Back after 6 years

[Lumir Bakota]

Well, I am back at this forum after 6 years, I used to post then under nickname Luma46. I used to own a brand new 2012 Stelvio NTX as soon as they showed up in Alberta, Canada. I liked the bike, the way it felt, the way it rode and I loved its looks and character, the main reasons for the purchase. However, there were few things tha I could not put up with, kept comparing it to my previous 2006 1200GS, and sold it after one riding season.

The engine and especially the tranny were very noisy and everything run extremely hot, the engine, the cylinders, even the shaft drive. I did not mind much the valve train noise, but tranny was annoyingly noisy/whiney, especially in lower gears. As well, the coarse/flat paint on engine and shaft drive literally attracted road grime and was hard to clean.

So stepping forward, after riding 1200RT for five years, I traded it last year for a 2016 Africa Twin. Great bike to ride, light, comfortable, but I kept missing these transverse twins I had before. Major eye opener came when doing the service after 24k kms which included valves check/adjustment. It was a 3 day job. I am long time retired so I do not mind spending time on bike maintenance, but this was a horror job that I swear not to repeat.

So I am looking again at Moto Guzzis, specifically the Stelvio. I hope that forum members could answer my questions:

1. Have there been some redesigns/improvements on Stelvios since 2012 and in what years?
2. Does everyone have the same experience with this engine/transmission noise, especially the whine or does it subside with full break in?
3. Do the engine and drive shaft still run so hot or was there any change with redesign or after full brake in?
4. Has the engine paint job changed or is it still this coarse, flat paint?
5. I guess, the bike still doesn’t have a cruise control, right?

I live now in SE New Brunswick and there is no MG dealers in whole Atlantic Canada, but there are few in Quebec, probably just over half day drive for me. How is on-line parts availability for MG and what is the best source?

Thanks for the feedback.

Lumir

 

[Dale Baker]

Better yet....

http://discoverv85.motoguzzi.com/en/

 

[Lumir Bakota]

Better yet....

http://discoverv85.motoguzzi.com/en/

Wow, that is interesting, hadn't heard about this one before... I don't think it will be in North America before 2020 thou.

 

[boscoman]

Well, I am back at this forum after 6 years, I used to post then under nickname Luma46. I used to own a brand new 2012 Stelvio NTX as soon as they showed up in Alberta, Canada. I liked the bike, the way it felt, the way it rode and I loved its looks and character, the main reasons for the purchase. However, there were few things tha I could not put up with, kept comparing it to my previous 2006 1200GS, and sold it after one riding season.

The engine and especially the tranny were very noisy and everything run extremely hot, the engine, the cylinders, even the shaft drive. I did not mind much the valve train noise, but tranny was annoyingly noisy/whiney, especially in lower gears. As well, the coarse/flat paint on engine and shaft drive literally attracted road grime and was hard to clean.

So stepping forward, after riding 1200RT for five years, I traded it last year for a 2016 Africa Twin. Great bike to ride, light, comfortable, but I kept missing these transverse twins I had before. Major eye opener came when doing the service after 24k kms which included valves check/adjustment. It was a 3 day job. I am long time retired so I do not mind spending time on bike maintenance, but this was a horror job that I swear not to repeat.

So I am looking again at Moto Guzzis, specifically the Stelvio. I hope that forum members could answer my questions:

1. Have there been some redesigns/improvements on Stelvios since 2012 and in what years?
2. Does everyone have the same experience with this engine/transmission noise, especially the whine or does it subside with full break in?
3. Do the engine and drive shaft still run so hot or was there any change with redesign or after full brake in?
4. Has the engine paint job changed or is it still this coarse, flat paint?
5. I guess, the bike still doesn’t have a cruise control, right?

I live now in SE New Brunswick and there is no MG dealers in whole Atlantic Canada, but there are few in Quebec, probably just over half day drive for me. How is on-line parts availability for MG and what is the best source?

Thanks for the feedback. Lumir

If I am wrong others can feel free to correct me, but... as far as I know the bike except for color changes has remained the same since 2012. That being the answer to all your questions:
1. No upgrades that I know of.
2.While the bike has it's noises, I haven't experiences the sounds you had. Then again I also didn't own a Beemer, a bike that does everything well & has zero personality. JMHO :>)
3. Never noticed or had an issue.
4. No change.
5. What's a cruise control?...no, never added.

 

[Trout]

2013 went to roller's instead of flat tappets.

 

[GuzziMoto]

2013 went to roller's instead of flat tappets.

And that is a fairly important change as conventional wisdom says that the flat tappet design for the 8 valve motors has issues and will fail. That 2 valve flat tappet motors will run forever, but Guzzi may have botched the design of the 8 valve flat tappet motor and it eats tappets / cams. There are kits to convert older flat tappet motors to roller tappets, and if you buy an older flat tappet motor I would make sure either the conversion has already been done or you budget enough money to cover the cost of the conversion when you buy it.

And people said my 4 valve motor was a bad design......

 

[boscoman]

Yes the '13 has the roller tappets, but so do some of the late model year 2012s. Have to check the serial number to be sure as I found out with my 2012 Griso.