2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio

One of the most historic and longest-surviving motorcycle manufacturers worldwide, Moto Guzzi made the development of an all-new engine part of its ‘21 centennial celebration. The traditional longitudinally mounted, transverse V-twin shaft drive architecture remained, but with liquid-cooling and a more compact design leading the way into the next century. The resulting 1,042cc engine made its debut with the V100 Mandello in ‘23, but its second application in the motorcycling’s most popular segment with the new Stelvio is arguably even more important.

Intended as an all-arounder type of ADV with bikes such as Suzuki’s V-Strom 1050 and Honda’s Africa Twin, the Stelvio’s new engine employs DOHC four-valve heads turned 90 degrees to the traditional air-and-oil-cooled small block for tighter packaging. Liquid-cooling and closed-loop EFI allow the compact block to be Euro 5 compliant while producing a claimed 115 hp at 8,700 rpm and 77.4 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,750 rpm. Attached to the compact-block engine is a trellis frame similar to the Mandello but with revised geometry, increased length, and additional engine mounting points (six instead of four) for the Stelvio. The headtube area has been stretched and has more rake to make room for the 19-inch front wheel.

The Sachs 46mm inverted fork and KYB shock (both adjustable for rebound damping and spring preload and both with identical wheel travel at 6.7 inches) are firm yet well damped in compression and rebound for street work, and don’t pitch excessively during hard braking and acceleration. Handling is snappy, quick even, while remaining rock-solid stable. Tubeless cross-spoke wheels measure 19 x 3.0 inches front and 17 x 4.5 inches rear, wrapped with Michelin Anakee Adventure tires. Brakes are Brembo four-piston radial-mount calipers with 320mm discs upfront and a two-piston unit at the rear clamping a 280mm disc. ABS is lean sensitive and has three levels: on, Off-road, and off. Equipped with a Continental six-axis IMU, the Stelvio uses ride-by-wire and has five ride modes: Sport, Strada, Turismo, Pioggia, and Off-road. Each gets its own throttle response, traction control, engine-braking, and ABS setting. Additionally the rider can tweak those parameters (except engine-braking) through the Stelvio’s 5-inch TFT dash.

The 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio is available in two color schemes, Giallo Savana or Nero Vulcano, and retail is $16,390 plus $650 freight.

Photo: 2024-motoguzzi-stelvio-2 | The Moto Guzzi Stelvio in Nero Vulcano motif. | Photo Credit: Moto Guzzi