V85TT throttle modification - Lighter Action

[BuckyMoto]

Hello all,

I am a first-time Guzzi owner of my V85TT. I have had it for a year now and put 7700 miles on it here in Northern Ireland. But one thing that has been giving me issues was the throttle.

I personally felt I was having to constantly grip harder than I should to hold onto a certain speed, or having to constantly adjust my grip. this meant I was relying on the Cruise control more and more, which I wasn't a fan of doing as you have less control of the bike IMO. I do use the CC when on M/way etc. but for A & B roads I like manually using the throttle.

Anyhow I made a YouTube today of the process I went through to make the mod. I went for a 1 hr ride right after I had finished and got zero finger pain - RESULT 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrD-CAcvNqs&t=2s

[Huzo]

I can say one thing for certain, the guy you spoke to about doing what you achieved, is not on Wild Guzzi.
Nice job…!

[BuckyMoto]

I can say one thing for certain, the guy you spoke to about doing what you achieved, is not on Wild Guzzi.
Nice job…!

Somehow, I don't think he's the age of a chap that hangs around forums lol. and certainly not YouTube's

[Huzo]

Somehow, I don't think he's the age of a chap that hangs around forums lol. and certainly not YouTube's

Welcome Bucky…
You’re a thinker, good to have you here.

[guzziart]

Hey Bucky,

Good video although I fast forwarded to about the 3:20 spot.  I'm contemplating buying a v85tt, one of the major reasons is the cruise control to ease the burden on my arthritic right wrist.  Another plus I now see is your video and the ability to reduce twist grip/throttle opening effort.  Too bad there isn't a good fix for my '87 LMIVSE w/Dellorto bellcrank 40's.

Thanks,
Art

[kpmurphy]

I too found the throttle spring to be stiff. Found a similar fix on the Aprilia Forum site for Tuareg motorcycles. Author is danketchpel. Very nice how-to with photos.

[egschade]

If you're not inclined to do this modification a Cramp Buster / throttle rocker is a cheap alternative. Also use a Biltwell grip with the swell which also helps my hand.

[Huzo]

I think I read about this somewhere before on these pages.

[twowheeladdict]

I have found that quality deerskin gloves help grip the throttle without me having to grip it with my hands as much.  I ride with two fingers covering the brake lever so relay on friction for the most part. 

I like the mod, but definitely am not going to do it on my bike unless it becomes a necessary change to continue to ride it. 

[egschade]

I wonder what would happen if you put a weight on the throttle to hold it full-open for a couple days. Would the spring fatigue a little and have less tension?

[twowheeladdict]

I wonder what would happen if you put a weight on the throttle to hold it full-open for a couple days. Would the spring fatigue a little and have less tension?

Maybe I should stop by the dealer where the bike is sitting waiting on parts and tie it off at full throttle and see.  I sure hope I get the bike back by October so I can be ready for the cooler riding season. 

[Huzo]

Maybe I should stop by the dealer where the bike is sitting waiting on parts and tie it off at full throttle and see.  I sure hope I get the bike back by October so I can be ready for the cooler riding season.

It’s not hard to remedy.
I have a second throttle that I fixed.
If you want, I’ll post it to you and if you like it. You can send me your old one.

[Tusayan]

I wonder what would happen if you put a weight on the throttle to hold it full-open for a couple days. Would the spring fatigue a little and have less tension?

Steel springs do not loose tension (creep is the technical term) unless they are loaded to a very high stress.  It won’t work.

Too strong a throttle return string combined with too little friction is an obvious flaw - Piaggio seems to me a bit clueless in sorting out the details.  I’m slowly working through the issues on my V85 and my list is longer and harder than for other Guzzis I’ve bought and dialed in over the last 35 years. I may ditch the bike eventually but for now I’m too stubborn and curious to see whether I can make the thing work well.

Making everything hard is another Piaggio problem - like requiring that screws be drilled out just to split the throttle control.  Frustrating nonsense, but at least the throttle pull can be reduced by some method.

[Huzo]

It is fairly well documented, that this problem can be cured easily.
In addition to the latest post, I’ll bump an old thread.

[Wayne Orwig]

I disassembled mine and moved the spring.
I also slipped a large rubber Oring over the end of the bar to rub against the throttle.
With those two things, mine is 'normal' and I seldom even use the cruise control.

[BuckyMoto]

I disassembled mine and moved the spring.
I also slipped a large rubber Oring over the end of the bar to rub against the throttle.
With those two things, mine is 'normal' and I seldom even use the cruise control.

I was out today without realising it I also hadn't used Cruise the whole time I was out.

[guzziart]

I was out today without realising it I also hadn't used Cruise the whole time I was out.

