V85TT vs HD Pan American

[bad Chad]

I ride gravel dirt roads from time to time, not usually, but it happens, once in a while I seek them out, on my Guzzi road bikes.
The B1100 is not at home on such, but if its not deep or super loose it does just fine.  The Roamer is better under all none pavement conditions, less weight and tires are more narrow.   The main reason I don't like to ride them much where I spend my time is they are mostly flat, and the bike gets very dirty very fast.  I don't like to clean bikes, or much of anything.

[Guzzistajohn]

 Glad I got a 7T 

[twowheeladdict]

 Glad I got a 7T 

How long did you have to wait for yours?  My neighbor waited 6 months for his to come in.  It is his touring bike.  He uses a DRZ-400 to do BDRs and dual sport work, and a KTM 2 stroke for single track riding. 

[Guzzitenn]

Well I test ride both, one PA down here in Knoxville, was so impressed I thought well if I had a lot of money I’d buy one. I’ve read some discussions about HD techs having trouble loading software. So there’s too many switches and complexity. I’m glad for them that it’s a success , did much better than the Uly.
 I rode up to Mt Sterling Ky to Gateway to test 3 Guzzi’s Carl had. A V11 Breva, and V85tt, and that was mostly it.
I filled up the tank on the V85 i loved it so much I intended to buy it. So when I got back I saw a 2018 V7lll Rough
Sitting there inside so I asked him to pull it out. I was still crossing the parking lot and I knew this was coming home
With me so I filled the tank, did the paperwork and rode it back.
It also got some attention at the Time Warp tea room bike night here on Tuesday night.
I’m very happy

[bad Chad]

Cool,  I have felt the Rough to be one of the coolest of all the v7 iterations.

[twowheeladdict]

Cool,  I have felt the Rough to be one of the coolest of all the v7 iterations.

Pretty easy to turn a $6495 left over V7III Stone into a Rough. 

[Guzzistajohn]

How long did you have to wait for yours?  My neighbor waited 6 months for his to come in.  It is his touring bike.  He uses a DRZ-400 to do BDRs and dual sport work, and a KTM 2 stroke for single track riding.

Not to brag, but it was about a week. Right place, right time. 👍

[bad Chad]

Pretty easy to turn a $6495 left over V7III Stone into a Rough.

I recon, but not nearly as easy as buying one already made! 

[inditx]

Guys ask me if I ride off road. I tell them everyday. But that’s only because I have a 700 ft. gravel drive.
I can tell you that when gravel is deep, read another load dumped, it is a handful for bigger bikes regardless of type.

So the ADV category just means good all arounder. You’re not going to go single track or full on sand, boulder hopping, big mud and the like. At least I’m not so, it is just a good all around choice for me.
inditx
p.s. I gave up on finding the perfect bike, that is a pipe dream as it doesn't exist.
p.p.s. Even having several bikes got old for me.

my .02 

[egschade]

Pretty easy to turn a $6495 left over V7III Stone into a Rough.

I turned my V7 III Stone into a Rough with dual sport tires and upgraded suspension. Was only OK in gravel/dirt and, well, rough on bad roads. Upgraded to a V85TT and it's orders of magnitude better for me. Suppose a Pan America might be even better, but not $10K better.

[bad Chad]

Well of course your going to need to up grade the suspension, tires can only do so much.

[Advguz]

Thanks for the P.S
I have drove myself crazy trying to find that all around bike and yes it's a pipe dream, and a endless endeavor to find everything in one. I've rode just about everything from big baggers to dirt bikes. The Adv bikes fit me better and for me doing longer travels. The GS I got rid of before I got my TT was a great bike, but computer glitchy. My TT has been a great ride with no issues so far at 8500 miles. I've done dirt, gravel,  mud and pavement on it, and it seems to handle it all, but I'm getting to old to having to pick up a 500 lbs bike anymore.😁
inditx
p.s. I gave up on finding the perfect bike, that is a pipe dream as it doesn't exist.
p.p.s. Even having several bikes got old for me.

my .02 
[/quote]

[twowheeladdict]

Well of course your going to need to up grade the suspension, tires can only do so much.

It's not like the rough comes with different suspension.  It is only a styling exercise. 

[tazio]

Saw my first Pan in the wild at T.W.O. in Suches GA. yesterday.
Had pipe wrap on one side, and way cool beer can holder on the other. Sorry, these bikes simply look hideous.
I will say, most adventure bikes do.
I do hope they sell well and that all the techno-wizbangery holds up.
What l like is that green V85TT where someone had put gloss over the matt paint





 

[Moparnut72]

The cat looks like it gets really hot but that is what they do. It looks like a hot foot issue to me, right next to the foot peg. I looked at one at the Harley shop, I didn't care for it much. The V85TT is nicer but I am biased.
kk

[twowheeladdict]

Saw my first Pan in the wild at T.W.O. in Suches GA. yesterday.
Had pipe wrap on one side, and way cool beer can holder on the other. Sorry, these bikes simply look hideous.
I will say, most adventure bikes do.
I do hope they sell well and that all the techno-wizbangery holds up.
What l like is that green V85TT where someone had put gloss over the matt paint

I did the wrap on my Vulcan Voyager.  But I was able to hide it under the exhaust covers. 

