dcarl
Just got it firing!
Anybody have any experience installing the quick shifter on the new 2024 stelvio? Is this going to be a ‘certified Guzzi dealer’ kind of thing? Can’t find any info. Thanks.
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quick shifter for 2024 stelvio
- Thread starterdcarl
- Start date
Read about quick shifters on this forum. Those of us who are mechanics recommend not using that feature.
@dcarl I don’t know whether this will be of any help but I can relate my gearchange experience over my first four months of ownership of a Stelvio PFF in the UK.
I decided not to option the QS but first get some experience with loosening up the gearbox. I’ve ridden two other Stelvios besides mine and both of them, and the two Mandellos I’ve ridden have had tricky changes into first and first to second.
My Stelvio though beats them all when it comes to tricky changes! Using the clutch it is almost impossible to get a silent gearchange anywhere. After 5000 miles though what I’ve discovered is that with careful throttle control I can change clutchless up and down the box and the feel is similar to my previous Ducati Multistrada using its QS. Of course you can’t (and shouldn’t) change clutchless on a loaded throttle, but the change is so smooth and fluid, I don’t believe it’s creating excessive load on the Stelvio’s transmission.
Stelvio road testers who’ve had a QS have (mostly) described it as very good (two used the word buttery). My supposition for all this is that the gearbox was designed for QS use and the clutch was not well designed.
I see @john zibell is counselling against a QS and I’m guessing that’s because of when you change gears under full torque there’s a higher likelihood of expensive damage. I’m not a mechanic, I’ve always relied on treating mechanisms with respect and not forcing them. I’d welcome some more input on this subject from those with more experience.
As a postscript, the gearing of the Multistrada is too tall and for town work it benefits from a larger rear sprocket. When I fitted one though, the QS stopped working. I hardly missed it!
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Quick shifters are for racing. Racing trades durability and reliability for speed.
You cannot get something for nothing.
It takes minimal effort to use your clutch and protect your motorcycle.
There is no appreciable gain of value in using the quick shifter yet there is a definite durability cost.
You cannot get something for nothing.
It takes minimal effort to use your clutch and protect your motorcycle.
There is no appreciable gain of value in using the quick shifter yet there is a definite durability cost.
dcarl
Just got it firing!
Thank you to all for your responses! I really appreciate it. I'm a pretty old school guy and have not had any experience at all with quick shifters. Have had many bikes (older ones) so that tech had not hit yet back then. I was recently in Italy touring on a BMW 1250 GS that had a QS. Its was pretty nice but eh... didn't really move me much. I don't mind "clutching" and I agree with everybody that my Stelvio shifts just fine. And I really don't want to any undue stress on the system. Thanks again. By the way, funny story... Was in Italy with my wife on the bike and wanted to hit Lake Como and also swing by the Guzzi factory and Museum. By total chance and luck, it just happen to be the annual Guzzi open house with a cast of thousands. Awesome
I had a QS on the 2023 Triumph 1200 GTPro before the last bike and didn't use it, largely due to habit. Same in the Stelvio PFFs I've ridden. Unless hammering hard through the gears, the V85TT and Stelvios shift nicely without the clutch anyway.
Don't understand the want for QS...
Changing gears with a well sorted clutch is what
motorcycling is all about!
Changing gears with a well sorted clutch is what
motorcycling is all about!
Cloner
Just got it firing!
As a motorcycle roadracer who's very used to quick shifters, I put one on my V100. It just plain doesn't work as a quick shifter should. A quick shifter should allow full throttle shifts without using the clutch by cutting fuel for a few milliseconds so that the dogs can disengage from the lower gear's pockets and slip into the upper gear's pockets before reapplying fuel. Every Aprilia I've ridden for the last few years has a PERFECT quickshifter. For some reason, though, Moto Guzzi got it wrong. If I shift near redline at full throttle the bike hits a wall, shifts, then reapplies abruptly, unsettling the chassis. Shifting at lighter throttle openings is likewise. The only way I can get it to work smoothly is to short shift at wide open throttle. Additionally, something about the positive neutral finder negates the use of a quick shifter in 1-2 and 2-1 shifts .... the ones where a quick shifter makes the most substantive difference.
I've simply gone back to clutching for this bike.
As a response to the cost comment, above, I don't think that's true for two reasons. First, personal experience. I have several race bikes with quick shifters, the oldest being a 2006 Daytona 675. The Daytona is still on its original transmission after 15,000 miles of hard racetrack use. Second, many manufacturers now include quick shifters of various types on their equipment from the factory. I have a hard time believing any manufacturer would install equipment that might increase their warranty claim statistics costing them money and customer goodwill. Just my two cents. Opinions vary.
