Stelvio or Mandello?

[Gazdok]

I need to look for a new bike after I was hit by a car and my Breva will more than likely be written off.

I would like to get a comfortable bike rather than a sporty hard one.
Reading on the internet I think it might be a Mandello S or a Stelvio. I am not sure about the PFF radar one.
I am veering towards the V100 S because I read it has a more comfortable suspension regardless of whether it is electronically adjustable than the standard V100.
I also want heated grips, hand guards, a rack for a top box and a decent screen and centre stand.

Has anyone ridden both the V100 S and the Stevio and is able to compare?
My local dealer does not have any demonstrators at all.

 

[Lannis]

We had a local Demo Ride at our dealer, and I was able to ride them both, in addition to my 09 Stelvio.

If for two up riding I'd pick the Stelvio because it just has more room on it for two people.

If it were just for me riding it, I'd buy a V100.

Lannis

 

[BioKnee]

@Gazdok I’ve ridden all variants of both bikes. Ended up buying Stelvio PFF and added centre stand, heated seat, grips and engine bars. Might go back for a quickshifter and adaptive cruise (still not available 8 months after UK launch).

When I first rode the Mandello in Oct 23 I was grinning and full of joy. At the end of an hour though my lower back was hurting. Loved the engine and handling, couldn’t cope with the riding position. Also thought both S and non-S suspension was too hard for my preference and the turning circle too large. LOVED the engine though.

Decided to wait for the Stelvio and this April I hired one for six days with my girlfriend two-up in Gran Canaria. Excellent two-up touring bike. Bought one in June to replace my Multistrada.

The suspension seemed harsh at the outset (see Stelvio suspension thread in this forum) but it’s now mellowed. The bike continues to grow on me after 4k+ miles and I’m more attracted to take short rides for fun than on the Ducati.

Having said all of that I think you’ve got to at least sit on one of each, check the riding position, seat height and turning circle. See what your heart says too!

 

[Gazdok]

Thanks for the replies.

I did sit on both, standard V100 and Stelvio. "Playing" around with them on the shop floor I did think the V100 did not turn much. The standard seat on the V100 felt harder and I like more bits on the Stelvio. I would prefer the Stelvio with a road set up of the wheels. I never had an offroader.

 

[TombaLaBomba]

Dude, there is NOTHING off-road about the Stelvio, just like there is NOTHING off road about a GSA or dare I say, a Katoom 1290 Super ADV R. BTW, the WP shocks on the latter suck. …Did I say they suck? To be fair, the suspension on ALL of these bikes sucks for even the mildest gravel roads, -if driven hard.

That said, the Stelvio can carve like a mother if you have the co - jones.

It can also “not fail you” if doing mild gravel roads.

Point being, it’s a street bike through and through hyped to be something more.

That said, it’s the best fucking bike I have ever owned.

the rest, and there were/are many, though perhaps more subject matter specific and for the most part remarkably good at what they where built to do, are nevertheless “toys”.

The Stelvio is the genuine article.

Dress it up or dress it down as you prefer, but the platform is the real deal.

 

[GTM®]

The Stelvio is the genuine article.

What many, me included, have said about the last gen NTX. Best Guzzi to date. Hope you’ll add your info to our Registry one day.

 

[GTM®]

would prefer the Stelvio with a road set up of the wheels.

Just a wheel and tire swap away. $480/set new in black.

 

[Gazdok]

Thanks for the replies.

I will now go for a Stelvio.
What wheel option is there to change from 19" to 17"?

I also want to fit a centre stand. There do not seem to be many suppliers around other than MG. Or is the Stelvio centre stand the same as the ones for the Mandello?

 

[Gazdok]

I went for a Stelvio in the end. It is 6 months old and has just covered 1200M.

I have a few questions to Stelvio owners or people in the know and I am still comparing to my old Breva 1100 which was sadly written off.

Seat height.
The previous owner fitted the standard comfort seat and I am definitely finding myself tipi-toeing quite a bit. I have pushed the forks through the triple clamp a little but am considering to swap the seat for a low comfort one. Has anyone done this and does this actually lower the seat height? Dealers do not have any numbers in actually seat difference or seat height at all.

Screen
Although the standard in the top position gives decent wind protection I seemed to have had more protection with my old bike which had a standard OEM screen and an MRA spoiler at the top. Has anyone fitted a different screen to their Stelvio? The market does not seem to offer much at present. Do the Stelvio and the Mandello have the same attachments on the screen brackets?

Engine bars
I want to fit engine protection / crash bars. Again there is not much on the market. I like the Givi bars for the Mandello.
The OEM bars for the Stelvio and the Mandello are the same. Does anyone know if the Givi bars for the Mandello will fit the Stelvio?

2 GRIPES
The gear box on the Stelvio feels far too agricultural considering how easy MOST other things function. Whenever I put the first gear in from neutral with the engine running there is an almighty thump and clonk. I had a little clonk with the Breva1100 but nothing like this. The bike had its first service but is this really normal for a 2024 Moto Guzzi? When my son saw me on the bike putting into first he thought I had stalled the bike.

