Originally Posted by Walkabout

For a travellers bike, BMW will surely stick with the projected 800GS?!

Originally Posted by Walkabout

A bit more about the Moto G Stelvio which, according to this write-up, will be available next month, and have a choice of 850 or 1200 cc engines, but it will be pretty well road oriented - more like the current Triumph Tiger than the BMW GS for example (a matter of degree then):-

Moto Guzzi Stelvio Preview

Originally Posted by indu

Hm. I think you've linked to some of the older artist's fantasy presentation of a new Stelvio. Actually the new Stelvio seems to be a bit more in the GS Adv league, sporting spoked wheels. At least according to the video and early pictures from Berlin earlier this year. So I actually believe Guzzi will try to take on BMW's GS hegemony more than the Tiger/Ducati Multistrada market. Or at least I really hope so.

Originally Posted by mollydog

Hi Dean,
In the last few years I've managed to get aboard a few Guzzi's. (Cafe Sport, Breva, LeMans) All were tricky to set up. Guzzi's always take time to learn. Most folks wouldn't like them on a short test ride involving corners or a mountain road. They are just different and the suspension really must be fettled to have the machine work.

The Griso is no different. It's a heavy shaft driven bike with a ton of torque and even though the Sacks rear shock is pretty good it has trouble dealing with the shaft effect, even with the new CARC para-lever-like system. The Geometry is awkward too (ultra long wheelbase...and huge 180 section Rennsports) and works against the handling at times. Dips or G outs mid corner in particular are tough and tend to stand the bike up abruptly.

So pre-load, compression and rebound settings are really really touchy and critical to getting the thing to work. Took me a few days of riding to figure it out. Once put right the bike is a joy on a wide variety of roads. Hard to believe but true. Quite a versatile bike and very comfortable too. Even the wind blast didn't bother me.

I put maybe 1500 miles on the thing. As time goes by and you begin to learn how to ride it...it's really a pretty good bike, especially so on smooth, tight twisties. Endless ground clearance equals acute lean angles and massive grip from the fat Rennsport, but it takes muscle to get the thing to lay down quickly in a corner. If you got off an R6 and onto the Griso you'd go straight off the road thinking the steering was stuck in the Go Straight position. Once again, conservative geometry, long wheelbase, huge rear tire.

Power is not bad. This is not wheelie rocket ship but is plenty quick and has
good usable torque even at 2000 rpm, but drives hard and even has a nice top end kick after about 5000 RPM up to 9K redline. But the best is between
about 4K and 7500 rpm.

Excellent brakes, horrible headlight, great seat, neat dashboard. A gorgeous, sexy bike unlike anything on the road. And it works!!

Patrick