When news first reached us that Moto Guzzi was reviving the iconic Stelvio name with the launch of its latest adventure bike, we’re not afraid to admit we got pretty darn excited here at ABR.
And who can blame us? The original Moto Guzzi Stelvio combined Italian style, flair, and passion with long-distance comfort and performance.
And yes, I know it’s easy to look back with spectacles sporting a distinctively rosy tint, but there are some motorcycles that stick in the bike riding public’s consciousness long after they’ve been discontinued, and the Stelvio was certainly one of them.
But now, seven years after its demise, Moto Guzzi has reincarnated the adventure bike named after one of Europe’s most exhilarating mountain roads, the Passo dello Stelvio.
And after test riding the bike at its international press launch recently, we’re delighted to say, the 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio is really rather good. So, without further ado, here are six things that impressed us the most about Moto Guzzi’s new adventure bike…
Tradition and technology combined
With a new motor, new frame, and bristling with all the latest technology and electronic rider aids, the Stelvio is everything we wanted and indeed expected it to be.
From front and rear facing radar to selectable riding modes, LED lighting to cruise control, the Guzzi has all the bells and whistles to keep the fussiest of riders happy.
For those with a simpler appreciation of motorcycling, the new Stelvio is unmistakably a Guzzi.
When it comes to rider aids, a Forward Collision Warning flashes up progressively on the dashboard when you’re in danger of hitting something. Meanwhile, a Blind Spot Information System picks up potentially unseen vehicles on the right or left and flashes up orange warnings on the mirrors and dashboard. Clever stuff.
It’s a peach of a motor
The first part of our test ride took me out of town and onto the motorway, so straight away I could appreciate the glorious and involving performance of the bike’s wonderful motor. There’s a healthy 115bhp peak power should you want to take the Stelvio up to 8,700rpm, but peak torque is at a slightly less frantic 6,750rpm where there’s 104Nm on tap.
That said, if you prefer a more leisurely approach, 82% of that torque is available from 3,500rpm, and there’s a sweet spot up to just over 6,000rpm where the bike surges forward in seemingly whatever gear you fancy, with the quickshifter and rear mounted anti-hop clutch making for effortless changes when you do shift. If you want to get a wiggle on, the Stelvio rewards you the more you make it scream.
Long distance comfort makes it ideal for summer tours
The touring experience is enhanced by the electronically controlled screen that powers up and down silently using the left-hand switch gear, raising a full 70mm to its top position. It delivered a pleasantly calm bubble at relatively high speeds, even with a peaked adventure helmet.
Standard cruise control is also available on all versions of the bike, and the powerful V-twin motor and super smooth shaft drive deliver grin inducing power when you need to squeeze the throttle of a high-speed overtake.
There’s very little to object to here for a day, a week, or even a month in the saddle. And, with a 21l fuel tank, you’ll be looking at touring friendly 200 to 230 miles between fill ups depending on how aggressively you ride.
The Moto Guzzi Stelvio looks sensational
The Stelvio’s V-twin engine is instantly recognisable, the glorious design of its distinctive power plant stretching into the long alloy shaft drive is pure motorcycling porn. But the good looks don’t stop there.
From the sculpted lines of the fairing to the beautiful flow of the pipes, and the inclusion of the Moto Guzzi logo in the LED headlight, it’s clear attention to detail has been lavished on both function and form.
In fact, we reckon it is one of the best-looking adventure bikes money can buy right now. If you enjoy turning heads, the Stelvio will help you do just that, although you might need to update your riding wardrobe to match.
The bike handles superbly
While long-distant comfort is all well and good when crossing continents at speed, we want a bike to come alive when we reach the mountain passes of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Knowing this, Moto Guzzi’s engineers have made a bike that thrills in the twisties.
Despite sporting trail friendly 19” front and 17” rear spoked wheels, the bike flicks between turns and carves around hairpins with ease. The twin radial four-pot Brembos and dinner plate size 320mm discs bring the bike to a stop on the proverbial dime, yet are wonderfully progressive at the same time.
It’s a Moto Guzzi, and that’s a very good thing
Character, tradition, charm: these are all subjective traits in a motorcycle and have just as much to do with the attitude of the rider as the performance of a motorcycle. But for this bike tester, who has ridden pretty much every adventure bike made over the past few years, it’s clear the Stelvio has them all in abundance.
There’s something special about owning a Moto Guzzi, and I defy anyone to feel the distinctive rock of those cylinder heads on start-up and not smile from ear to ear. It’s a bike with soul.
Book a test ride of the 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio
If you’d like to discover how the bike performs for yourself, head over to the Moto Guzzi website here, find your local dealer, and book a test ride.
