Stelvio or a Norge. A highway vs byway curiosity

[shredder]

Greetings!! 

I'm huntin my first Guzzi and I'm looking at the Stevio and the Norge.  I like them both for lots
Of reasons, however, the Stepvio has my eye at the moment.  has anyone ridden both on the interstate for a period of time?  I'm curious how the perceived wind buffeting / roar / general wind noise is noticeable on both bikes when compared to each other.  Is the Stelvio as good or better a highway mount for those 5-8 hour runs at 75-80 mph to where the riding is good?  I'm fully aware both are motorcycles, but some bikes are just plain loud with wind roar or they buffet excessively. 

I'd appreciate any comparisons or experience with either bike on the highway.  I'm 5'10" with a 32" inseam for reference.

Thanks!!

[leafman60]

The Stelvio is a superb long distance road bike. It also provides the great flexibility of doing other than highway riding.

Wind protection is fine. You can buy a taller windscreen from several sources.  Mr. Gustfasson (http://bikescreen.com/)
makes a nice one.  You can also stick on a Laminar Lip if you want.

Get a Russell seat.

Get a radar detector.

Keeping that bike down to 80 takes a lot of self control.


.

[shredder]

Thanks for the info and link!  I'll tell ya, I really think I'd rather do without a windscreen on many bikes.  The wind roar was unreal on my Multi.  Much better with nothing than the "touring" screen it had.   Im hoping the Stelvio offers a quiet pocket at speed, it's good to hear the feed back. 

[canuguzzi]

That 75-80 mph speed is a bit slow for a Norge. Compare them at 85ish and up. 5-6 hours? Sure, for a run to some favorite eatery. Norge goes 10-12 hours without breathing hard.

Nothing against the Stelvio but it's a begging puppy style I f riding as opposed to a Greyhound.

Two riders park at a cafe, one on a Stelvio the other a Norge. Then you hear someone comment " hey, did you see the Norge?"

"Where?"

"Over there, parked next to the GS"

[JeffOlson]

I've never ridden the Stelvio, but I ride a Norge. It is my s1econd Norge, and I really love it. However, you might find it a bit cramped and noisy stock.

I am only 5' 10", and I find the seat to peg distance a bit tight. That can be cured with lower pegs and/or a higher seat. I also find the stock windscreen to be loud, regardless of position. That, too, can be cured with a taller windscreen, or a shorter, cut-down stock windscreen, or an open-face helmet (yes, not a full-face helmet).

[Zoom Zoom]

I had a Norge. 16K on it and some long days. Although I made it comfortable with a Russel Day Long, bar risers, electronic cruise control, taller/wider windshield, it kept me locked into one riding position. 600 mile days were tough! (Those with hip or knee troubles will understand what I mean.) Anyway, great bike with good manners. The suspension upgrades I did made the bike awesome on a twisty road. It certainly was not the bike, but me.

I traded it for the Stelvio. More leg room, able to move around a bit in the saddle, and pretty decent seat. (Mine is an '09. The newer big tank bikes had a seat redesign so I cannot speak to any differences there.) In any case, the longer days are easier for me with the Stelvio than they ever were with the Norge. I have not felt the need to upgrade the seat or suspension. I should qualify that the Norge I had was an '07. They were reputed to be under sprung.

All things considered, the Stelvio has worked better for me, but the Norge is also a fantastic bike.

John Henry

[kingoffleece]

A lot of you know I'm now making select seats-mostly for Guzzis.  We flatten slightly the slope of both the Norge and Stelvio to let the rider have a bit of fore/aft movement which I believe is critical for long distance comfort.  Hip tilt also figures into it.

We also do a little something that, to my knowledge, nobody else does.  It's not just foam and it's not MEMORY foam (not great for bikes).
No magic, just solid engineering with quality materials.

Other great choices are Russell, Bill Mayer, Seth Laam, and Rick's.  One thing to consider is that KoF will retain the stock look if you'd like.  Most others look like what they do.  That's NOT bad but some prefer to not have that look and retain a stock appearance.

[Cool Runnings]

A lot of you know I'm now making select seats-mostly for Guzzis.  We flatten slightly the slope of both the Norge and Stelvio to let the rider have a bit of fore/aft movement which I believe is critical for long distance comfort.  Hip tilt also figures into it.

We also do a little something that, to my knowledge, nobody else does.  It's not just foam and it's not MEMORY foam (not great for bikes).
No magic, just solid engineering with quality materials.

Other great choices are Russell, Bill Mayer, Seth Laam, and Rick's.  One thing to consider is that KoF will retain the stock look if you'd like.  Most others look like what they do.  That's NOT bad but some prefer to not have that look and retain a stock appearance.

And your pricing is way cheaper than the competition. $700 for the Russell.  If I had only known.......... 

Still Russell seats are hard to beat.

[Cool Runnings]

Greetings!! 

I'm huntin my first Guzzi and I'm looking at the Stevio and the Norge.  I like them both for lots
Of reasons, however, the Stepvio has my eye at the moment.  has anyone ridden both on the interstate for a period of time?  I'm curious how the perceived wind buffeting / roar / general wind noise is noticeable on both bikes when compared to each other.  Is the Stelvio as good or better a highway mount for those 5-8 hour runs at 75-80 mph to where the riding is good?  I'm fully aware both are motorcycles, but some bikes are just plain loud with wind roar or they buffet excessively. 

I'd appreciate any comparisons or experience with either bike on the highway.  I'm 5'10" with a 32" inseam for reference.

Thanks!!

I'd like to add, the Norge is NOT such a leg cooker as the water cooled inline 4's.

Get a California Scientific windscreen. I can run a half-helmet with sun glasses at freeway speeds now.

