Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and doing my due diligence on buying a 2012 or possibly 2013 Stelvio NTX. I've been looking for nearly 2 years. I rode a BMW R100RS for 30 years and finally decided to make a change to an Adventure style bike. I test rode a 2009 NTX a couple years ago and wasn't so impressed, maybe it was just that bike or ??? I recently test road a 2012 NTX and was MUCH more impressed, it's what I've been looking for. I'm currently riding a 2006 Vstrom 1000 which I purchased as a interim bike while I figured out exactly what I want. I've test ridden the GSA, Super Tenere, Tiger 800XC, and a few other bikes.

One thing that is "a bit" of a concern is the alternator output is listed at 550w, not a huge amount compared to the other bikes in the class. I have been studying a 2009 service manual and see that it's a basically like a car type alternator, air cooled, bolt on, belt driven.

The question I pose is "if" I found I needed more juice (mostly for heated gear for the Wife and I) is it practical to bolt on a larger output alternator? I haven't figured out if it's internally regulated or external, but I understand the regulator may need to be upgraded to suit.

Can any of you owners that ride 2 up with heated gear on both riders comment on how it handles the load with the aux lights on plus heated grips running? It may not be an concern but I'm trying to cover all my bases before purchasing.

I have a few other questions which I will ask in other threads.

Thanks.

I have ridden my EV, which has about a 350 watt alternator, two up, with heated gear and driving lights on. I did have to turn off the driving lights at idle.

My 2009 Stelvio doesn't flinch.

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Thanks for the feedback Wayne.

I suspect it's a non-issue but I wanted to field the question "just in case" I don't have much issue with my Vstrom which has a 400w output, but no aux lights or heated grips at this time.

For now our heated gear only comprises a Powerlet 105w jacket liner for me , and a WnS 90w heated liner for my wife . I will have heated grips on the Stelvio, either OEM or maybe Oxfords.

I have rarely needed to run our jacket liners above about 65%, usually they are closer to 40-50%. It looks to me if I added the heated grips (30w?) I'd be about 130-175w total w/o the aux lights.

I've done a two week, two-up trip with both of us wearing heated gear, using the grips, and Hella aux lights. The good thing about the NTX is being able to leave the display on the voltmeter so you can monitor things.

Around town and in stop and go traffic I'd turn my gear down, or the grips - but the system seldom dipped below the 13.2 range and 13.8 if I turned off the aux lighting.

I have an '80 R100RS and I dont' use my heated gear past the half-way on the Heat Troller, and that voltmeter never gets past 12.8v with no gear load and going down the hwy at 70

The charging system is fine on the NTX....I wondered myself after having the 700w available an an R1150GS Adv. or the 1100w on a GL1800

Same here. Heated jacket liner and glove liners (Powerlet), aux lights, autocom intercom with bike to bike radios powered off 12v system, radar detector, gps/xm radio, phone charger. No issues.

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2011 GRiSO SE
2009 Stelvio
2004 Ballabio
1982 V50III
1979 Cafe V1000
1970 Ambassador

This is good.

I had an '82 R100RS and yup, very weak charging system.

Like you I wondered as many of the other bikes have substantially more output with Triumph leading the way.

I still believe it wouldn't be much of a deal to swap in a different alternator if you really needed more juice, but it sounds like that won't be needed. I'm actually quite happy it's a bolt on alternator so if it does fail it's quite easy to replace.

It is in fact, a Nippon Denso alternator and any auto electrician would have several of these on the shelf. Having said that, there are probably a variety of models with even better specifications that this one - whether there is a need is irrelevant.

If you decided to go down this road be aware that the standard wiring may not cope with extra load, so additional circuit may be needed...

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Regards,

Tony

Black 1200 Sport ('07) - the faster one...

The outlets on the Ntx are rated for 180watts, dump the Halogen driving lights and go to Clearwater leds, and the extra gear draw will not mean a thing, you can leave them on all the time, and actually see something with them. You can also use a single headlight cutoff (I do this ONLY during the day on my vstrom, when I am running, full gear, rosta cruise control, gps, heated grips, and the aux lights for conspic.)

After doing a few hundred miles testing the explorer by the way, the only really redeeming features were the really light clutch, nice motor, and the big alternator. It is also a bike that gives souless, and bland whole new meanings.