Fresh from the launch of the all-new V100 Mandello, Moto Guzzi is poised to launch the first spin-off from the 1000cc platform with the return of the Stelvio off-roader.
The premium arm of Piaggio family of brands, a new Moto Guzzi doesn’t come around all that often, as demonstrated by the four years elapsing between the launch of the V100 Mandello sports tourer and the V85 TT, its two most recent new offerings.
However, Moto Guzzi is set to capitalise on the Mandello’s underpinnings by developing a new large adventure motorcycle using the same 1048cc four-cylinder engine that will sit above the ADV-cum-tourer V85 TT.
Set to revive the Stelvio nameplate - in a nod to the Stelvio Pass, a picturesque mountainous route in Italy close to the border with Switzerland - its presence was teased at EICMA with a simple placement of two wheels set to a background of the notorious Pass.
It isn’t the first time a Piaggio brand has hidden hints to future models in plain sight after ‘revealing’ the Aprilia Tuareg 660 at EICMA in 2019, albeit shrouded in bushy foliage to disguise its appearance.
Moto Guzzi Stelvio returns to booming ADV market
Launched in 2008, the Moto Guzzi Stelvio (above) was available for eight years before Euro4 measures forced its axe. Its replacement will, however, use a smaller engine than its 1200cc predecessor, reflecting the shift in the market since the original was on sale.
While adventure and off-road capable sports tourer motorcycles have always been big business for manufacturers, particularly in Europe, the market had been shrinking in recent years as strict Euro4 and 5 emissions regulations began to impact thirstier, heavier models.
Forcing manufacturers to initiate a cull of its larger offerings in favour of a new focus on smaller capacity off-roaders, that segment has seen a boom recently with the launch of the aforementioned Tuareg 660, the forthcoming Honda XL750 Transalp and Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, plus the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5, which in turn is based on Italy’s best-selling motorcycle, the Benelli TRK 502.
Now it is the turn of the category above to witness a fresh influx of machinery with the Ducati DesertX and Husqvarna Norden 901 having already joined established favourites like the BMW 1250 GS Adventure, KTM 890 Adventure / 1290 Super Adventure and Honda Africa Twin.
Now Moto Guzzi will be joining the fray in the coming months, together with Italian counterparts, the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 and the recently revealed Moto Morini X-Cape 1200.
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