Presently, the only bike I have with CC is my Wing, the only time I use it is when I'm doing super slab work with zero to light traffic.  I really can't see using it at all for be-bopping around town where there's trafiic, traffic signals, varying speed limits every mile or two, twisties, rain, etc.  CC sure is nice when having to burn up hundreds of miles at a time vs holding the twist grip steady for hours at a time.

[Huzo]

It’s not hard to remedy.
I have a second throttle that I fixed.
If you want, I’ll post it to you and if you like it. You can send me your old one.

Well…?

[ridingron]

Steel springs do not loose tension (creep is the technical term) unless they are loaded to a very high stress.  It won’t work.

Too strong a throttle return string combined with too little friction is an obvious flaw - Piaggio seems to me a bit clueless in sorting out the details.  I’m slowly working through the issues on my V85 and my list is longer and harder than for other Guzzis I’ve bought and dialed in over the last 35 years. I may ditch the bike eventually but for now I’m too stubborn and curious to see whether I can make the thing work well.

Making everything hard is another Piaggio problem - like requiring that screws be drilled out just to split the throttle control.  Frustrating nonsense, but at least the throttle pull can be reduced by some method.

What is on your list?

I have a new '23 V85TT, only about 1000 miles, and the only thing I've found is the starter button is a little wonky and operating the cruise control button is still a mystery. Reading the manual is quite the task. My old tired eyes have trouble with print that small. I think the margins take up more space than the print does.

Overall, I am happy with the bike.

[Huzo]

What is on your list?

I have a new '23 V85TT, only about 1000 miles, and the only thing I've found is the starter button is a little wonky and operating the cruise control button is still a mystery. Reading the manual is quite the task. My old tired eyes have trouble with print that small. I think the margins take up more space than the print does.

Overall, I am happy with the bike.

The cruise button works like this.
While riding, press and hold the button “inwards” (towards the handlebar) not “ downwards” (towards the ground) and the small green light on the panel will flash continuously.
The system is now armed.
To engage cruise, a quick tap in the same direction that you used to arm it, will engage the function.
Tapping the clutch or either brake will cancel it, but it remains armed.

[Tusayan]

What is on your list?

See this thread:

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=114972.0

[smdl]

I found the same issue with the stock grips.  Switching to some Progrip 714s immediately made it better.  Then, switching to Oxford adventure heated grips completely cured it.  Sticky grips combined with a larger diameter (leverage) made it a complete non-issue.

Cheers,
Shaun

[Dave Swanson]

When coming off one of my old Guzzis that have throttle springs so stiff they give you Popeye forearms the V85 seems feather light. 

That being said, I will eventually do this mod.  Easier is always a good thing. 

[guzziart]

Hi All,

So, since I last posted at this thread in August '23, I picked up a used '23 v85tt last September.  I looked at Huzo & Buckymoto's (great) posts on lightening throttle pull and I'm about to jump in and do it.  Anyway, before I try drilling out the tamperproof screws, I was wondering if anyone has been able to identify the screw but more importantly a readily available removal bit.
Thanks,
Art

[Trialsman]

I found the easiest way was to put a stub end of a handlebar in the milling machine vise and clamp the throttle to it.  At that point it is easy to use a small endmill and remove the head of the screw.  When the two sections are removed there is more than enough length sticking out you merely grab the stub with a vise grip and twist out.  An appropriately sized sheet metal screw can replace them.  I have now done it on three V85s and had great success.

[guzziart]

I found the easiest way was to put a stub end of a handlebar in the milling machine vise and clamp the throttle to it.  At that point it is easy to use a small endmill and remove the head of the screw.  When the two sections are removed there is more than enough length sticking out you merely grab the stub with a vise grip and twist out.  An appropriately sized sheet metal screw can replace them.  I have now done it on three V85s and had great success.

Thanks for the response TM! I'm still deciding which way to go with it.
Art

[Trialsman]

By the way, removing a section of spring wind and bending a new "ear" works wonders.



 this is a before and after shot of the throttle.

[Tony F]

Hi All,

So, since I last posted at this thread in August '23, I picked up a used '23 v85tt last September.  I looked at Huzo & Buckymoto's (great) posts on lightening throttle pull and I'm about to jump in and do it.  Anyway, before I try drilling out the tamperproof screws, I was wondering if anyone has been able to identify the screw but more importantly a readily available removal bit.
Thanks,
Art

If you use a lefthand drill bit to drill into the screw you may find it unscrews itself.

[guzziart]

Thanks TF! 
I know I can get LH bits at the local McMaster-Carr Industrial Supply.  I just watched a youtube on tank removal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eDCyQu89LQ
Don't know if tank removal will be necessary to find the disconnects for twist grip & grip heat or are they located under frame covers behind head??!!  Hey Trialsman....where did you find the connectors for the right grip throt & heat?
I might try installing a pair of driving lights while doing the throttle mod., I guess the connectors for that are in the same neighborhood.
Art

[Trialsman]

I believe I ordered them from McMaster Carr.