Is the Stelvio better than a V85TT? (Video)

[Clifton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHIto6Me1Z8

[twowheeladdict]

Better is a relative term. 

I've ridden many ADV touring bikes.

Some are like the trusty mule.  They will get you there and back reliably every time with no excitement.

Some are like a thoroughbred race horse. Exciting to ride bit difficult to live with day in and day out.

For me the V85 is somewhere in the middle.  Personally I don't want a liquid cooled bike in my stable.

[Tusayan]

The video’s conclusions were similar to my own.  The Stelvio is a bike that would work well for touring, where the trip itself is the objective and the bike is a tool to do a job.  It’s not particularly sporty and has the same character as a Honda or Kawasaki.  It does have fairly good power although it’s no way comparable to an R13GS in either power or handling, and it’s much faster in a straight line than the V85TT.  But as a bike to own and enjoy the V85TT is better. It feels more like a Guzzi, looks better, is much easier to maintain over time, could better withstand dirt road use and it handles better on the street.

[PeteS]

We all have our own criteria for what is better. I ruled out the Stelvio on the dealers floor. The added weight was a deal beaker for me. I was able to take a test ride on the new 2025 V85TT and I was pretty much sold. Light easy handling and riding position worked for me. As for power 0-60 was very close to the Stelvio though I expect on 80 plus roll ons the Stelvio would motor away. Note the video didn’t really show any off pavement riding. Other videos show the V85 fairly capable for a bike this size though my riding would likely only be on gravel roads vs single track or sand and water.

Curious if anyone has been on both the earlier and current versions of the V85s and would compare the two.

Pete

[Clifton]

We all have our own criteria for what is better. I ruled out the Stelvio on the dealers floor. The added weight was a deal beaker for me. I was able to take a test ride on the new 2025 V85TT and I was pretty much sold. Light easy handling and riding position worked for me. As for power 0-60 was very close to the Stelvio though I expect on 80 plus roll ons the Stelvio would motor away. Note the video didn’t really show any off pavement riding. Other videos show the V85 fairly capable for a bike this size though my riding would likely only be on gravel roads vs single track or sand and water.

Curious if anyone has been on both the earlier and current versions of the V85s and would compare the two.

Pete

Pete, brief comments off another site from the owner of 2 previous V85TT's (E4 and 5) and currently has a new Stelvio. Here he took a new V85 on a test ride, and also has one on order.

I took the updated V85 out for an hour or so yesterday. Looks wise it looks very similar and you have to look closely to spot the differences. Personally I think it looks slightly better and it looks fantastic in the grey and white. I do like the dash which is taken from the mandello and stelvio. Setting off it all feels very familiar, very light clutch and a lovely gearchange. I didn't expect much difference in performance but was quite surprised. It clearly has more grunt at 3k rpm and overtaking is a much easier task. The only other major (to me) thing I noticed was how agile it felt compared to the old one. I suspect this was due to the lighter alloy wheels. It was the basic Strada model which has the alloy wheels, something I may have to look into when mine arrives. I ordered the standard TT model which comes with spoked wheels. A much nicer bike on the gnarly back roads than the Stelvio and I suspect could cover ground on those roads much quicker than the Stelvio.

[Brand X]

The V-100 has good power,brakes, but the one I rode vibrated more than my air cooled Breva 1100. By quite a bit too.  I think a V-85 would be my pick
I rode my Rotax over to John Day and was glad to see a 17 year old engine gives up nothing to a new twin..

[PeteS]

What surprised me on the test ride of the 2025 was the low end power compared to my breathed on 850 LeMans. The Lemans makes little power below 4k RPMs but winds up like a two stroke from 4-8k and easily exceeds those RPMS even in 5th gear.
The V85TT is almost the opposite. Ready to pull away from 2500 with surprising authority even in 6th gear. I have just barely seen triple digits but still not much past break in. Its become my favorite at least for touring. The LeMans will always be a keeper though. Every bit as unique in its own way.

Pete

[Huzo]

It doesn’t have to be “better”, it has to be “ different”.
If the driving factor in bike choice is looking for the “best” bike, then we would all be riding the identical bike. My Norge and V85 are nowhere near the “best” bike, but I wouldn’t want either of them if they were.
I don’t want my two bikes to be the best, I want them to be mine and to be obviously so.
I’ll pose the question…
If I put up a shot of a stock V85 or red ‘07 Norge and asked…
“Who owns these” ?
No one would know.
If I asked that same question about my current two ?
We know the answer.
Now I know that is sickeningly self serving, but the customisation process creates the memory.
The bike is the tool we use for lifestyle enhancement, THAT’S what makes the bike “ better…”.

If I had owned 15 red Norges, and sold each one every time I needed to go to the corner store, none would hold any value.