SMALLER STELVIO?

[Spuddy]

Just thinking. While my Stelvio is 160-170 pounds lighter than my previous BMW K1200LT, it is still a beast @660 lbs. wet.  My Stelvio is just about everything I could want in a bike, a fly in the ointment seems to be a high center of gravity and weight.  I sure would be interested in a MG ADV bike a 100 pounds lighter.  What say you?

[SeanF]

I hope we can see something along those lines based on the v9 and its double cardan joint. Just a few more inches of suspension travel, a 19" or 21" hoop up front, appropriate ground clearance and upright ergos.

I'm talking strictly "good dirt/bad pavement touring" here, no real offroading pretensions.

[cloudbase]

I'd give it serious consideration, though the Quota is still going strong.

[Cool Runnings]

Our buddy Rudy R has a Bonneville set up as an ADV style bike . Everyone who sees it makes positive comments . Probably about 100 lbs lighter than an NTX , with a much lower seat height . No ,wouldn't be my first choice for tackling the wilds of Borneo , but for the way most folks use that type of bike it is up to the task .

 Dusty

Get a 883 Hugger. 

[rocker59]

I hope we can see something along those lines based on the v9 and its double cardan joint. Just a few more inches of suspension travel, a 19" or 21" hoop up front, appropriate ground clearance and upright ergos.

I'm talking strictly "good dirt/bad pavement touring" here, no real offroading pretensions.

Yes!  6-inches rear and 8-inches front travel with a 21-inch front wheel.  That would do the trick for rough and unpaved roads!

Suspension on my Quota was great for that.  Unfortunately the bike was way too heavy.  That suspension on a V9 would rock!

[Guzzistajohn]

It's known as a triumph tiger 800xc 473 lbs. of kick ass motorbike

[boatdetective]

It's known as a triumph tiger 800xc 473 lbs. of kick ass motorbike

I'd have to say that, with the WP suspension and that 800 motor- don't know how you could beat the Tiger.

[bigtex]

I'd have to say that, with the WP suspension and that 800 motor- don't know how you could beat the Tiger.

You could make it interesting looking.  That would beat the snot out of the Tiger.

[Guzzistajohn]

You could make it interesting looking.  That would beat the snot out of the Tiger.

ADV bikes aren't really made to be pretty, the GS bmw pretty much set the standard for "beauty"

[kirby1923]

My R100GS:
Travel F 8.8" 100/80 21"
Travel R 7" 130/80 17
450 lb dry 6.8 gal 496 wt.
bing carbs

My R1150 GS :
F travel 8.2" 19" tire
R travel 8.6" 17" tire
508 lb dry 549lb wet (mine 20 lb less due to custom exhaust.
5.8 gal fuel.
Electric carbs
Carried me across the Andes.

May be another another R100 GS  in the future.

[Guzzistajohn]

My R100GS:
Travel F 8.8" 100/80 21"
Travel R 7" 130/80 17
450 lb dry 6.8 gal 496 wt.
bing carbs

My R1150 GS :
F travel 8.2" 19" tire
R travel 8.6" 17" tire
508 lb dry 549lb wet (mine 20 lb less due to custom exhaust.
5.8 gal fuel.
Electric carbs
Carried me across the Andes.

May be another another R100 GS  in the future.

I'd like to have one, but I can hear Barb now...........do you really need 4 motor sickles????

[canuguzzi]

The difference between 650 pounds and 550 pounds isn't enough to justify the lesser engine. At 550 pounds plus a full load of gear the V9 would probably wallow like a pig ready for a heart attack.

Get the weight down to 500 pounds ready to ride. Don't forget the 650 V-Strom which can perform very well so less than that is a why bother?

ADV bikes often get loaded up, add the passenger and at some point you do need horsepower. ADV bike need long legs for the asphalt so top gear is tall and the bike needs to take the brunt of head winds, long grades. A bike with little left at 70 mph when fully loaded isn't a lot of fun.

Now, get it down to 450 pounds and the line starts forming. That might take some better frame materials but then selling closer to MSRP might happen too.

A 1200 8V and proven performance down to the V9 to save 100 pounds? Non starter.

[Cool Runnings]

Yeah - 650 V-Strom.

[Johncolleary]

I just spent 2 weeks riding a SV650 in New Zealand and was impressed with it. I have not rode the weestrom but I would guess it would be a real nice bike!

[rocker59]

The difference between 650 pounds and 550 pounds isn't enough to justify the lesser engine. At 550 pounds plus a full load of gear the V9 would probably wallow like a pig ready for a heart attack.

Get the weight down to 500 pounds ready to ride. Don't forget the 650 V-Strom which can perform very well so less than that is a why bother?

ADV bikes often get loaded up, add the passenger and at some point you do need horsepower. ADV bike need long legs for the asphalt so top gear is tall and the bike needs to take the brunt of head winds, long grades. A bike with little left at 70 mph when fully loaded isn't a lot of fun.

Now, get it down to 450 pounds and the line starts forming. That might take some better frame materials but then selling closer to MSRP might happen too.

A 1200 8V and proven performance down to the V9 to save 100 pounds? Non starter.

550 lbs V9 ?  What ?  I'm pretty sure the V9s are a hundred less than that.  Different wheels/tires/suspension account for only nominal differences in weight...

Why bother ?  Because some of us around here prefer to ride Guzzis.

In any case, someone who doesn't think 100 lbs matters on an ADVbike hasn't ridden much off pavement.  Especially the mountainous kind.

[SeanF]

The v9 specs say 438lbs, so I see no reason why a mild offroader couldn't be right around there, a bit less with some creative trimming.

I've owned 2 DL650s, one 1st gen and one 2nd gen, and while they are perfectly capable, hassle-free bikes, I traded/sold them both without regret. They served me well, but didn't steal my heart.   