I've simply gone back to clutching for this bike.
As a response to the cost comment, above, I don't think that's true for two reasons. First, personal experience. I have several race bikes with quick shifters, the oldest being a 2006 Daytona 675. The Daytona is still on its original transmission after 15,000 miles of hard racetrack use. Second, many manufacturers now include quick shifters of various types on their equipment from the factory. I have a hard time believing any manufacturer would install equipment that might increase their warranty claim statistics costing them money and customer goodwill. Just my two cents. Opinions vary.
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I do not believe MG has ever used one till now.
Teething issues...
Teething issues...
I have used quick shifters from a diverse array of models from my extensive collection of over 40+ motorcycles, brands such as Aprilia, Ducati, BMW, and MV Agusta. My experience with these devices has been consistently positive. The standout performance has been with MV Agusta's implementation, which offer a sensation comparable to dipping one's foot into butter—delivering a superb feel with seamless up and down shifts.
Yesterday, I've fitted the OEM quick shifter components on my 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio and completed the initial setup. However, these require specific programming, which involves a visit to the dealer. Should there be a method to self-program this equipment without dealer intervention, I would be eager to learn about it.
BY THE WAY, I will provide a feedback of the Moto Guzzi quick shifter once the programming is completed. I anticipate feel similar to the my Aprilia Tuono and RSV4.
Yesterday, I've fitted the OEM quick shifter components on my 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio and completed the initial setup. However, these require specific programming, which involves a visit to the dealer. Should there be a method to self-program this equipment without dealer intervention, I would be eager to learn about it.
BY THE WAY, I will provide a feedback of the Moto Guzzi quick shifter once the programming is completed. I anticipate feel similar to the my Aprilia Tuono and RSV4.
My fingers are crossed for you.
I recently had to take my motorcycle back to the dealer for a couple of issues. First off, I had to get the quick shifter programmed.
I'm hoping this service visit will wrap up smoothly so I can enjoy the ride.
I'm hoping this service visit will wrap up smoothly so I can enjoy the ride.
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More comments (positive) on the quick shifter.
I think I have found the happy place for the Stelvio quick shifter, at least for me and my riding. I had one installed at my 7500 mile service and have since put on another 320 road miles and 30 gravel/dirt miles. I have only been able to play with two of the ride modes; TOUR on road and OFF ROAD in the gravel/dirt. I still find it hard, whether by habit or logic, to use it all of the time. When riding off pavement, standing on the pegs, it works flawlessly. I was riding in dry conditions with a pretty hard pack surface, low to mid engine load and as long as I obeyed the dash icon, it worked perfectly. Most of these shift were done to adjust the engine RPM to an already achieved speed. In other words, I wasn't winding it out to accelerate or dropping down to get more engine braking. So again, mostly low to mid load shifting. This was in OFF ROAD mode.
Similarly, on the road, in TOUR mode, I find it works best when accelerating and braking modestly. Think of it like riding at 4-6 on a 1-10 vigor scale. If I was stuck in traffic and had to accelerate at the pace of the cagers, I developed a "modified quick shift protocol"; upshifts without releasing the throttle and a very slight feathering of the clutch and down shifts with no throttle and a partial pull of the clutch. I never attempted a full load, red line up shift.
Here is a scenario where the quick shifter is very unhappy. If I inadvertently let off the throttle, even just slightly during the up shift it ended up being pretty harsh. No noise, just a lot of to and fro jerking.
I am just guessing here but I wouldn't be surprised if the quick-shifter has programming maps for the various ride modes. Rather, I would expect it does have different maps for each mode. If that is the case, a rider that is not experiencing optimal performance might not be properly matching the vigor of their ride with the mode. A full throttle red line shift on a dry road while in tour mode might result in some mish-mashing whereas the same thing down in SPORT is exhilarating. I need to dedicate a day of solo, non-destinational riding to more throroughly explore the other modes and how it changes the best case use of the quick shifter.
To take this one step further, all of those reviewers who remarked so positively on the quick-shifter, I'll bet where almost always in SPORT mode and were almost always riding at a 9-10 level. Come on, what would YOU DO? You're invited to Europe to stay in a nice hotel and ride a brand new bike in the Alps. Please, sign off now if you would say, "Oh thank you Mr. Piaggio for this opportunity, I see this new bike of yours has only 9 kilometers on it, you can rest assured that during my test ride, I'll follow the proper break-in procedure". Read motorcycle reviews for the reading entertainment, not for the technical enlightenment.
