Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4v 2008–2011: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

The Stelvio 1200 4V is Moto Guzzi's big-bore adventure-tourer, built around an air-cooled, transverse 90° V-twin of 1151 cc making 105 hp and 80 lb-ft. The engine likes revs and pulls hardest near the top, while the midrange can feel flat, so you learn to work the 6-speed box instead of lugging it. Shaft drive, a steel trellis frame, an upside-down fork and a 19-inch front wheel set the layout. Suspension, windscreen and seat height all adjust as standard. There is no ABS, no traction control and no ride modes. This is a mechanical motorcycle, and it earns its place through character rather than a spec sheet.

On pavement it's calm and composed at speed, and the 553 lb (251 kg) wet weight fades once you're rolling. Build quality is good, and it takes long days well. Be honest about the gap between the adventure look and the hardware, though. Travel is 6.7 in (170 mm) up front and 6.1 in (155 mm) at the back, below what I expect from a real adventure bike, so this is a road-biased tourer that can handle a dirt road, not a trail machine. Buy one with the known weak points in mind: top-end wear, a few electrical faults, and fork legs that don't forgive overtightened pinch bolts.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	105 hp (77 kW) @ 7,500 rpm
Torque	80 lb-ft (108 Nm) @ 6,400 rpm
Displacement	1151 cc
Engine	90° V-twin
Cooling	Air-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Shaft
Fork	Upside-down (USD)
Front brake	320 mm
Front tire	110/80-19
Rear tire	180/55-17
Ground clearance	8.3 in (210 mm)
Front travel	6.7 in (170 mm)
Rear travel	6.1 in (155 mm)
Seat height	33.1 in (840 mm)
Wet weight	553 lb (251 kg)
Fuel capacity	4.8 gal (18 L)
Top speed	140 mph (225 km/h)
Fuel economy	37 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

Front Suspension Adjustable Standard
Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Adjustable Windscreen Standard
Adjustable Seat Height Standard
Luggage System Optional

Known issues

Front axle pinch bolts crack fork legs

chassis occasional

Overtightening the front axle pinch bolts can crack the cast bottom of the fork legs, a safety concern that prompted warranty replacements on many early bikes.
Premature cam and tappet wear

engine occasional

The early flat-tappet 8V engines are prone to rapid camshaft and tappet wear, especially if not run with high-quality high-zinc oil and changed regularly. This leads to noisy top-end and potential engine damage. Moto Guzzi later introduced a roller tappet retrofit program.
High-beam relay fuse failure

electrics occasional

The high-beam relay can short out and blow a 30-amp fuse, which also kills the charging system, potentially stranding the rider. Swapping the relay for a Bosch part resolves the issue.
Starter motor failure and battery cable chafing

electrics rare

Some owners reported starter motor failure at very low mileage (~1200 miles) and the front seat mounting plates wearing through live battery cables, causing electrical shorts.
Dashboard condensation

bodywork occasional

The instrument panel is known to fog up, especially in wet or humid conditions, though this is mostly cosmetic.
Corrosion on engine cases

engine occasional

Some owners report corrosion on the engine, particularly on the crankcases, which can detract from the bike's appearance over time.

The Numbers Compared

Compare the technical specifications of the Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4v with other bikes in its class.

Head-to-head: Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4v vs. its rivals

Power

105 hp This bike 98 hp KTM 990 Adventure 110 hp BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 101 hp Triumph Tiger 955i 100 hp Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Torque

80 lb-ft This bike 74 lb-ft KTM 990 Adventure 89 lb-ft BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 68 lb-ft Triumph Tiger 955i 76 lb-ft Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Displacement

1151 cc This bike 999 cc KTM 990 Adventure 1170 cc BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 955 cc Triumph Tiger 955i 1037 cc Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Wet weight

553 lb This bike 564 lb BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 474 lb Triumph Tiger 955i 503 lb Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Top speed

140 mph This bike 130 mph KTM 990 Adventure 133 mph Triumph Tiger 955i

Seat height

33.1 in This bike 33.9 in KTM 990 Adventure 35.8 in BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 34.4 in Triumph Tiger 955i 33.5 in Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Alternatives to the Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4v

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 4v. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.