[menzies]

My Stelvio with a CalSci windscreen is the only bike I have owned that I do not get any buffeting. I was cruising along on a back country road not long ago and I felt like I was almost sitting still, looked at the speedo and I was running about 85. It is a mile muncher and a pack mule.

[JeffOlson]

I'd like to add, the Norge is NOT such a leg cooker as the water cooled inline 4's.

Get a California Scientific windscreen. I can run a half-helmet with sun glasses at freeway speeds now.

Which size did you get, and where do you position it?

[Cool Runnings]

Which size did you get, and where do you position it?

The Russell increased my seat height by 2 inches, at 6' 2" I ordered the XL. No regrets, didn't even bother with their sizing method.

[JeffOlson]

The Russell increased my seat height by 2 inches, at 6' 2" I ordered the XL. No regrets, didn't even bother with their sizing method.

Cool! Thanks.

For the summer, I have been thinking about cutting down one of my extra stock windscreens so it is barely there. My Schubeth C3 helmet is very quiet if the air is clean and turbulence-free.

[shredder]

Thank you for the info!  I'm looking forward to working up the Guzzi farkle chain. Sounds like a screen may be needed with either and maybe a seat for the bottom half.

[Spuddy]

I use my Stelvio mostly on road it is wonderful with a Rick's (slightly lowered) seat.  With a +2" Gustafsson windscreen there is no buffeting even with the 1 3/4" Rox risers.  Can't vouch for the Norge but the S is everything I could ask for if a bit heavy.

Spud

[Cool Runnings]

Cool! Thanks.

For the summer, I have been thinking about cutting down one of my extra stock windscreens so it is barely there. My Schubeth C3 helmet is very quiet if the air is clean and turbulence-free.

Good idea.

[PJPR01]

Jeff or others, you may like the Cal-Sci (Tinted) Shorty, I've been running it now for a couple of years on the Norge and replaced the stock one which tapered inwards and created a lot of buffeting for me.  At 5'10"...I found the Cal-Sci medium to be too tall for me.  With the Shorty, it's quiet and smooth but with enough wind to keep you cool, and can cruise 600 mile days no problem at all.  I don't really like riding behind a barn door screen, but it's certainly quieter if that's your desire.

The screen is the most variable item to make the ride smooth to tolerate all day cruising...the Stelvio riding position is a bit more upright, the Norge (a bit more forward lean on the older Norge, already a bit more upright on the newer ones)...both are mileage munchers and can go as long as your body can tolerate.

[Scott of the Sahara]

You may be interested in the seat height. I never even sat on the Stelvio because of the extra high seat height.
I am a bit short, but I can flat foot the Norge. This is extremely important with a passenger on board.

[MGrego]

Whichever one you pick, (Norge or Stelvio) make sure it has roller tappets !!

[pyoungbl]

I have owned both Norge and Stelvio, tried CalSci windscreen on both.  At 5'11" I'm cramped on the Norge, to the point where a long day in the saddle would make it hard to support the bike because my knees had been cramped up too much.  I felt that I was sitting down in the bike.  Wind protection was superb, as were handling and brakes.  If you can stand the seat to peg situation and enjoy that riding position...go for it!  Cal Sci windscreen on the Norge was better than stock.

The Stelvio is every bit the canyon carver that the Norge is.  Great brakes, suspension, and almost as good in wind protection.  The stock seat is pretty darn good too...much better than the Norge.  The seating position on the Stelvio has more room from seat to peg and lets me sit up more for a better view of the road.  I'm sitting on the bike, not in it.  Note how the bars on the Norge pull back much more than those on the Stelvio.  I tried a CalSci windscreen on the Stelvio and had to send it back.  CalSci does a very simple curve which does not match up with the geometry of the Stelvio mounting holes...note that the Stelvio windscreen needs 'dimples' to match up with the mounting system and clear the nose piece on the bike.  CalSci rubbed that nose piece to the point where I could not move the windscreen.  Gustaffson made a windscreen with those dimples (he used my stock windscreen as a mould...and made a spare so he can duplicate it for future orders).  Don't miss the fact that it is much easier to do normal maintenance on the Stelvio because there is so much less plastic to remove.  An oil change is a snap on the Stelvio....not so on the Norge.  Oh, and the 8.5 gallon fuel tank is handy even if you don't use the full capacity often.

Ride both.  Buy the one that fits you best.  Either is a great bike.

Peter Y.

[PJPR01]

and to add again...for extra leg room on either the Stelvio or Norge, you can replace the stock pegs with the Goldwing 1800 flatter and lower pegs, and you'll gain about 3/4 of an inch in extra leg room if needed....makes a world of difference for the knees.

[Mooney78865]

I have not ridden a Norge but I just finished riding the AZBDR which required me to make a 850 mile run down to the start and a 650 mile run home from the finish on my '16 Stelvio. On the ride out I went about 610 miles the first day with the seat in the "high" position for a bit more butt to peg height. For the second day, as well as the rest of the trip, I lowered the seat to the "low" position to aid in getting on and off the bike as well as a bit of confidence in the dirt.  I initially thought I would like it better in the "high" position but as it turned out, the higher seat position would give me "hot spots" on my inner thighs because my upper legs would lay on the seat  heaver than in the low setting.  As for wind noise and buffeting, I use earplugs, ran the windscreen at the highest setting and had no issue. I also have installed ROXX risers to aid in riding off road standing up.  I'm 6' 0" with a 32 in inseam.  I ride with a DS helmet with visor and was routinely running 75-85 mph. (have to love Utah/Nevada speed limits!) From what I've experienced Guzzi's love to run, the faster you go the smother it gets.  Unlike a number of other bikes I know...