I consider myself as one who seeks a middle ground and what I see as that middle ground with regard to quick-shifters is, they aren't going to entirely eliminate clutch use once you get in motion. Instead, we move from a world where riding experience once meant that you can match gears and make smooth shifts regardless of the riding surface and how vigorously you are riding (because you know the workings of a constant mesh gear box) to a world where riding conditions and intentions require the selection of the proper riding mode (because you know how an App works). Think to the scene in every Daily Rider you tube review where Zac does the off-road portion. He stops, puts the bike in neutral and follows a procedure to change from road road mode to off road or adjusts the ABS because he just transitioned from a crappy paved road to some hard pack clay with some dust and gravel on top. He's not doing that because he needs the protective features or performance enhancement from some electronic wizardry. He does that because we want to know if the electronic gizmos on this bike are better than the ones on that bike even if both of them are no better than none at all.
I think I have found the happy place for the Stelvio quick shifter, at least for me and my riding. I had one installed at my 7500 mile service and have since put on another 320 road miles and 30 gravel/dirt miles. I have only been able to play with two of the ride modes; TOUR on road and OFF ROAD in the gravel/dirt. I still find it hard, whether by habit or logic, to use it all of the time. When riding off pavement, standing on the pegs, it works flawlessly. I was riding in dry conditions with a pretty hard pack surface, low to mid engine load and as long as I obeyed the dash icon, it worked perfectly. Most of these shift were done to adjust the engine RPM to an already achieved speed. In other words, I wasn't winding it out to accelerate or dropping down to get more engine braking. So again, mostly low to mid load shifting. This was in OFF ROAD mode.
Similarly, on the road, in TOUR mode, I find it works best when accelerating and braking modestly. Think of it like riding at 4-6 on a 1-10 vigor scale. If I was stuck in traffic and had to accelerate at the pace of the cagers, I developed a "modified quick shift protocol"; upshifts without releasing the throttle and a very slight feathering of the clutch and down shifts with no throttle and a partial pull of the clutch. I never attempted a full load, red line up shift.
Here is a scenario where the quick shifter is very unhappy. If I inadvertently let off the throttle, even just slightly during the up shift it ended up being pretty harsh. No noise, just a lot of to and fro jerking.
I am just guessing here but I wouldn't be surprised if the quick-shifter has programming maps for the various ride modes. Rather, I would expect it does have different maps for each mode. If that is the case, a rider that is not experiencing optimal performance might not be properly matching the vigor of their ride with the mode. A full throttle red line shift on a dry road while in tour mode might result in some mish-mashing whereas the same thing down in SPORT is exhilarating. I need to dedicate a day of solo, non-destinational riding to more throroughly explore the other modes and how it changes the best case use of the quick shifter.
To take this one step further, all of those reviewers who remarked so positively on the quick-shifter, I'll bet where almost always in SPORT mode and were almost always riding at a 9-10 level. Come on, what would YOU DO? You're invited to Europe to stay in a nice hotel and ride a brand new bike in the Alps. Please, sign off now if you would say, "Oh thank you Mr. Piaggio for this opportunity, I see this new bike of yours has only 9 kilometers on it, you can rest assured that during my test ride, I'll follow the proper break-in procedure". Read motorcycle reviews for the reading entertainment, not for the technical enlightenment.
I consider myself as one who seeks a middle ground and what I see as that middle ground with regard to quick-shifters is, they aren't going to entirely eliminate clutch use once you get in motion. Instead, we move from a world where riding experience once meant that you can match gears and make smooth shifts regardless of the riding surface and how vigorously you are riding (because you know the workings of a constant mesh gear box) to a world where riding conditions and intentions require the selection of the proper riding mode (because you know how an App works). Think to the scene in every Daily Rider you tube review where Zac does the off-road portion. He stops, puts the bike in neutral and follows a procedure to change from road road mode to off road or adjusts the ABS because he just transitioned from a crappy paved road to some hard pack clay with some dust and gravel on top. He's not doing that because he needs the protective features or performance enhancement from some electronic wizardry. He does that because we want to know if the electronic gizmos on this bike are better than the ones on that bike even if both of them are no better than none at all.
Had the dealer program the QuickShifter—cost me $75+ for the job.
Ride Update: Feels like they’ve dialed back the QuickShifter, maybe borrowing from the Aprilia Tuono or RSV setup. It’s got a noticeable jerk when shifting, especially into 2nd—feels rough, almost like you’re on a bike without a QS at all. Things smooth out a bit from 3rd gear up, but that low-end clunkiness needs work. Moto Guzzi’s got some tweaking to do here.