V85TT Areas for Improvement

[Tusayan]

I’ve ridden my 2020 V85TT for a while now, and have been enjoying the excellent handling, great riding position,  very easy serviceability and reasonable power quite a bit.  In spite of that (and I have no plan to sell the bike) I’ve accumulated a fairly long list of minor faults that I would point out if I were a factory test rider, and correct if I were in charge of development.  Here’s my list… I’m wondering if anybody has any useful comments on how to mitigate or correct these issues. 

Gearbox stiff when cold, can’t easily select neutral for the first few miles. Never felt this on any previous bike, only ancient cars. I’m wondering if it might loosen up at some higher mileage

Speedo reads 4-8 mph high

Forefinger high beam switch frequently activates accidentally by glove, poor design

Right handlebar light switch slot open to water ingress

Cruise control disengages too abruptly, requires too much technique to operate smoothly.

All handlebar switches feel a bit imprecise/rubbery

Service (oil change) light can only be reset by dealer

Throttle spring does not provide force gradient,  constant force spring, can’t feel throttle opening.  Plus very low static friction (no cables) means throttle pull is heavy at constant throttle opening

All ‘modes’ other than Rain Mode have annoying non-linear throttle response (2020 model, new User Programmable Mode added for 2021)

Gear position indicator indicates only when underway (2020 model, corrected on 2021 models)

Fuel tank hard to fill completely, messy and high effort with gaitered evaporative sucking gas pump

Fuel range calculation is inaccurate, basically useless

Nickel plating on saddle bag racks rusts through

No bike is perfect and it’d be interesting to learn how others may have dealt with the issues of this one.  I’ve installed 2021 tubeless wheels on mine as well as the center stand (which should’ve been standard) and tall ‘comfort’ seat. Those have been good solutions for me.

One thing that I found improved the handing (and its now really good) was abandoning the ridiculously high factory recommended tire pressures and going with ‘old reliable’ 32 psi front and 36 psi rear. 

[Matteo]

My only gripe is I can't place the balls of my feet on the pegs without hitting my heels on the rear peg supports. Only bike I have ever experienced this.

[Huzo]

I’ve attended to and remedied most of those ailments.
I’ll outline what I did when I stop tonight.
Meanwhile I’ll leave you with this image.


It’s a new tone wheel I made with 6% less slots to bring the reading back into line, but it buggered up the gear indicator reading.
Meinlof has written a presentation on how to get into the ECU to electronically fix the error.
It’s too difficult for me.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I’ve ridden my 2020 V85TT for a while now, and have been enjoying the excellent handling, great riding position,  very easy serviceability and reasonable power quite a bit.  In spite of that (and I have no plan to sell the bike) I’ve accumulated a fairly long list of minor faults that I would point out if I were a factory test rider, and correct if I were in charge of development.  Here’s my list… I’m wondering if anybody has any useful comments on how to mitigate or correct these issues. 

Gearbox stiff when cold, can’t easily select neutral for the first few miles. Never felt this on any previous bike, only ancient cars. I’m wondering if it might loosen up at some higher mileage

Speedo reads 4-8 mph high
I fixed this on my V7 by fitting a larger rear tire at first change

Service (oil change) light can only be reset by dealer
Thats stupid
 
Gear position indicator indicates only when underway (2020 model, corrected on 2021 models)
The clutch has to be engaged so the ECU can calculate ratio of rear wheel to engine speed (Gear ratio)
I would be interested to know how they changed this in 2021, a different sensor location perhaps?

[Huzo]

I’ve ridden my 2020 V85TT for a while now, and have been enjoying the excellent handling, great riding position,  very easy serviceability and reasonable power quite a bit.  In spite of that (and I have no plan to sell the bike) I’ve accumulated a fairly long list of minor faults that I would point out if I were a factory test rider, and correct if I were in charge of development.  Here’s my list… I’m wondering if anybody has any useful comments on how to mitigate or correct these issues. 

Gearbox stiff when cold, can’t easily select neutral for the first few miles. Never felt this on any previous bike, only ancient cars. I’m wondering if it might loosen up at some higher mileage

Speedo reads 4-8 mph high

Forefinger high beam switch frequently activates accidentally by glove, poor design

Right handlebar light switch slot open to water ingress

Cruise control disengages too abruptly, requires too much technique to operate smoothly.

All handlebar switches feel a bit imprecise/rubbery

Service (oil change) light can only be reset by dealer

Throttle spring does not provide force gradient,  constant force spring, can’t feel throttle opening.  Plus very low static friction (no cables) means throttle pull is heavy at constant throttle opening

All ‘modes’ other than Rain Mode have annoying non-linear throttle response (2020 model, new User Programmable Mode added for 2021)

Gear position indicator indicates only when underway (2020 model, corrected on 2021 models)

Fuel tank hard to fill completely, messy and high effort with gaitered evaporative sucking gas pump

Fuel range calculation is inaccurate, basically useless

Nickel plating on saddle bag racks rusts through

No bike is perfect and it’d be interesting to learn how others may have dealt with the issues of this one.  I’ve installed 2021 tubeless wheels on mine as well as the center stand (which should’ve been standard) and tall ‘comfort’ seat. Those have been good solutions for me.