I like how Moto Guzzi went to the double walled exhaust on the V7IIIs. 

If I was into that type of Adventure Touring riding I would be trading in my Road Glide for the Pan America next year.  They did a really good job on that bike and best of all it doesn't look like a copy of a BMW which I find extremely ugly and way too wide. 

For some reason the Japanese don't have anything to compete with the Adventure Touring bikes

They have street only Adventure Touring bikes that many journalists are now calling sport touring as in the Tracer 9, Versys 1000 SE.

I am looking forward to Kawasaki's reveal on October 5th so see if they are bringing something new to the table.  I am not ruling out picking up another Himalayan in the future. 

[Bisbonian]

For some reason the Japanese don't have anything to compete with the Adventure Touring bikes

They have street only Adventure Touring bikes that many journalists are now calling sport touring as in the Tracer 9, Versys 1000 SE.

I can only assume you mean they don't have anything in the vastly overpowered very expensive range?

I mean, Honda has the Africa Twin and Yamaha has both the Super Tenere and the Tenere 700. Perhaps the S10 is too staid for you but the T7 is pretty adventury.

[Huzo]

Sorry, these bikes simply look hideous.
I will say, most adventure bikes do.

That’s disappointing to hear Tarz, give it to me straight Doc, I can stand it.
Does this look hideous ?

[Kiwi Dave]

That’s disappointing to hear Tarz, give it to me straight Doc, I can stand it.
Does this look hideous ?

The bike looks gorgeous.  Too bad about those butt ugly pannier bags!

[twowheeladdict]

I can only assume you mean they don't have anything in the vastly overpowered very expensive range?

I mean, Honda has the Africa Twin and Yamaha has both the Super Tenere and the Tenere 700. Perhaps the S10 is too staid for you but the T7 is pretty adventury.

The AT doesn't have cruise control last time I looked and tubed wheels. Did they change both in the latest iteration?  I actually forgot about the Super Tenere.  Easily forgotten IMO.  Did they add cruise control on later models? 

The T7 is not in the fully touring range of bikes. 

[bad Chad]

You have been asleep at the bars TWA.
The 1100 AT Adventure comes with tubeless, electronic active suspension, huge touch screen tft, cruise control , throttle by wire, 6.6 gallon tank, 530 lb curb weight and a long list of other goodies.

[tazio]

That’s disappointing to hear Tarz, give it to me straight Doc, I can stand it.
Does this look hideous ?

Tarz? Short for Tarzan?
No, your beautification of the V85TT is the second best looking ADV bike I've ever seen.
And Second place seems to try harder, so there's that too..

[twowheeladdict]

You have been asleep at the bars TWA.
The 1100 AT Adventure comes with tubeless, electronic active suspension, huge touch screen tft, cruise control , throttle by wire, 6.6 gallon tank, 530 lb curb weight and a long list of other goodies.

 

[egschade]

I can only assume you mean they don't have anything in the vastly overpowered very expensive range?

I mean, Honda has the Africa Twin and Yamaha has both the Super Tenere and the Tenere 700. Perhaps the S10 is too staid for you but the T7 is pretty adventury.

...and Suzuki has the V-Stroms. I wonder why Kawasaki has yet to offer an ADV bike based on their 650 twin.

[JJ]

Would like to see one in person...NONE of the HD dealers in Arizona has one!!   

They are rarer then hen's teeth!!!

Seat height is reportedly 31.8 inches, so I could fit on one!

Very favorably first impression by Mitch Boehm recently written up in the American Motorcyclist magazine...

[Bisbonian]

Would like to see one in person...NONE of the HD dealers in Arizona has one!!   

They are rarer then hen's teeth!!!

Seat height is reportedly 31.8 inches, so I could fit on one!

Very favorably first impression by Mitch Boehm recently written up in the American Motorcyclist magazine...

I took a demo ride on one in Tucson, came away unimpressed.
Perhaps it wasn't set up correctly, but there is no way I would pay twice as much for it as I did my V85.

[JJ]

I took a demo ride on one in Tucson, came away unimpressed.
Perhaps it wasn't set up correctly, but there is no way I would pay twice as much for it as I did my V85.

Do they make a "LOW SEAT" for the V85?!?  I have sat on one and they are a little tall for me...

[egschade]

Do they make a "LOW SEAT" for the V85?!?  I have sat on one and they are a little tall for me...

Yes. MG has a 'low comfort' saddle. Can buy through a dealer, eBay and other retailers. Not cheap but I like mine better than the stock unit (30" inseam). If the height is really an issue you can get suspension lowering bits but you give up travel, ground clearance and $$$.

I use the horse method of mounting the bike - stepping on the foot peg (stirrup) and swing a leg over. Bike is too tall and I'm too old to do it from the ground.

[Bisbonian]

Do they make a "LOW SEAT" for the V85?!?  I have sat on one and they are a little tall for me...

Yes, it is about 3/4" lower.

https://www.af1racing.com/OEM-Moto-Guzzi-Low-34-inch-Saddle-2S001370

I must have been feeling flush with cash when I bought the tall seat, I didn't remember it being $320 but that's still way cheaper than the last Corbin I bought. After a touch of break-in I've found the tall comfort seat to be much more comfortable than my original seat.