It also feels like the exhaust is way noisier than the Breva which had a nice subtle sound.

 

[BioKnee]

Only thing I can comment on is the gearbox. Yes sir, they all do that… might get better with mileage but after 5k miles mine is not improved much.

 

[Wrinkley]

I'm on 4.5k miles on my Stelvio. I've adjusted the suspension to almost every conceivable configuration, but must say, I'm still not very keen on it. As for the gearbox, mine still has a clunk into 1st but nowhere near as loud as it was, the rest of the gears are absolutely fine.
I also have a Euro5+ V85. My intention was to run the Stelvio and the V85 back too back for a while and decide which one I would keep.
Several months later I am still no closer on making a decision on which bike too keep. I could keep them both but really fancied another Guzzi modern classic. I really only have room for two bikes.

 

[Gazdok]

I have fitted the OEM engine bars with sliders - just in case. Never had a big crash.

I also changed my seat for the low comfort heated seat. This is is a little lower but also a little harder and more uncomfortable.
I have to commend Moto Guzzi on the uncomfortable comfort seat. I want my Breva 1100 seat back!!!
I now have a standard heated OEM seat for sale.

Another gripe I have is the EXTREMELY little storage space under the seat or seats. Why is everything under the seat shielded with plastic and why does it look so untidy when you look under the covers?

Also the toolkit is an absolute joke. I found 1 - in words ONE - allen key clipped under the seat.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I went for a Stelvio in the end. It is 6 months old and has just covered 1200M.

I have a few questions to Stelvio owners or people in the know and I am still comparing to my old Breva 1100 which was sadly written off.

Seat height.
The previous owner fitted the standard comfort seat and I am definitely finding myself tipi-toeing quite a bit. I have pushed the forks through the triple clamp a little but am considering to swap the seat for a low comfort one. Has anyone done this and does this actually lower the seat height? Dealers do not have any numbers in actually seat difference or seat height at all.

Screen
Although the standard in the top position gives decent wind protection I seemed to have had more protection with my old bike which had a standard OEM screen and an MRA spoiler at the top. Has anyone fitted a different screen to their Stelvio? The market does not seem to offer much at present. Do the Stelvio and the Mandello have the same attachments on the screen brackets?

Engine bars
I want to fit engine protection / crash bars. Again there is not much on the market. I like the Givi bars for the Mandello.
The OEM bars for the Stelvio and the Mandello are the same. Does anyone know if the Givi bars for the Mandello will fit the Stelvio?

2 GRIPES
The gear box on the Stelvio feels far too agricultural considering how easy MOST other things function. Whenever I put the first gear in from neutral with the engine running there is an almighty thump and clonk. I had a little clonk with the Breva1100 but nothing like this. The bike had its first service but is this really normal for a 2024 Moto Guzzi? When my son saw me on the bike putting into first he thought I had stalled the bike.

It also feels like the exhaust is way noisier than the Breva which had a nice subtle sound.

Comparison of the heated tall seat with the OEM standard is about an inch difference. The OEM put my tail bone into the projection on the rear seat which sucked. Really liking the tall seat.

Before getting the tall seat I used a 1.3" gel pad from Amazon and it worked really well for comfort but I was always aware it was a pad.

Windshield-wise, simply adding an Amazon topper made it great. No helmet buffet at all. fwiw - I'm 6' with 32" inseam.

Had a lot of bikes over the last 60 years and am really liking this one!!!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Added a few things after the tall seat.

Lights from Amazon for $39.99/set (was 49.99). Felt that mounting on the crash bars would be too close to flying gravel and if the side panels don't work out it turns out the panels are only $17 each. Laid the bike over on cardboard and these did not hit the ground.

Spade connectors under the side panels allow these to be swapped for night driving white spots if I want in the future.

Do NOT try to mount between the forks as the fender comes up to the top of the tapes.

The lights and horn are 14 ga wire on a 15A fuse near the battery. The lights are on switched power using the OEM orange fog light wire under the seat to control the relay, which is in the right side panel. Can't post the wiring diagram because it has links to the Amazon product pages which is not allowed here.

My thumb just barely stretches far enough for the switch.

Bike side panels had to come off. (The white goes to the left aux light and is marine-grade dual conductor 16 ga. )

Seats first, lower side panel slides aft after removing the two screws, front cheek panel cover then the body of it, then two screws beneath where my finger is pointing to the light switch photo (above), then the big side panel which slides aft.

A Hella horn fits perfectly after cutting some of the wind deflector. Relay is again in the right side panel. Uses the horn wires to control the relay, so the horn is also on switched power.

Note the radiator guard from a Mandello.

Not a fan of fender extenders so also added black duct tape to the front of the engine case and lower 2/3 of the radiator guard to keep the front wheel mud & debris from collecting. Makes zero difference in cooling.

Removing the old horn to be done.