One thing that I found improved the handing (and its now really good) was abandoning the ridiculously high factory recommended tire pressures and going with ‘old reliable’ 32 psi front and 36 psi rear.

Gearbox ?
Mine stopped that “clacking” after about 10,000 km. I use Motul of correct grade if that helps.

Speedo ?
I mentioned my attempts at getting it right. It was within 1 kph up tp 100, but as mentioned the gear indicator got conflicting information and was not reliable. Also the odometer went out by 6% the other way..

High beam switch ?
I agree. Could maybe take a bit off it.

Cruise ?
I reckon the best way to cancel it, is to stroke the clutch lever lightly. That disengages the drive as the CC let’s go and the act feels seamless.

Throttle pull ?
I published my remedy for this, it works. I have a spare worked one on the shelf. The thread is called “V85 throttle remedy”.
I have bumped the old thread.

Gear indicator ?
Hardly an issue that it only works when underway….You’ll not need to know when sitting still.
It’s more a case that it only registers when the clutch is out.

Fuel range ?
Does do some feverish re calculations as it gets near the end. I know that mine will do easy 430 km- 500 km max.

I’ve done a load of other stuff, but that’s my take on what you asked.

[Bisbonian]

I put some grip puppies on, I prefer the larger grip and I feel as though it evens out the throttle response.

If you're talking about the California style gas pumps with the big accordion thing then there is a guy over on ADVrider who sells a clip that holds that back so you don't have to press the nozzle in to engage the pump. I bought a handful at some point and they are pretty cheap at around $5 each.

[egschade]

I put some grip puppies on, I prefer the larger grip and I feel as though it evens out the throttle response.

<SNIP>

I use Biltwell Renegade grips that have a swell in the center and that, along with a throttle rocker help deal with the stiff throttle spring.

As noted in other posts the horn is weak but this is true of many (most?) motorcycles.

Also a problem with any high-fender bike is the engine getting covered in road dirt. Some install an Aprilia low fender or like me,  mount some sort of splash shield. Mine is a cheapie from eBay mounted to the caliper bolts:

[Tusayan]

@Kiwi_Roy, the 2021 models added a switch on the gearbox to provide a gear selection signal. Unlike computing gear selection based on the ratio of engine and wheel speeds, this works when the bike is stationary and if the clutch is disengaged.  The only time I find knowing gear position to be of any use is when the bike is stopped, to make sure you’re in 1st gear, otherwise you just shift as necessary.

It might be worthwhile looking into a higher profile rear tire to correct the inaccurate speedo, good suggestion.  My CX100 speedo read high too as the bike was delivered but with a modern tire it’s pretty much dead accurate.

The issue with my V85TT gearbox is nothing else but stiff selection for a short period when starting from cold, making it very hard to select neutral.  It goes away completely a few minutes after startup, which surprises me because I wouldn’t think the gearbox would warm up so quickly. I’m wondering if its clutch drag, although I can’t feel that otherwise. Has anybody else’s bike had this specific symptom?   Noise is not the issue.  Thanks much.

[Moparnut72]

"If you're talking about the California style gas pumps with the big accordion thing then there is a guy over on ADVrider who sells a clip that holds that back so you don't have to press the nozzle in to engage the pump. I bought a handful at some point and they are pretty cheap at around $5 each."

I use a larger hinge pin that I tweaked to hold the bellows back. Don't forget and leave it on the nozzle. I learned this trick when I was testing fuel dispensers when I was a Weights and Measures inspector.
kk

[willowstreetguzziguy]

You would think that as technology advances, products (and life) would get simpler and easier but I guess not.

 I remember when they told us that your desk top computer would make office work faster & easier. We would get our work done much quicker and we’d have much more time on your hands to do with whatever we wanted. We all know how that worked out!

[DesertPilot]

I can't think of much I'd change.  My only complaints would be

1) The stock windscreen doesn't work well for people as tall as me, from which I conclude that we Greeks are taller than those Italians

2) The stock seat has not been an unmitigated source of joy.

3) One needs to add a front fender, love washing the front of the crankcase, or consider that crust of mud over the eagle emblem to be a badge of honor.

4) No laser cannon.

5) Yes, filling up the tank from California-style pumps with that accordion thingie can be a pain.

The aftermarket offers several solutions to items 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Item 5 isn't much (if any) worse than it's been on some of my other bikes, so I can live with it.

[Dimitri_Harkov]

Speedos are like this - at least in Europe - since the dawn of time and by design and will not get 'fixed'.

But I find it easy to remember that I can safely go ten percent faster than the speedo tells me.

Cheers,
D.

[Tusayan]

Most speedos do read a little over, for example on my newer cars its 2-3 mph at cruising speed… but not to the degree seen on the V85TT.  The digital speedo is basically useless as-is and the inaccuracy is harder to deal with given a readout that doesn’t allow you to add your own (accurate) red strip or whatever to the instrument face.

