanses of alpine meadows, offering spectacular panoramic views that will leave us breathless. The Campolongo Pass completes our Alpine trilogy, offering us a landscape that seems to have come out of a postcard, with views of valleys below and glittering peaks that change at every bend

[Wayne Orwig]

I have done the Stelvio Pass twice.
Once on a BMW GS from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and back to Germany. The Dolomites are awesome. The second time I picked up a rental Guzzi (750 Breva) in Mandelo and spent the week in the Dolomites doing as many mountain passes as we could. That same travel agent set us up in a rental car a couple of years back and we traveled from Sorento to the Dolomites. Not sure they can still get a rental Guzzi, but I recommend them. http://www.levolpiciccione.it

That map you show gets south away from the mountain passes and lakes. Still a lot to visit and enjoy there (winery's etc.), but a few days of no mountain passes on the bike.

And yes, that looks like a good price.

[Tkelly]

I took the Sicily tour and found out that European riders are accustomed to a much faster pace on curvy roads than I am.The guides are really good ad set a European pace,just remember to ride your own ride and don’t get riding above your comfort level,you won’t be able to enjoy the scenery or in a worst case,crash.

[moto]

I took the Sicily tour and found out that European riders are accustomed to a much faster pace on curvy roads than I am.The guides are really good ad set a European pace,just remember to ride your own ride and don’t get riding above your comfort level,you won’t be able to enjoy the scenery or in a worst case,crash.

I took the same tour with TKelly and was delighted at the fast pace. I reverted to skills I hadn't used for 35 years. The real secret of this particular tour is that the guide sets a pretty fast pace, but also periodically stations the second place riders as route markers. This means the fast riders get a chance to essentially race back to the front. Great fun for me even though I missed some scenery. You could probably see more sights on your own in a car, carrying guide books. Nothing beats having the meals and lodging figured out for you. There was nothing to stop the slower riders from going slow, since the leader would stop occasionally, and no shame. A lighthearted tour group. Two languages were used by the guides, Italian and English, the latter to accommodate us Americans.

P.S. I would expect more traffic and more worry about traffic law enforcement in the Alps, though I haven't ridden there much. The Sicilians just don't care, bless them.

[egschade]

Thanks for the feedback on the Italy tours. When I went on the Oregon MG Exp ride I was the slowest of the fast guys and felt like I missed some a lot of the scenery because I really had to concentrate on braking and taking the correct lines.

For this one I'll definitely ride at a more relaxed pace.

[Tkelly]

On the Sicily ride they assumed everyone was a fast guy and except for me they were correct.

[Huzo]

Yeah, been up and over the Stelvio and Transfagarasan multiple times and the two most important things are these I reckon…
On the climb as you are entering the turn, look right around over your shoulder before you commit to the turn and have your bike up around 3 or 4 thousand rpm.
On a big twin, if you hesitate mid corner at low rpm, you will go arse up…!

[Motormike]

Fast pace? Hmmm. Lots of speeding cameras in Switzerland and Italy.  A few weeks after I returned from Switzerland tour last year, I found a nice speeding ticket in the mail addressed to me!   

[Motormike]

The thing I had the hardest time getting used to was the "passing" techniques riders use in the Alps and elsewhere.  They think nothing of overtaking slower traffic by riding right up the centerline on a two-lane road against oncoming traffic!  The oncoming drivers don't even bat an eye and simply give the bikers a bit of room.  You have to see it to believe it. Of course, when I and a friend were stuck in traffic in the Dolomites one very hot August (never go to Italy in August!) rather than suffer heat stroke, we followed their example.  When in Rome....

[moto]

Fast pace? Hmmm. Lots of speeding cameras in Switzerland and Italy.  A few weeks after I returned from Switzerland tour last year, I found a nice speeding ticket in the mail addressed to me!   

I was thinking the cameras were not in Sicily, but the Internet tells me I'm wrong. The roads we rode during the Sicily tour were typically small and winding. They had to be if we were going to take 10 days to get around the small island. I didn't see any of the signs that are supposed to announce cameras. I think relying on the tour guide to pick the right places to relax  restraint is better than just doing that on your own. Thanks for the advice.

[turboguzzi]

if you want some tips from a local (I live in Milan, my girlfriend is from Biella), here you go.

May is a great time, Dolomites are starting to suffer from some (two wheel ) overtourism, but May should still be fine

Switzerland is bad with speed cameras and mobile speed traps, you can also get stopped and asked to pay cash on the spot if offense is high, so deffo stay there within limits, even if it gets boring at times.

Italy is much less speed controlled and police more easy going, just see what locals are doing (and where they slow down) and youll be fine.

ive seen the map, and Alps riding 2500km in 9 days is doable but VERY demanding, even if from a USA perspective it might not look like. There are going to be very little straight relaxing roads there. Average speeds in the mountains can be less that 50, so its easily 5 hours of net saddle time in never ending twisties. Add breaks and stops and you are essentially out there 8 hours every day. Fun, but ask yourself if you have the physical and mental stamina for it.

Riding skills. Its going to be demanding also in that sense. If you are not used to proper twisties and uphill/downhill hairpins, maybe try do a short riding course to polish up your skills. You are going to need them.

Last tip, always do your own pace, dont get sucked into a rhythm that is not yours. Dont try to keep up with locals that might know the road like the back of their hand. 

 

[Bulldog9]

Thanks for Posting............ . Not in the cards this year as the new V85 has crunched the budget, but there's always next year! I'd love to try the Greece or Spain/Iberian Peninsula tour....

My problem is I REALLY don't like riding in groups, and though I tend to ride fast, I've grown far more conservative with metal in my spine, hip and knee....

[Tkelly]

We bought travel insurance to cover medical bill including air evacuation back to the US and for refunds if we had to cancel the trip.I think Guzzi covers rider liability and bike damage,read the brochure,The Sicily trip was fantastic,the tour people were super competent and friendly,lodging and food and company were excellent,lots of interesting Europeans who spoke English on the ride.Have a great trip!

[egschade]

We bought travel insurance to cover medical bill including air evacuation back to the US and for refunds if we had to cancel the trip.I think Guzzi covers rider liability and bike damage,read the brochure,The Sicily trip was fantastic,the tour people were super competent and friendly,lodging and food and company were excellent,lots of interesting Europeans who spoke English on the ride.Have a great trip!

We buy an an annual Allianz trip insurance policy rather than going trip by trip. It covers pretty much everything.

[Vagrant]

The normal e-vac insurance is not available for over 75. One on one basis and very expensive.

[egschade]

The normal e-vac insurance is not available for over 75. One on one basis and very expensive.

Fortunately I have a few more years before hitting 75...