Guzzi V85 TT - Revzilla review

[AllanB]

It's not often you read a review as honestly refreshing as this one.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2020-moto-guzzi-v85-tt-first-ride-motorcycle-review?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=03/23/2019_CT&utm_term=Common%20Tread%20%7C%20Combined

[Blackbird]

It's not often you read a review as honestly refreshing as this one.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2020-moto-guzzi-v85-tt-first-ride-motorcycle-review?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=03/23/2019_CT&utm_term=Common%20Tread%20%7C%20Combined

Not only refreshingly honest, but written with disarmingly good humour and clever use of the English language which is all too lacking in most quarters (cue grumblings from an old fart).

Thanks for that Allan. Almost didn't read it, delighted that I did! :clap:

[AllanB]

I agree 100% - most reviews are pretty much cut and paste jobs with a change of the machines maker and the photos being the only thing to distinguish between the previous page. Which is largely unhelpful when shopping for a new ride.

[OddDuck]

Genuinely entertaining review - thanks for posting that. Anyone else think there's the bones of a truly great bikini faired cafe racer in there?

Loved the line about the R9T.

[Navy Boy]

I like the use of the word 'Technowhizbangery' in there. This person says/writes what a lot of us think I reckon.

I'm still thinking that Guzzi is onto something with this machine. Not too powerful that it overwhelms the chassis and quick enough for the vast majority of us. Good looking, not too tall and comfy too by the looks of it. I wonder what they'll price it at here in NZ?

[Navy Boy]

So - I've just been and had a look at the V85TT which Scooterazzi here in Wellington have received. In all a very nice looking machine and better in the flesh than the pictures, as Guzzis often are IMHO.

Priced around $21k it's in similar territory to the VStrom 1000 (Looks a bit costly then but a nice alternative), cheaper than a Tiger 800 (So that's good then) and definitely cheaper than the BMWobblyou 850 thingy (I'd definitely rather have the Guzzi then).

I'm going to take a decent length test ride in a week or three's time, after which I'll post up my impressions.

Anyone else here ridden one here in NZ yet?

[Navy Boy]

Hi All

An interesting article which I spotted on Facecloth today.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-01/moto-guzzi-was-once-a-legend-in-italian-motorcycles-can-it-make-a-comeback?fbclid=IwAR27MH2ZH2dQMBTq8Rx7UNFt2Jm4D1iy jh_TL3h8TLRTy3IkUsV3Yut2-oY

It seems that so far the news is good - Albeit with the usual caveat of Guzzi's retail and after-sales being the potential weak link.

[Aaronkeller]

Good and better....... but not the best:sweatdrop

[Navy Boy]

So - I saw one of these on the Ride Forever Gold course I attended in Nelson yesterday. The owner had only done some 3-400 Kms on it but thus far he was very impressed and there was no sign of the final drive leakage/overflow that seems to have affected other machines overseas.

Interestingly the bike seemed to do well in the slow speed riding portion of the training and appeared to be easy to manage. The owner was around 5'10" in old money and found the seating position to be comfy though the legs for anyone taller than that may be a little cramped. Guzzi do a taller seat to help cater for that.

If and when I take one for a test ride then I'll try and post some of my own observations on here. Anyone on here got one? What do you think?

[Navy Boy]

For those of you interested a YouTube reviewer, The Missenden Flyer, has just put up a review video. Quite informative it is too, even if he does get the power and torque figures a bit mixed up when he's quoting the specifications.

[Navy Boy]

So 've booked to take the local dealer's demo bike out on Fri 8 Nov. I'll post up my impressions once I've been for a ride.

[Navy Boy]

So - I finally managed to get out and about on a V85TT today having a ride on Scooterazzi's demo bike. Sadly the weather did its best to try and spoil things so I had to cut my planned route a little shorter as I didn't fancy heading up Rimutaka Hill with that sort of driving rain and wind. Still I managed to gain a good impression of it

Good bits

The engine is simply lovely. It sounds good, fuels well and has managed to retain enough personality (I'll try and avoid using the dreaded 'Character' word) to let you know that you're riding something that little bit different. Performance is enough to be fun without being scary at all and the gearing is about right with 100Km/hr being just shy of 4000Rpm. This on a bike where the rev limiter cuts in around 8000Rpm.

So far so predictable as I knew I'd like the motor.

The biggest surprise, and like most of us it's becoming harder to genuinely surprise me bike-wise as I get older, was the clutch and gearbox combination. In short it's as though someone at Guzzi has gone and bought a VStrom, stripped it down and found out just what they do to make the gearbox a pleasure to use. I didn't miss a single shift and changes were really easy to master. I even tried a clutchless shift whilst accelerating fairly briskly up a hilly section and the box managed it quite happily. That would have been nigh-on impossible on the previous Guzzis I've owned/ridden.