Hopefully somebody will come up with an easily implemented software fix for the inaccurate speedo and also the arguably illegal in the US dealer-only service light reset. Huzo’s hardware fix for the speedo would work fine on a 2021 model, where the gear position is provided by a previously non-existent switch, not by computation. Alas mine is a 2020 like his.

Is my bike the only V85TT with a stiff gearbox selector when cold?  I've noticed no comments on that one, and if somebody were to say "I don't know what you're talking about" it would be helpful in knowing that its an individual issue on my bike (or not)

[slopokes]

Mine is the same way…I keep thinking I am riding a Bmw /5…..

[Tusayan]

Mine is the same way…I keep thinking I am riding a Bmw /5…..

Thanks for that, good to know it’s not just mine.

[dave1068]

I also notice its sometimes hard to get in to neutral when cold or at start up. I may try the 32/36 psi, I usually run 40 or in each. You hear so much about pros and cons for air pressure...

[midnite]

Neutral was much easier to find on my 2021 after changing the gearbox oil at the first service. I've generally found the bike to be smooth and intuitive/comfortable to ride. My biggest gripe was the windscreen; the stock screen was torture, and the Biondi short screen not much better. I've found a great deal more comfort with a Madstad. 36/40 psi works well for me at 200lbs. Looking forward to getting it out for a multi-day road trip this summer!

[bobrebos]

“Service (oil change) light can only be reset by dealer”


You gotta be kidding me???  What the heck is up with that?????  Geeez

[blu guzz]

the light is so small, dim and unobtrusive, you can just ignore it. 

[Clifton]

I'm only at 1,100 miles on mine and I've adjusted well to the bike. If I were MG about the only two things I'd change would be the shield and aerodynamics, wasn't Moto Guzzi one of the first with a wind tunnel? They should utilize it. And as for most adventure motorcycles widen the ratios with a lower 1st gear and taller 6th.

[SSGG Geezer]

the light is so small, dim and unobtrusive, you can just ignore it.

Exactly what my dealer told me! He will get mine for the first service in a couple weeks and I will buy the materials for the next service when I am there, but I am OK with ignoring the little wrench icon as I ignore the blinking cruise control light when it is on but not engaged.

[Huzo]

Huzo’s hardware fix for the speedo would work fine on a 2021 model, where the gear position is provided by a previously non-existent switch, not by computation. Alas mine is a 2020 like his.

It also affects the odometer.
Because there are less slots, the system thinks there have been less revolutions of the wheel, therefore less distance.
There is a data point (I think) in Guzzidiag, which gives the rolling circumference of the wheel.
I thought to manipulate that figure so to give a lower speed for rear wheel RPM, but I think I hit a wall from memory…
I just got sick of it.
Meinolf had a solution as I recall…

[motoTommaso]

"If you're talking about the California style gas pumps with the big accordion thing then there is a guy over on ADVrider who sells a clip that holds that back so you don't have to press the nozzle in to engage the pump. I bought a handful at some point and they are pretty cheap at around $5 each."

I use a larger hinge pin that I tweaked to hold the bellows back. Don't forget and leave it on the nozzle. I learned this trick when I was testing fuel dispensers when I was a Weights and Measures inspector.
kk

I'd like to try this as it is a PIA in California. Pix or linkie please...

[Moto Vita]

Foot pegs, foot pegs and foot pegs!

[Moparnut72]

I'd like to try this as it is a PIA in California. Pix or linkie please...

Here ya go.
kk

[hauto]

10 more hp. An honest 90hp would be the ticket for me.

[Tusayan]

Another new issue is that the stock windshield as well as providing more buffeting than any other bike I’ve ridden since 1974 is apparently manufactured from hard coated polycarbonate (the base material is soft), and the coating is starting to come off at the upper edge with 7000 miles on the bike.  Nothing to be done but watch it and replace it when you can’t stand it anymore.  Uncoated acrylic would be much better because you can polish out scratches - I did it once on an old SP starting with a file to remove road rash, no exaggeration, and it looked perfect when finished.  A UK company (Powerbronze) supplies an acrylic replacement and I’m sure there are others.

One more is the cheapy plastic quick disconnect fuel supply line fitting that doesn’t last if you are frequently removing the tank to for example remove the evaporative emissions system and supplemental air injection system.  I replaced my QD with a nice brass item - cheapy plastic fittings, gasoline and the bike as a whole don’t always have a good future together.

[ridingron]

Here ya go.
kk

Thanks for that picture. I'll start looking for one. I usually fill as well as I can and go home and top off the tank from my lawn mower gas can,.

I heard there was a gas tank cap assembly from a sport bike that bolted in place. I'm looking into that also.

[steven c]

 I like the big clip .After dumping gas a couple of times on my new to me 2020 Traveler I'm thinking of removing the plastic filler restrictor under the gas cap to.