Highmileage V85TT riders hit Lindale

[Texas Turnip]

For the first time last night I got to peel an eyeball on the V85TT.
Randy from NH pulled into the Oleo Ranch yesterday afternoon with his 3 week old bike with 3K on it and last night Richard T from Phoenix,AZ pulled into the GRIT rally with 9K on his 8 week old V85tt. Both of these very high mileage riders were very impressed with the V85. If I could ride, I'd be down to Austin, TX and buy one. Moto Guzzi has a winner IMHO.

Tex

[Dave Swanson]

Wow!  Those mileage figures are impressive!   Real world recommendations like that are great!  I think they do have a winner on their hands!  I hear they have been hiring at the factory. 

[rocker59]

That Richard Thibedeau is a hard charger!

 

[Cam3512]

Randy's no slouch either.  He rode a Rokon from New Hampshire to Los Angeles for charity.

[davedel44]

That Richard Thibedeau is a hard charger!

 

Richard is impressive.  No telling where he'll turn up.  He's ridden to Alaska several times.
Randy racks up the miles also rides from NH to Texas for GRIT every year and he's by far the Rokon champ.

Dave
Galveston

[Nick]

The long distance winner at the WV rally was.........a V85TT from Maine 

[Tom]

Both are high mileage crazies.      

[grebmrof]

Richard is impressive.  No telling where he'll turn up.  He's ridden to Alaska several times.
Randy racks up the miles also rides from NH to Texas for GRIT every year and he's by far the Rokon champ.
Dave
Galveston
[/quote

I met a V85TT rider in Spooner Wisc in early August at a Subway, he was from AZ and had just come from a rally in Wisc.  Had 3K miles on his new bike, seemed to love it!  Wonder if that was Richard?

[Tom]

That's him. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

On Facebook:

Richard Thibedeau 300 mile fuel runs easily on this bike. I have 9,247 miles on mine in just over 9 weeks. Love my V85 TT.

[grebmrof]

On Facebook:

Richard Thibedeau 300 mile fuel runs easily on this bike. I have 9,247 miles on mine in just over 9 weeks. Love my V85 TT.

Yep, that is the guy...have a photo of his bike and him & his bike from Spooner Wisc.  Looks like he gets a lot of saddle time!  Beautiful bike!

[Beowulf]

Richard and Randy should be getting a cut from moto guzzi for encouraging v85 sales.
They had me convinced that's my next motorcyle. Really enjoyed talking to them. The v85 is stunning.

[Tom]

IIRC.  Richard is Lifetime MGNOC Member #5. 

[Texas Turnip]

Both are high mileage crazies.      

NOTE: Neither belong to the KERA.
Tex

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

NOTE: Neither belong to the KERA.
Tex

Oh, I don't know. Richard posts quite a lot on the MGNOC Facebook page. 

[richthib]

Yes I was the guy in Spooner and at the GRIT along with Randy.  I now have 10,501 miles on my V85TT and life just gets better every time i climb onto the saddle.  I've owned 14 Moto Guzzis since 1975 and loved them all, but at this time in my life this V85 TT is the perfect choice.  250 pounds lighter than my beloved California 1400 Touring with a pot hole rough pavement absorbing suspension, 300 mile fuel range, and light nimble handling and plenty power to cruise 80 mph interstates and pass traffic with ease.  Life is good.

[richthib]

Oh, I forgot to mention another thing I'm impressed with about this V85TT.  The tires. The Michelin ANAKEE tires that came OEM on the bike.  With 10,501 miles on them, I believe I have another 2,000 - 3,000 miles life left.  They have performed very good in extreme temps over 100 F for over 3,000 miles.  Cool temps down to near freezing, and heavy rainy periods.  Only about 30 miles of dirt roads, but handled well.  I guess the only down side would be they are noisy from articles I've read, but I'm half deaf anyway, so it doesn't bother me. LOL.

[Tom]

I can't figure out how Randy is able to ride for periods of time on a VT85TT.