The TFT instruments were easy to fathom out and the riding modes easy t change on the move too. The standard-fit cruise control worked well once you'd figured out how to use it and the switchgear was all fairly easy to decipher and use too.

The not-so-good bits

The screen - It needs to be bigger and/or better shaped. t's OK as is but it could be better. I know that Guzzi do a larger item and I'm sure that there are aftermarket items out there so it's a case of try and see I guess. The fuel filler is really narrow and tapered such that fuel gushes out the top when you are getting close to full.

Both of these are things that you can change and/or adapt to though and compared to the compromises one had to make for Guzzis of before these are small beer.

Would I buy one?

In short - Yep I would. I need to now work out how I can afford to put one into the garage but compared to the 950 Multistrada I rode a few weeks back this has a certain something more. It's not as quick as the Duke but it just seems to suit me that bit more.

Is that daft? Quite possibly but bikes need to appeal to the heart as well as the head and as such I'd love to get my hands on one of these. Time to have a good inward digestion of the different permutations me thinks.

[Blackbird]

Nice review Lee! Your telling phrase is "buying with the heart and head". I forgot the "heart" when buying the GSX-S 1000 and it lacked that bit extra which you refer too. The Duke 790 has both elements in spades.

Errr..... has your shed got room for another bike? :msn-wink:

[Navy Boy]

Nice review Lee! Your telling phrase is "buying with the heart and head". I forgot the "heart" when buying the GSX-S 1000 and it lacked that bit extra which you refer too. The Duke 790 has both elements in spades.

Errr..... has your shed got room for another bike? :msn-wink:

So - I've gone and done it. Put a deposit on a nice matt blue V85TT this morning and am looking to collect during the second week of Jan. I'm looking forward to it rather a lot if I'm honest and I'll post some pictures and impressions once I get my hands on it. :msn-wink:

[OddDuck]

Great news! Let us know how it works out.

"you must spread some reputation etc etc"

[Navy Boy]

Nice review Lee! Your telling phrase is "buying with the heart and head". I forgot the "heart" when buying the GSX-S 1000 and it lacked that bit extra which you refer too. The Duke 790 has both elements in spades.

Errr..... has your shed got room for another bike? :msn-wink:

I collect it tomorrow - Getting more than a little excited now it must be said! I'll post some photos and thoughts in due course.

[Navy Boy]

I collect it tomorrow - Getting more than a little excited now it must be said! I'll post some photos and thoughts in due course.

Hre she is - Out and about on a cracking day down here in Wellington. Thus far I'm loving it.

[F5 Dave]

Ooh.i was thinking Akatarawas, but decided maybe towards Bulls run road from bottom of Haywards?

[F5 Dave]

From the test:

"How is it off-road? I have no idea
Remember that line from A Princess Bride? "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.""

Um. No. What man ever saw something called A Princess Anything?!!

So 80hp, or say 65 at the rear it sure won't set your pants on fire, but it's not an SR400 either . I guess a little less than an SV650 so kinda useful as a midrange bike.

Hey a bit more than my RZ350 and that was a super awesome bike so let's not get judgey on hp claims.

[Navy Boy]

Ooh.i was thinking Akatarawas, but decided maybe towards Bulls run road from bottom of Haywards?

You were right first time. Up on Moonshine road.

As for power and grunt - It's roughly the same as my VStrom 650 from a couple of years ago. That's enough to be getting on with.

[F5 Dave]

Ha. Damm I'm good.

We should get out for a ride sometime.

[Navy Boy]

So - I've ordered a California Scientific screen (Size Large) for the V85. I'll post some pictures once it's fitted and let you know my thoughts.

In other news I'm averaging 22-23 Km/litre at the moment which seems to be pretty good. :shifty:

[Navy Boy]

So - Winding my way along back from a lovely day ride out to Palmy last weekend and the mighty Claudia decides to start running on 1 cylinder. No warning and no obvious reason why either. I stopped to check all the usual like the fuses, opening the fuel tank to make sure the vent hose hadn't blocked or become kinked and to see if there were any leaks anywhere.

It's now at the Motorazzi in Wellington (Where I bought it from) to try and effect a repair.

Here's hoping that this isn't a sign of things to come... A real shame as I was enjoying it until that point.

I'll let you know what transpires when I hear more. :(

[Bonez]

Those iettie things are temperamental bitches. I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg and your left testical.

