Had a run up the Stelvio and down the Umbrail today, in the rain. MTS is the perfect bike for the job, but can't say the pass blew me away as a great riding road, although it's visually impressive and a bit challenging at times. Still, there were shed loads of bikes up there, including a group of Brits with 'Twats on Tour' tee shirts, but no Dukes amongst them.
I was not to impressed by it tbh too narrow and far too busy sometimes, unless you get there early or late, it is just a bucket list to do once only now that I have done it.
I thought the views were fantastic last summer. But didn't enjoy the road that much after the first few turns, the rest of it was just accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn,accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn,accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn,accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn,accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn, and then accelerate, brake, sharp turn.
Have to say I hated it!! going up........accelerate, brake, sharp turn, accelerate, brake, sharp turn,.......sharp turn.......too sharp......run wide.......coach coming down....camber.....bugger......down......oooooooh shit!!!!!!
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the Stelvio Pass is overrated - we did it in a Subaru Impreza, crawling the whole way up behind motorhomes and cyclists, where the short straight sections between the endless hairpins didn't give enough room to safely overtake anything. I much preferred the Fluela Pass which climbs out of Davos and eventually leaves you somewhere near Bormio - much more flowing and fun to drive.
Have you tried Gavia Pass? It makes Stevio look like a granny's day trip to the shops. here is a vid i took a few weeks ago on my MTS. please keep in mind that I had all the luggage and the wife on the back so couldn't really nail it. About half way through and near the top you will start to see the snow. on the way back down the other side is the Italian bit and very sharp corners.
You still seem to have your dash in MPH, any particular reason? must make driving on the Continent a bit frustrating.
That's obvious. He said he had his missus on the back. She can't complain about his speeding if she thinks he's only doing 100kph [emoji6]
That was me with the missus on the back going over Gavia but you're right. I tried that one and all I get is a load of complaining over the intercom regardless of the readout, especially when she saw 197 (kph of course). However, the previous time we did the pass was on a V-strom 1000. That was not a pleasant experience and once my wife realised we would be doing it again she was not at all happy. I'm pleased to say that on the Mutely it was much better and the threat of devolve was retracted once we reached the bottom. so my conclusion, if you're going to explore new territory with your wife that was previously ruled out of bounds, make sure you own a Multi as they will be up for anything after a quick ride on the back. (hopefully this wont get censored. it had several re-writes).
ye OK I will admit a little bit of poo came out when I was following some of the locals who were one up. And there was one instance when I brushed a stone wall avoiding a van that got me thinking but at that point my wife had gone strangely quiet so I thought I would take advantage of the missing copilot.
yep , i noticed the one with the van tho thought it was just the weeds,, also a bit of an " indicision " at a tight right turn / junction early on ,,,,,, dont get me wrong, no criticisim, and some nice lines from all concerned
Hey no offence taken mate. I had the wife leaning away from the edge, potholes, possibility of oncoming vehicles and not actually knowing how tight the corners were. so although I tried to address most of these with more power; now and then I had to give in to caution. Doing tack days definitely helped when the corners did end up tighter than expected so you don't automatically grab a load of the break. Not sure track days help with 3,000 meter drops though.
I never switch to KPH, doesn't mean owt to me - I rely more on the satnav converting the speed limits to mph (the 81mph one anyway).
I switch everything to KPH, bike, satnav the lot. but then again I used to live in Brazil so it does mean something to me.
+1 on thinking Stelvio is an over rated pass. Loads better not far away, Fluela Pass and Timelsjoch already mentioned.... Got to admit that doing the South side of Stelvio from Bormio I think is ok, North side a bit crap and always seems to be cyclists and cars pissing about.
I have been over gavia 3 times now and wouldn't go again out of choice, it's just too narrow close to the top with idiots in cars driving like lunatics and using the whole road, the last time I went over a Porsche came around a bend sideways leaving me about 18" of road with no barrier and a 3 foot strip of gravel ( did I mention there was no barrier) and about a 300 foot drop. Agreed with the comments about Stelvio above, there are much better roads across the mountains without the hairpin overload.