[richthib]

Tom.  Randy tells me his V85TT is more comfortable than his Stelvio.  I claimed off a C1400T to the V85.  I will admit the C1400T was more comfortable for long stretches of Interstate, but I feel the V85TT is overall more comfortable because of its much lighter weight and easier to handle and maneuver in all types of environments.  I have 10,501 miles on my V85TT with several 600-700 mile days.  I'm 75 years old.

[jdgretz]

Randy's no slouch either.  He rode a Rokon from New Hampshire to Los Angeles for charity.

I remember that ride.  Here it is at the Rock Store.  25 July 2015

Rokon by John, on Flickr

Hard to believe it's been 4 years.

jdg

[ChuckH]

.... Moto Guzzi has a winner IMHO.   Tex   

I agree TT.  There were two or three at the recent KY Rally.  It's a good looking bike and, if the quoted numbers are correct, <500 # Wet, that's a major improvement as compared to the Stelvio at ~640# Wet.  And the comments I heard about the power from the smaller displacement engine were certainly positive.

The only criticism I would have is the use by Guzzi of tube-type wheels and tires.  And, there are no readily available cast aluminum wheels that can be used as replacements with tubeless tires.  I understand why they're used; the spoked wheels have more flexibility than the cast aluminum wheels for the times when the cycle is ridden off-road.  But seriously, there are not many riders who are going to take a 500# cycle off-road on rough, single-track trails.  The majority of owners are going to use their 85TT or Stelvio just as Randy and this other gentleman are using theirs -- long distance touring on hard surface roads with possible, occasional, excursions down hard packed gravel or dirt side roads.

[blu guzz]

I received my Calsci tall windshield yesterday.  Install was easy.  It is barn door ugly, but it works as advertised.  Mark explains the reason for the looks on his web page and it is informative and entertaining to read.  I got the medium and as is the problem with the internet, you are ordering blind in spite of his helpful instructions.  It is good as is, but not perfect.  Fortunately, I have my mobile top-deflector and with that in place, it is nearly perfect.  I can keep my face shield up to around 60 mph with calm air.  My face shields should last much longer now.  In warm weather I will probably still go back to stock.  The handling becomes just a little more deliberate, but it is only just notable and soon forgotten.
I good product at a fair price, $202 shipped to my door.  They threw in a nice tire guage, screen polish and polishing cloth.

[Zoom Zoom]

The only criticism I would have is the use by Guzzi of tube-type wheels and tires.  And, there are no readily available cast aluminum wheels that can be used as replacements with tubeless tires. 

As popular as the V85 is turning to be, it may only be a matter of time.

I received my Calsci tall windshield yesterday.  Install was easy.  It is barn door ugly, but it works as advertised.  Mark explains the reason for the looks on his web page and it is informative and entertaining to read.  I got the medium and as is the problem with the internet, you are ordering blind in spite of his helpful instructions.  It is good as is, but not perfect.  Fortunately, I have my mobile top-deflector and with that in place, it is nearly perfect.  I can keep my face shield up to around 60 mph with calm air.  My face shields should last much longer now.  In warm weather I will probably still go back to stock.  The handling becomes just a little more deliberate, but it is only just notable and soon forgotten.
I good product at a fair price, $202 shipped to my door.  They threw in a nice tire gauge, screen polish and polishing cloth.

If you had it to do again, would you have gotten the taller one? Without the added deflector, where does the top land in your field of vision? No doubt other TT owners are interested.

John Henry

[blu guzz]

yes to the taller.  even with the deflector on top it is still below my sight line.  i would have rather had the coverage without the deflector. cest la vie.

[ChuckH]

As popular as the V85 is turning to be, it may only be a matter of time.   John Henry 

It'll be interesting to see John.  But, from my watching that organization through the years, I'm not certain they understand when they have a winning combination and what they need to do to make it better.

Ride safe out there.  The cooler temps are closing in, winter seems to be around the corner.

[Cam3512]

yes to the taller.  even with the deflector on top it is still below my sight line.  i would have rather had the coverage without the deflector. cest la vie.

So send it back and get the taller?