[Daffyd]

For those of you interested a YouTube reviewer, The Missenden Flyer, has just put up a review video. Quite informative it is too, even if he does get the power and torque figures a bit mixed up when he's quoting the specifications.

I follow this guy... Very honest and down-to-earth.

[Blackbird]

I follow this guy... Very honest and down-to-earth.

Yep, his review of the Duke 790 sealed my purchase. He's good value.

[Navy Boy]

Received a phone call from Motorazzi today. Apparently it was a faulty spark plug cap which had developed a hole/crack along the seam.

Now repaired and will all be done under warranty of course.

Good job really as I'm attending the IAM's AGM in a week's time ;)

[Bonez]

That's good to hear NB.

[Navy Boy]

So - The mighty Claudia rides again. On both cylinders this time too which is even better...

Plus my heated grips have now arrived so they can be fitted when the replacement plug lead is fitted (Motorazzi effected a repair on the existing item until the new one arrives).

It's good to have her back on the road once more! :niceone:

Thankfully I've not experienced the final drive leakage that others have suffered and the lights are now getting a good workout with the mornings getting ever darker once more.

[F5 Dave]

No, no. It's still summer and will stay so until about September and I won't hear any different :oi-grr:

[Navy Boy]

Sooo - My Caponord 1200 front mudguard gets fitted along with the heated grips this coming Friday. They'll both be timely as riding in anything other than bone dry conditions sees the bike plastered in crud which is difficult to get off.

I other news the plug lead/cap repair is holding well and I'm falling in love with it once more. Plus I've now fitted a California Scientific screen which makes a significant difference and doesn't look too much like a barn door (It's still not what you'd call good looking though...).

I've now racked up just over 2200Km and the bike seems to be purring along quite nicely. Consumption is in the 20-22Km/litre range and the all LED headlight set-up seems to work rather well, giving a decent spread of very white light. Plus that rear rack is ideal for strapping one's rucksack to as well.

If you're thinking about getting one I'd suggest giving one a test ride. You may well like it more than you expect. :cool:

[reasonable]

Thanks Navy Boy keep the reports coming .

Nothing like actual real reports from an owner than hyped bullsh@# from the magazine reviews

[Navy Boy]

An update - As this last week signified two years with the V85 (Quite a long time for me!).

Mileage is up to 12800Km with a fair bit of riding done over the Xmas break. Bearing in mind I was away with work for 4.5 months last year and that I have other bikes too this represents quite a lot of riding.

Apart from the previously reported spark plug lead, which I'm willing to put down to bad luck, the only other snag has been an oil leak around the 9000Km mark. It turns out that the sump bolts (Which are removed at the oil change) hadn't been torqued up sufficiently. I blame the person who's changed the oil (At the dealership) for that one rather than the bike itself.

Having said that it was fixed quicksmart by the supplying dealer and the bike's been fine since then.

As far as the riding experience goes the bike remains as good as ever. In short I really enjoy riding it and the bike has a lovely balance and personality which will be difficult to replicate if and when I replace it. Yes it only has 80Bhp and you need to keep it on the boil (Over 4000Rpm) if you want to make good progress but one gets the feeling that any more power would upset the bike's equilibrium. Besides which having to use the gearbox makes things interesting and the lower power output compared to equivalent machines means that you are really riding it and getting the best from it. In other words it is a satisfying machine to ride and own - Though this isn't obvious from a 30 minute test ride.

This bike is much like other Guzzis I've owned and ridden. It's a slow burner that grows on you the longer you have it.

All I can say is that the V100 Mandello, which I've earmarked to be a possible replacement, needs to be ruddy good to make me change. :niceone:

[James Deuce]

All I can say is that the V100 Mandello, which I've earmarked to be a possible replacement, needs to be ruddy good to make me change. :niceone:

If only it wasn't so wilfully ugly. There's no evidence of it being designed. It looks like one of those End-of-Life parts bin specials Suzuki is so "good" at, except worse.

[Navy Boy]

If only it wasn't so wilfully ugly. There's no evidence of it being designed. It looks like one of those End-of-Life parts bin specials Suzuki is so "good" at, except worse.

The first bike it reminded me of when I first saw the pictures was the Yammie TDM850/900 from a fair few years ago.

That was a bike I always rather liked but the V100 will need to be seen in the flesh before I could make some sort of a judgement call. I suspect that it'll be very colour sensitive too. Thus far the specs seem to suggest it'll be a lovely thing to ride (115Bhp and 105Nm) so I'm prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt - For now. ;)