Dilemma resolved. Tick Tock... Moto Guzzi V85TT

austin

Well-Known Member
I'm kind of thinking my next bike will be my last in this life. I've spent this whole weekend refurbing my AT to the highest level I could manage, as it and my Dommie are sadly gonna' have to go if I'm to have one of these. It's the main bike I've been really drooling over during this last couple of years. I hope all your reports remain positive Austin. I don't give a toss
( Even if MgGreggor has spoilt it's image slightly) about it's performance or it's off road ability. I've f*cked too many decent big bikes by pretending I could off road them anyway. All I want is to ride down to the Med' next year, get off it buy a coffee at the beach, put my feet up and listen to the cylinders cool down. I hope it's not another dream that comes to nothing. I'll be hanging on your every word about how your getting on with it mate !!

Is it me or is there just something damn fine about the symmetrical parts that give it such style ??

No pressure then ;)

Early days for now so reports will be a bit Rosie. Will you keep you posted on developments.

If you haven’t seen one in the flesh get to a dealer and at least look, or better get a test ride. They are proportioned about right - yes I think symmetry is the right word- and a lovely ride. Then there’s the little details and style that mark it out as Italian. Check out the curves, profile and brushed finish on the handlebars. It’s beautiful.

A keeper? I hope so. :thumbsup:
 

austin

Well-Known Member
It’s a big lump that gearbox. Nice to see someone really know their way round the bike. No manuals needing reference and obviously been apart at least once as no stuck bolts requiring long levers or hammers.

Glad the engine is good, 100,000miles is impressive for such little wear.

Oh and love the references to tin tool boxes in the vid. The Guzzi V85 has a little plastic tool tray under the seat with two Allen keys and a C spanner for the shock. That’s it. Oh, I think there’s a fuse puller too - wouldn’t want anyone breaking a nail checking a fuse would we. :rolleyes:Different world now.
 
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Philwhiskeydrinker

Well-Known Member
I saw one of these in the flesh on Saturday evening on our way back from Whitby, all luggaged up in the peeing rain.

Re 'only' having ~80bhp, IMHO this is the sweet spot for motorbikes, a nice tractable 80hp gives enough punch and go for real world situations, you can still give it a bit of stick if you want to get a wriggle on, without getting into silly speeds.
Enjoy!

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Good on you for going against the flow and buying with your heart.

Looks great. I will admit that when Guzzi announced that they were bringing that bike out, I was very interested (still am if I'm honest . . . which I am of course!).

Nearest dealer to me is in Glasgow - just a 4 hr drive away then!

Looking forward to seeing it in September :thumbsup:.

As an aside - nearly found your place whilst heading south on Saturday the 8th whilst trying to avoid the closed southbound section of the M6. headed through garstang but just could not remember which road I nedded to turn down once I'd passed the petrol station, to find your place.

Enjoy your new wheels :clapping: :respect13: :thumbsup:

Steve T

:cool:
 

austin

Well-Known Member
You should have phoned. It would have been a left turn at the traffic lights into my road. Then 500yards on the left.

Had a day in the Lake District yesterday. Most of the main passes done with ease two up. The 20 mile motorway stretch we did with cruise control set at 70 was easy one way with the wind behind but a bit uncomfortable the other into the strong headwind - noisy and tiring for both of us. Bike held 70 fine, as you would expect, but fuel consumption was in the 30s most of the time on the readout. I think a different screen is needed. The average for the day though was 61mpg. It’s slow going on the lakes roads though.
 

austin

Well-Known Member
I got the first service done today at 760 miles. As the bike needed to be stone cold for re-torquing the heads we dropped it off yesterday evening and decided on a night in a B&B in Thirsk rather than having a loan bike and riding it home and back. It’s a pleasant enough place Thirsk, with Wetherspoons providing cheap booze but an unattractive menu there found us eating elsewhere. B&B was just fine - somewhere to sleep and eat bacon and eggs in the morning.

The service took until 1pm to complete so a lot of hanging about and window shopping. 2hours labour charged plus a few consumables = £188. Major service shouldn’t be much more. They fitted the crashbars but several items from the order are still not delivered. Some are on their way from the MG factory - they showed me on the computer but could be anywhere in Europe. A couple of other parts are still to be manufactured it seems. I think it’s all part of the Guzzi experience.

Still liking the bike too, the engine is getting better and better as it settles in. The low down torque is surprising as it pulls cleanly and strongly enough from just over 2000rpm. Much below that and it’s a bit “chuggy”. It revs to 7000rpm and it does seem to pick up quite a lot at around 5000 rpm. Not a power band just that it really starts to get going. Consequently it cruises really nicely on open A and B roads at 50-70 in 6th gear nearly all the time,even two-up, and the computer shows average fuel in 70+mpg range most of the time. Handling is nice too - wide bars make it easy to corner and to steer going slowly although a bit extra preload and damping front and back improved things loads on bumpy roads and stopped a bit of see-sawing that was going on. A couple of the reviews on YouTube show the pegs touching down easily. So far I have done that once, in a right hander at that, and only coz there was a big suspension munching dip on the apex.

