V85 vs v100 which is the more practical commuter???

[Beowulf]

Ok so I maybe looking for a bike to commute(have fun while justifying it as practical with no logical reason) an hour each way over highway and coastal type areas.

I have used a v7 in this capacity rain or shine and I love it but am thinking fairings and carrying capacity is nice. I’m in a struggle as the Mrs agrees that since motorcycle is my method of transport that a bike more suited to distance would be good.

I’m stuck between the v85 and v100. Thoughts appreciated.

[AJ Huff]

I'd pick V100 on looks alone! LOL

-AJ

[SSGG Geezer]

The V85 already has side cases for less money and is still a nice road bike, so if budget is a major consideration and you are more of an upright riding position enthusiast, the V85 may be the way, although the V100 is tempting me to consider trading my V85 in on one.  I think I will stick with the V85 if only for budget reasons, but take a test ride before you decide. You may like one a great deal more than the other.

[LowRyter]

depends, highway commute or dirt roads?


Who buys a motorcycle to be practical?

[bad Chad]

depends, highway commute or dirt roads?


Who buys a motorcycle to be practical?

Most motorcycle riders on the planet.

[Dirk_S]

I’d say it depends on how fast you wanna go, which type of cafés you want to frequent, whether you are the curmudgeon air-cooled type, and how much money you’ve got ;)

[jrt]

I'm not sure I can say that any of my motorcycles were very practical.  I used to commute 30-60 miles daily for work in the oil-lands of Texas on a XL175.   I was not a smart young-un.
I'd go for the V100, only because I had a V85 for awhile.  We just didn't bond the way I had envisioned.

[Beowulf]

depends, highway commute or dirt roads?


Who buys a motorcycle to be practical?

Shhhhhh….. keep it down motorcycles are practical. I keep explaining they are the best mode of transportation to my wife. Whether that’s true or not it’s my story…..

[Clifton]

Personally I'm not a fan of the V100's appearance, I know I'm in the minority but those gold valve covers    And the bike's chunky middle and cut short, butt in the air, rear area gives an odd proportion more like something Japanese. The V85TT's upright riding position offers good visibility and with factory top-load panniers seems like it'd make a great commuter and all around motorcycle. But a V100 is more modern with more power everywhere. Either will work go with your heart.

[tazio]

I'm sure they're both awesome.
I'd go with the one that presents the most garage appeal to you

[Sye]

Test ride both and then decide 👍

[blu guzz]

tough choice.  let us know what you decide.  both are winners.  one thing to consider, on the v85, i could buy a big butt ugly barn door of the front screen that keeps a great deal of weather and stuff off of me in colder weather. unless i am wrong and i frequently am, it would be difficult to get much larger of a screen to work with the existing bracketry on the v100.

[Huzo]

Practicality is a term that must be left in the car park at the dealer’s premises.
You pay 30,000 Australian dollars over here, for a machine that can carry one person realistically and slurps 4.4 - 5.5 litres/100 km.
Yesterday I took a trip in a Toyota Camry that was using 5.5 l/100 km in city driving…!
I did some math once regarding my Norge..
I get 20,000 km from a set of Michelins, that is a bit over $10 per tank of fuel, just for tyres..!
So…
If me and 3 mates want to go from Melbourne to Sydney that’s 1000 km. The Camry will use 50 litres of fuel at $2.00/litre so that gives $100 divided by 4, so that’s 25 bucks each.
If we go on the bikes and they’re all Norges for instance, we will each use 2 complete tanks at 500 km per tank, so that will be $92 each plus $20 for tyres so we are each up for $112 to do the same trip.
25 bucks versus 112….
No bike is practical unless you count parking costs.
They are an expensive, dangerous, alluring and addictive money pit, into which I will willingy and repeatedly jump and continue to flail around in gleefully.
But the term “practical”, is a literary abomination and has no place when discussing the wonderful world of motorbicycles.
Having said all of that…?
Get the Mandello and help Luigi buy his next Agusta helicopter…

.He deserves it….

[Vagrant]

Simple, buy both. Conundrum over.

[brother dave]

I own a V85 so I am biased.  With a larger screen and a set of Hippo Hands I find the V85 to be a good, comfortable, long range ride even in winter.  It comes with boxes.  It is a pleasure on the highway or the twistys and in light dirt (think fire roads)  You can pickup a very good conditioned used one for 9 or 10K.  Once you add in freight and dealer prep, the V100s will run 18 to 20K.  Pocket the cash and enjoy.

[kingoffleece]

Out of all the motorcycle friends I have, and that's a lot, I can name a very small number of them who own bikes for practical reasons on one hand with three fingers missing.
The V85 may offer easier routine maintenance with the screw and lock nut set-up.

[bad Chad]

If possible, do as Sye suggest.  Ride them both for as long as possible, that should go a very long way in telling you were you should be.  Good luck!

[brother dave]

Simple, buy both. Conundrum over.

Genius

[inditx]

If possible, do as Sye suggest.  Ride them both for as long as possible, that should go a very long way in telling you were you should be.  Good luck!

This

[Bulldog9]

I dont think there is enough real world data to really say yet, but overall I would lean towards the V85 as an overall commuter, but if lots of city and stop and go in the city is a possibility, the V100. A few years ago when I commuted on the V7ii Stornello TT, some of the bumper to bumper fun in Old Town Alexandria really cooked the oil, me and motor a few time. Water Cooled bikes are (normally) much better in these situation.  Still, I'd go air cooled, because as was established in the other threat...... AIR COOLED IS BETTER 

[azccj]

Personally I would go with the V85 if only because the bike is tried and true. The V100 is too new to know if it has any quirks or problems that might come to light as owners begin to pile on the miles. I wouldn't consider either bike as having a lot of weather protection.