If we're buying based on spec sheets, no one would ever buy a Guzzi, because if we're being honest, they're not really "the best bang for the buck" at any (one) thing. But no one I know rides a spec sheet.

[canuguzzi]

OK there Kev m , telling me I can't feel the difference a hundred lbs makes  The original R80 GS only made about 50 HP and weighed in at 480 lbs .

 Dusty

BMW couldn't sell the R80 GS today. That era has come and gone. Guzzi couldn't sell a 550 pound ready to ride V9 ADV either except to a handful and then they'd all wait for the year end fire sale.

The point is, losing 100 pounds just so they can stuff a V9 engine into an ADV goes nowhere. At 450 pounds people take notice and it would do something. That is getting close to 200 pounds less and the market is wide open.

A poll was run, hardly anyone wanted any current model of Guzzi, including the V9s, a V9 ADV that weighs 550 pound ready to ride is going to change that?

[canuguzzi]

The v9 specs say 438lbs, so I see no reason why a mild offroader couldn't be right around there, a bit less with some creative trimming.

I've owned 2 DL650s, one 1st gen and one 2nd gen, and while they are perfectly capable, hassle-free bikes, I traded/sold them both without regret. They served me well, but didn't steal my heart.   

Of course but probably tens upon tens if thousand feel different. The following for the V-Strom is easily equal to the following if Guzzis.

You are right, get it to 450 or just above that, ready to go and people will buy it. Remember, an ADV needs more than a peanut sized fuel tank, its going to have side bags, a tail trunk, it adds up real quick. Beefier suspension, etc, make it something more than window dressing and they'd have a winner.

Wouldn't it be great to come out with a model that wasn't warmed over and set a standard for something other than discounted prices?

If we're buying based on spec sheets, no one would ever buy a Guzzi, because if we're being honest, they're not really "the best bang for the buck" at any (one) thing. But no one I know rides a spec sheet.

[motrhead]

 A 100 pound lighter Stelvio is exactly what I want. I parked my Stelvio in November and put it up for sale. It's a fantastic pavement and forest road bike (and I can do easy 1000 mile days on it), but it does not work for me when the graded road ends. I am now riding a 100 pound lighter Buell Ulysses. This is exactly the weight I can deal with when the going gets rough. I just wish it was a Guzzi. Hopefully one of these days Guzzi will wake up and give us the *reliable* 4 valve per cylinder small block based bike we have been asking for, or else get that 1200 8v on a diet as a "rally" model.
 I will be keeping an eye out for a Griso to replace the Stelvio...or may even consider a Norge, but the Stelvio experiment is done. 

[Spuddy]

Any of the current 'alternatives' to a lighter Stelvio lack one thing... shaft drive.

Spud

[sturgeon]

I'd like to have one, but I can hear Barb now...........do you really need 4 motor sickles????

I get that about once a week. My answer - "small, medium, large, plus an Italian girlfriend to run around town with".  Doesn't stop the question, but it makes her smile.

[Two Checks]

Didn't Guzzi build a small block version years ago?

[SeanF]

Didn't Guzzi build a small block version years ago?

Yes, here's a summary.
 

[WitchCityGuzzi]

Just thinking. While my Stelvio is 160-170 pounds lighter than my previous BMW K1200LT, it is still a beast @660 lbs. wet.  My Stelvio is just about everything I could want in a bike, a fly in the ointment seems to be a high center of gravity and weight.  I sure would be interested in a MG ADV bike a 100 pounds lighter.  What say you?

I thought the spec for the big tank Stelvio was 600 wet?

Guzzi lists the dry weight for my 09 Stelvio at 471.8, which if I figure in fuel, oil etc, puts it at around 519ish. The figure also includes the stock exhaust which is close to 18 pounds. I got rid of that and run a 2 pound Mistral.

Technically, if you want a Stelvio that is a 100 pounds lighter, you should look for an older version. 

I will say though, that I've never actually weighed it.

[Spuddy]

Yes, here's a summary.

Thanks for the link.  It was great to learn about the history of my Quota and Stelvio and Tonti frames.

Spud

[Spuddy]

I thought the spec for the big tank Stelvio was 600 wet?

Apparently MG is significantly inaccurate (or optimistic) with dry and wet weight figures.  These inaccuracies were also published in various road tests.

I haven't weighed my bike. However, somewhere on the site a member took the initiative to weigh a tanked up Stelvio and published a pic of the truck scale's reading of 660 pounds. 

Spud

[Vagrant]

the 09-10 had a 4.6 gallon tank, no roll bars, bags,
it and most adventure bikes sell not for adventure but for comfortable upright sitting, peg location and miles on a fill up.
 

[MikeW]

Guzzi built a few special NTX small blocks for event such as the Paris Dakar in the past.

Several of them ended up in Australia and are currently being restored. I took a spin on one years ago and was really impressed. I always thought that the later fuel injected small blocks would be perfect for a revival of the NTX.







Mike

[JeffOlson]

Any of the current 'alternatives' to a lighter Stelvio lack one thing... shaft drive.

Spud

The larger Triumph Tiger Explorer has shaft drive, but it weighs about 570 pounds wet.

[canuguzzi]

Shaft drive isn't high up on the list of must haves for ADV bikes. Quite a few ADV riders like to change sprockets to change final drive to personal tastes, something that can't be done with shaft drive, easily.

Both saft drive and chain drives have their benefits, chain drive is proven and unless you make a big deal about it, the maintenance is simple, takes less time than to talk about it.

Something to be said about shafts being cleaner, until they leak and then they are far worse than any chain drive.

Just depends on what you want. Neither side can convince the other that their choice is better.