The seat is plenty big for two of us. Which is nice and has so far been comfortable for up to 3 hours at a stretch.

I still don’t like the screen, although I haven’t played about with the settings yet. It’s on its highest/most upright position so moving it down should move the airflow away from my head. Will try that soon. It’s also just a bit underpowered for two up. It’s fine for cruising along but when you want to make that quick overtake it’s just not quite there. I suppose I am comparing it to my GS and Speed Triple so maybe not valid but I do notice it, although the glorious sound it makes from the airbox when you open the throttle wide is worth the trade off.

Finally, I didn’t think I would, but I really like cruise control.


Edit, a few afterthoughts....at some point I will have to change the exhaust. It’s too damn quiet. It needs the collector box removing as the catalyst is in there and a louder end can fitting. Hopefully that might also get a bit of popping and banging on over run too.

There’s not enough engine braking. Compared to the GS which is like putting the brakes on when you close the throttle the V85 is almost car like in its lack of engine braking. I may need to be going a gear or two further down the box but I am braking for corners now where normally a closed throttle 40 or 50 yards out would be plenty.

Teasdales are being great. When I tried to book it in for its service the first slot was 5 weeks away! So I sent an email grumbling about this, plus the delays on the parts. A few minutes later I got a call saying they fit me in on Thursday.
 
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Lowflyer

Well-Known Member
Great stuff Austin,

Good to hear you are getting on with it :thumbsup:
Got to admit, it is a real head turner, that one :clapping:
 

austin

Well-Known Member
Great stuff Austin,

Good to hear you are getting on with it :thumbsup:
Got to admit, it is a real head turner, that one :clapping:

You know it’s surprising how it gets ignored by other bikers when I have been out. Ignorance or Jealousy I reckon.
 

Flyfifer

Member
You know it’s surprising how it gets ignored by other bikers when I have been out. Ignorance or Jealousy I reckon.
Austin, in my part of the world amongst my pals we reckon the bike looks stunning and would be congratulating any owner .
Bizzare that you are sensing indifference.
Your reservations are a bit unsettling though !!
 

Mikey

Administrator
Staff member
Forum Supporter
You know it’s surprising how it gets ignored by other bikers when I have been out. Ignorance or Jealousy I reckon.
I think it's down to personal taste, I think it's really nice Jay doesn't. I think he'd still wave to you though.

I'm going to have a look in the local MG dealers
 

boboneleg

Well-Known Member
Forum Supporter
View attachment 2868 View attachment 2869 View attachment 2870 View attachment 2871 View attachment 2868 View attachment 2869 Only joking about cool stuff, especially beards and skinny jeans.

The bike is great. Everything about it seems light and easy. Clutch, throttle, gears, steering everything is easy. Coming off the GSA** I suppose that’s not surprising but it’s a revelation. I rode the GSA1250 and it’s just humunguous - physically and in power. 137bhp and 260+kg does not appeal to me. Whereas, strangely, 80bhp (and 80 torques) and 210kg does appeal. It’s also ooozes build quality. The paint job looks at least fabulous as is the fit and overall finish . Unlike the BMW where psint looks and is by all accounts wafer thin and everything looks thrown together.

The bike will no doubt have its quirks, like losing a bar end weight on the way home, and not all the accessories turning up on time but tbh I am quite looking forward to some character developing. This is the sort of bike the Africa Twin or the Transalp should have developed into.

If you like the looks, and it’s better in the flesh, take a test ride. You WILL like it.


Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cool :cool10:
 

nick949

Well-Known Member
Dont feel bad Austin. Im finding that half the riders on the Alaska Highway dont wave at a shoddy looking old Guzzi. Maybe it's a Guzzi thing .
 

Rubberchicken

Well-Known Member
Ooh, nice bike.

I think it's funny how people think 80 bhp is not enough power. I recently upgraded my old GS so that now it's rumoured to make around 80 bhp (still needs dynoing), up from 60... WOAH, this thing flies now, 2-up too, it a rocketship! :D
 

Stuart D

Active Member
Forum Supporter
You know it’s surprising how it gets ignored by other bikers when I have been out. Ignorance or Jealousy I reckon.
You should try a Goldwing if you want to be ignored lol
It looks the business, fair play Austin.
 

austin

Well-Known Member
Ooh, nice bike.

I think it's funny how people think 80 bhp is not enough power. I recently upgraded my old GS so that now it's rumoured to make around 80 bhp (still needs dynoing), up from 60... WOAH, this thing flies now, 2-up too, it a rocketship! :D

It’s not that I think 80bhp isn’t enough it’s that having ridden my torquey 110bhp GSA for over 5 years and 75,000miles losing those 30 horses is noticeable and requires some adjustment in how I ride, especially two-up.

I now have my GSA back, fixed and running well. Christ it’s big, heavy, and hard work compared to the nice light and lithe V85 TT. I think I might sell the GSA. Message me if interested. Looking for somewhere in the mid £5k mark with every extra, accessory and farkle I can find for it included.
 
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