Norge vs Stelvio as a touring bike

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I know both the Norge and Stelvio are used as �touring� bikes. What are the strengths and weaknesses of both for medium to long distance 2-up touring?

[timonbik]

Been considering both myself.  What I have found so far is that Stelvio is somewhat high for the vertically challenged but what is even worse, it is EXTREMELY wide with the factory bags making it near impossible to get on gracefully or without contorting one's body in some painful manner.  The Norge is easy for the rider to get on but somewhat difficult for the passenger as the rear pegs are tucked in underneath the bags.  DW also found the seat a little tight for 2. Neither have cruise which would be nice. 

[blackbuell]

My wife and I have taken many long trips on a Norge. She says that it is the most comfortable bike for her, the passenger, of all the bikes we have ridden. We are both small folks; with a large topcase, the seating would be a bit cramped for people who are much larger. We have done 700 mile days 2-up. I am 5'7"; can flat-foot the bike when it is fully loaded. The bike can cruise all day at 80+ mph. I'm on my second Norge; would buy another without hesitation.

I have tried a Stelvio; felt too tall and top-heavy for me. Taller riders have reported feeling cramped on a Norge; finding a Stelvio much more comfortable.

Zoom Zoom has owned both; maybe he will chime in here.

Jon

[JJ]

I have friends that have both...and each swears by them.   Both very capable touring bikes...(IMHO)

Just get the one that floats your boat... because in the end, it is you alone will have to look at it when it's parked in the garage.

[Lannis]

The Stelvio certainly has more room for long-legged passengers on it.   The Norge has a pretty good seating position, especially for one person ... but you're sort of locked into one place between the high part of the rear seat and the tank.

You can have a Russell Day-Long made for the Norge that will give the pilot a little room to move around, but then the passenger is cramped between the pilot and the rear box/backrest.

Fay and I tried both before we bought the Stelvio for the room it has ....

Lannis

[TimmyTheHog]

Performance wise, can't comment as don't own either LOL...

But for the look, Personally I like the look of Stelvio better but man it is so bloody tall!...Sat on a few between different shows and I can't get the bike straight at all.

Norge suits me better due to my vertical challenge inseam lol...29.5"

Wonder if anyone has done switching Norge to more of a Stelvio look fairing?

[ITSec]

Having now put some 15,000 miles on my Stelvio, I can unequivocally state that the Stelvio is a better long-distance touring bike than the Norge, except when the Norge is a better long-distance touring bike than the Stelvio. 

In the end, this is not a capability or suitability question, it's a preference question. Each bike has strengths for touring, whether in riding position and ergonomics, weather protection, types of roads expected on the trip, luggage volume, or features to make life more comfortable.

I'm rather pleased with myself for having both - and having the chance to use both!

If you cherry-pick the used market, you can afford both too. 

Now, what about the Griso? We'll find out soon....

[pyoungbl]

I owned a Norge and then bought a Stelvio.  Either would be a great bike to tour on.  Heck, I did so on each.  For me the Norge was something I felt I was sitting in and the Stelvio I was sitting on.  The Stelvio put me higher, much like what you get from driving a big SUV rather than a Honda Accord.  I have a 32" inseam.  With the Russell seat I could not flat foot the Stelvio.  Once moving the bike was a joy.  I think the Stelvio suspension is slightly better than that of the Norge.  It's such a personal decision that I cannot make a firm recommendation.  Oh, the Stelvio is easier to work on...less plastic to mess with and the gas tank is easier to get to.  Don't forget the 8.5 gal tank.

Peter Y.

[Huzo]

Seems to me that if you're convinced that it's one or the other, then the correct solution is a slam dunk.
Find a dealer that has one or the other, (or highly preferably both), and tell him that you WILL buy the one you prefer.
Wait for fine weather and tell him that you want to take each one for a majorly long familiarisation ride and when you find your favourite, buy that one.
Take it all day and see how long it takes to become fatigued and note where it starts to hurt first.
If both bikes are pre owned, he shouldn't recoil at that prospect, ( I know I wouldn't if I was him), given that he knows that after you've tried both, you WILL buy one of them.
If you have to find two separate dealers, just tell each one the undiluted truth.
(Then buy the Norge)
Can't see how you can fail realistically.

[Huzo]

Performance wise, can't comment as don't own either LOL...

But for the look, Personally I like the look of Stelvio better but man it is so bloody tall!...Sat on a few between different shows and I can't get the bike straight at all.

Norge suits me better due to my vertical challenge inseam lol...29.5"

Wonder if anyone has done switching Norge to more of a Stelvio look fairing?

At least you know what the view looks like from the rider's perspective slightly offset to the left !

[TimmyTheHog]

At least you know what the view looks like from the rider's perspective slightly offset to the left !