Also you're not going to find any good deals on the all new V100, but you can certainly find good deals on a new 2022 V85. And by good deal I mean getting the bike OTD for less than MSRP, which is possible right now with Guzzi's $1250 "performance credit" and possibly another $500 discount if you're a current or retired military member or first responder. And on top of that 5.99% financing for 60 months, which is a good rate right now.

Here in AZ you're not going to get a base model V100 for less than $18,000+ OTD with our high sales tax rate and outrages vehicle license tax/registration. And you're only going to get that price for one if you shop at one of the small AZ Guzzi dealers. If you try to buy it from one of the big dealers, Ride Now or Go AZ Motorcycles, add $2,000 to that $18,000 with all the BS fees they throw into that OTD price.

[tazio]

depends, highway commute or dirt roads?


Who buys a motorcycle to be practical?

Most motorcycle riders on the planet.

Practicality is a term that must be left in the car park at the dealer’s premises.
You pay 30,000 Australian dollars over here, for a machine that can carry one person realistically and slurps 4.4 - 5.5 litres/100 km.
Yesterday I took a trip in a Toyota Camry that was using 5.5 l/100 km in city driving…!
I did some math once regarding my Norge..
I get 20,000 km from a set of Michelins, that is a bit over $10 per tank of fuel, just for tyres..!
So…
If me and 3 mates want to go from Melbourne to Sydney that’s 1000 km. The Camry will use 50 litres of fuel at $2.00/litre so that gives $100 divided by 4, so that’s 25 bucks each.
If we go on the bikes and they’re all Norges for instance, we will each use 2 complete tanks at 500 km per tank, so that will be $92 each plus $20 for tyres so we are each up for $112 to do the same trip.
25 bucks versus 112….
No bike is practical unless you count parking costs.
They are an expensive, dangerous, alluring and addictive money pit, into which I will willingy and repeatedly jump and continue to flail around in gleefully.
But the term “practical”, is a literary abomination and has no place when discussing the wonderful world of motorbicycles.
Having said all of that…?
Get the Mandello and help Luigi buy his next Agusta helicopter…

.He deserves it….

To Hugo's post, I've stated the same here in the past
 (though not as eloquently) and was countered immediately. I wasn't swayed..
I DO believe that, taking in overall world sales, more cycles ARE bought for practical reasons,
just not in the U.S (and apparently, Australia).
..but I think in this example, it still comes down to
"garage appeal".

[Huzo]

To Hugo's post, I've stated the same here in the past
 (though not as eloquently) and was countered immediately. I wasn't swayed..
I DO believe that, taking in overall world sales, more cycles ARE bought for practical reasons,
just not in the U.S (and apparently, Australia).
..but I think in this example, it still comes down to
"garage appeal".

Ahhhh…Tarz.
We are the last of the true romantics, common sense be buggered. I was born an idiot, I’ve lived my life an idiot and I will die an idealistic idiot.
May it always be thus….

[s1120]

OK, so having a lot of factures up in the air like what is your communite like, weather thats common, your likes, and fitment, long term reliability of the new v100..  I would be looking to the V85. The more upright seating for one. Lets you see, and be seen around other people on the road. Ease of adding more protection like hand guards, bigger sheld etc..  Long travel suspension with more aggressive tires for those wet sloppy, pot hole filled days. Big bags, and trunk easy to attach for cargo. And also pretty much easy to own, and work on. Its also cheaper, and its a bike that we know its good points, and bad.

[Stretch]

No bike is practical unless you count parking costs.
They are an expensive, dangerous, alluring and addictive money pit, into which I will willingy and repeatedly jump and continue to flail around in gleefully.
But the term “practical”, is a literary abomination and has no place when discussing the wonderful world of motorbicycles.

Geez, don't let your wives see THAT!!! 

I figured out one year that in fuel cost savings alone for my SR500 vs. the pickup, I could afford
to keep it and it would pay for itself.

I couldn't stretch those numbers to pay for the OTHER 6 of it's brethren in the garage....... 

                                                                             -Stretch

[lazlokovacs]

try driving almost anywhere in the UK, motorcycles are certainly a practical option for dealing with the traffic. A good rain suit is a must obviously.

And don't even get me started on parking.

[twowheeladdict]

Since I am more comfortable with a slightly forward lean when riding unless I have a rider backrest, I would go for the V100 for the commute you describe.  I just rode 600 miles on the V85TT this past weekend and am going to have to change the ergonomics some.  Gets me between the shoulders.

[rocker59]

I've I'm using a bike around town and for commuting, where I'm getting on and off frequently, a top priority is a lower seat height that makes swinging a leg over easier.

The ADVbikes with the bulky square panniers have never made the cut for me as commuters.  Too awkward getting on and off the things.

Between these two, I'd pick a V100 and add 30L Hepco Becker panniers for the commute.

[egschade]

Write down all the things you want/need than assess each bike against those.

V85TT: Rougher roads would favor the V85's longer/plusher suspension and larger front wheel. If you can't lane split the taller riding position would help with visibility. Available used as well as costing less new - proven reliability.

V100: Probably better weather protection. Narrower / lower and probably a better lane splitter. Brand new model = unknown reliability/issues. Can't take the shortcut across the neighbor's field.

[Dirk_S]

You’ll get pissed when those aerodynamic auto-adjusting fins decide to stop working or break off one day, lol. Save yourself the feels.

Seriously though, both bikes are eye-catching. The V100 will be able to overtake on the freeway more easily.