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21
General Discussion / Re: V85 2025. Key without chip?
« Last post by John Barber on Today at 09:33:36 AM »
Great. Thanks. I'll get a key cut and try it !
Will report back....
JB
22
General Discussion / Re: Guzzi handling
« Last post by faffi on Today at 09:32:28 AM »
The chassis handles all road conditions with ease, from fast straightaways to tight bends, and the 80 hp is perfectly adequate for country roads. Only on high-speed motorway stretches might one wish for more speed, but that's a purely German issue, as the motorway speed limit in all other European countries is a maximum of 130 km/h.

Based on initial impressions after 300 kilometers of country roads, Moto Guzzi has hit the mark. The suspension is partially adjustable, the brakes are crisp but not overly aggressive, and modern electronics are present in the form of riding modes, but not excessively so.
23
General Discussion / Re: The Horvath Guzzi race winner
« Last post by faffi on Today at 09:29:14 AM »
First Horvath bike I read about was from cirka 1980, a Guzzi 850 taken to 1100 cc. IIRC, the cylinder bushings came out of a truck engine. Its top gear acceleration was better than that of the XS1100 and GS(X)1100, taking 4 seconds to go from 100 to 140 kph (62-87 mph).
24
General Discussion / Re: Guzzi handling
« Last post by Clifton on Today at 09:28:13 AM »
When the 85TT arrived, it won many comparison tests, so I have no doubts that it is a great bike. After 50k km / 32k mi, only the transmission had suffered, plus the cam chain tensioner had broken early on.....

Not bad for a first year Guzzi. What did they think of the handling?
25
General Discussion / Re: Guzzi handling
« Last post by faffi on Today at 09:23:51 AM »
Best handling bike I have ridden was my KZ400C, with longer and firmer KONI shocks off a KZ1000, modified damper internals and 2 inches of extra preload. It would change direction with just a thought, jet it would never waver off line. It held its trajectory just as well as my Vulcan 800A, with massive rake and trail, allowing me to watch the scenery without fear of the bike choosing its own route. A really fun bike hampered by a lack of power and a surplous of vibrations only.



26
General Discussion / Re: Guzzi handling
« Last post by Tusayan on Today at 09:16:29 AM »
The V85TT is a slow steering bike with a very long wheelbase that is acceptable if not highly maneuverable by virtue of having a wide handlebar.  It reminds me of a bevel drive Ducati with touring bars, except that the V85TT has longer travel suspension.
27
General Discussion / Re: '26 Special Suspension
« Last post by Vagrant on Today at 09:15:06 AM »
I don't remember if you got the sport or special. My sport with the supposedly adjustable front upside down forks is too stiff also. I think they pulled it off a Aprilia and just stuck it on the Goose. I looked in the book and the recommended setting is full soft. Or in other words it really isn't adjustable. I'm 180 + 20 pounds for gear and would love to be able to back it off four turns. Also if they had put in some rebound adjustment it would have helped. I'm at 1700 miles and the first 1000 was on horrible Az roads so it should be about as good as it will get.
I've never had any experience with these forks. How hard is it to change out springs?
28
General Discussion / Re: V85 2025. Key without chip?
« Last post by Tusayan on Today at 09:08:12 AM »
My question is, can the bike be started by a cut key without any chip, by entering the User Code.

Yes it can, I’ve done it. 

If you buy a replacement chipped key from Piaggio/Guzzi (made in India or Pakistan BTW) the procedure is that it must be cut by a locksmith, then matched to the bike by a dealer.  In between you can use it by entering the code, and the same is true a non-chipped key cut to match the lock.
29
General Discussion / Re: '26 Special Suspension
« Last post by YellowDuck on Today at 09:07:00 AM »
There's quite a bit you can do without spending much.

Do a proper rider weight sag measurement.  If it's less than 30% of total travel then you might want to consider lighter springs.  One problem is that no one seems to know what the stock spring rate is.  I tried to measure the ones on my 2023 V7 stone and got 6 N/mm, but who knows if I measured right.  Race tech on their site list the stock rate at 8 N/mm, which honestly seems more likely to me.

If you have any sag at all (there really should be some, even at your weight!), you can do a stiction test.  While you are on the bike, have someone lift up the front end a bit, then let it settle slowly back down.  Measure sag.  Then have them push down on the front end, and let it rise slowly.  Measure sag again.  If the difference between the two measurements is more than about 10 mm your forks are sticky, which might just be tight seals still needing to break in, but could also be bent fork tubes.

Another thing that can increase fork stiction is the front end being twisted in the triple clamps.  You can see this pretty easily just by sighting the forks from the side.  The two tubes should be perfectly parallel. 

Too-heavy oil won't have any effect on average sag, it will just affect how long it takes to achieve it when you add or remove weight.  It can contribute to apparent stiction, which is why sag is best measured as the average of the stuck-up and stuck-down measurements described above.  (on a bike with externally adjustable damping, you wind the damping adjusters all the way out before doing the stiction test or a sag measurement).
30
General Discussion / Re: Guzzi handling
« Last post by Gliderjohn on Today at 08:35:09 AM »
For some years I rode a tricked out Suzuki GS 400 with good SW shocks and fork springs. Not the most comfortable interstate cruiser but was a blast in NW Arkansas between the short wheelbase and the handling.
For it's size I thought the Norge handled quite well. You had to put some effort into it while riding really twisty roads but it went and stayed where one intended. Kind of like the big girl that was light on her feet on the dance floor.
GliderJohn
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