Lol oh yes, quite well at this very moment 

[Trialsman]

I bought my Norge in NC and rode it back to PA.  At the first check I traded the dealer my GS for a Stelvio.  It has been since 2014 and I am still torn.  The Norge feels much lower and I can flat foot it (5'-11"), the Stevio was so wide and high that I was always afraid of dropping it in the driveway.  I toured through WVa on back gravel roads and it always felt well planted, the Norge scares me to death when I get off the beaten path.  The Stelvio has more travel and is better damping so I put a Nitron shock on the Norge to make it equivalent.  Both bikes got a footpeg relocation of 1-1/2" lower which helped more on the Norge.  The Norge locks you in one position albeit very comfortable it is one position, the Stevio gives the ability to stand for a while when you get a case of flat-butt.  The bags are smaller on the Norge although you don't need to take the kitchen sink with you.  I have gone for a week or more on both and they both were fine for tent camping supplies, clothes, and assorted gear.  The Stelvio seems faster but the Norge is smoother, but both got a set of harmonic balancers I designed to kill the vibes at the hands.  Both bikes got handelbar risers and a different windscreen.  The Norge is a really pretty bike but so is the Stelvio in a more purposeful way.

The high center of gravity with the width at your knees finally made me give the Stelvio to my son.  At 6'-3" he says it is tall for him but he loves it.  Every day I read the Merged Stelvio thread on ADVrider and have almost bought another on two occasions.  I have my name in to get the first V85 and maybe that will be the answer.  They are both really good bikes so this whole thing probably doesn't help at all.  The reason I want the V85 is to get rid of some of the high weight but still give me better capability for back, dirt roads.

[dguzzi]

Do these have the same rear ratio?

[pete roper]

All the CARC bevel gears are the same ratio. Sport 1200 and Breva use taller primaries.

[HarveyMushman]

Been considering both myself.  What I have found so far is that Stelvio is somewhat high for the vertically challenged but what is even worse, it is EXTREMELY wide with the factory bags making it near impossible to get on gracefully or without contorting one's body in some painful manner.  The Norge is easy for the rider to get on but somewhat difficult for the passenger as the rear pegs are tucked in underneath the bags.  DW also found the seat a little tight for 2. Neither have cruise which would be nice.

Left foot on left peg, stand, swing right leg over, sit, move bike to vertical.  I do this gracefully and without pain. 

[TimmyTheHog]

Left foot on left peg, stand, swing right leg over, sit, move bike to vertical.  I do this gracefully and without pain.

lol, the issue with me, I can only get to your step 4...have difficulty with step 5...lol...

[timonbik]

Left foot on left peg, stand, swing right leg over, sit, move bike to vertical.  I do this gracefully and without pain.

You obviously have great faith in the side stand.  Easily could have 50 to a 100 pounds of gear plus a 200 plus pound rider  along with the weight of the bike on the side stand.  I know its done but for how long before something gives?  What happens if you are on soft ground like grass or dirt.

[dguzzi]

Thank you Pete!

[mojohand]

....
Now, what about the Griso? We'll find out soon....

When I had one, I had it outfitted for sport touring. 500-600 miles in a day with no problem:



Loved it!

Oh, and I've also had a Norge 4V and a Norge 8V.

[Trialsman]

I mounted my Norge form the side stand and it didn't take long to bend.  I cut off the horizontal bend part and welded a larger foot pretty much directly below the straight section similar to the European type.  It has been perfect ever since.  I still mount from peg and swing my right leg over, very easy.

[ITSec]

When I had one, I had it outfitted for sport touring. 500-600 miles in a day with no problem:



Loved it!

Oh, and I've also had a Norge 4V and a Norge 8V.

I have a Norge and a Stelvio, so the Griso isn't going to be loaded down that way. I know I could, but that's not what it's for!

[HarveyMushman]

You obviously have great faith in the side stand.  Easily could have 50 to a 100 pounds of gear plus a 200 plus pound rider  along with the weight of the bike on the side stand.  I know its done but for how long before something gives?  What happens if you are on soft ground like grass or dirt.

The wheels are carrying weight too.  On soft ground I face the seat and lift my leg over.  It's not as comfortable as swinging a leg over the standard way, but it's not a reason to buy another bike . . . 

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I mounted my Norge form the side stand and it didn't take long to bend.  I cut off the horizontal bend part and welded a larger foot pretty much directly below the straight section similar to the European type.  It has been perfect ever since.  I still mount from peg and swing my right leg over, very easy.

I did the exact same thing with my 1200 Sport 4 years ago so I could mount lower footpegs. Even designed and welded/mounted a new base plate.

[Kiwi_Roy]

You obviously have great faith in the side stand.  Easily could have 50 to a 100 pounds of gear plus a 200 plus pound rider  along with the weight of the bike on the side stand.  I know its done but for how long before something gives?  What happens if you are on soft ground like grass or dirt.

You don't get off, my friend has a Super Tenere he often has difficulty alighting any sort of a slope and he's leaning too far or not enough, a real pain even parking on the side of road. Can't beat that big ol police stand the earlier Californias had.

[Lannis]

"What happens if you are on soft ground like grass or dirt?"

You don't get off .....

I know places where you'd need a LOT of gas to make that happen .... !

Lannis

[Demar]

What happens if you are on soft ground like grass or dirt.

I have one of these on my Stelvio sidestand foot. It has a little larger footprint than stock and does help in the soft stuff and on hot asphalt. My Stelvio with the added plate did not dig into hot asphalt but the bike parked next to it, a Kawasaki Concours with it's stock sidestand, sank over an inch. The teeth on the Stelvio plate also help my boot grip it to deploy the sidestand. I'm glad I bought it.

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