Noises in my 2025 V85tt

[pablomr]

Hi to all.
I bought last month a new Guzzi V85tt E5+. I love the bike but I could sense that the motor was not being smooth and the noise was a bit unpleasant and some metallic noises arose from the motor and the shaft. After the first service they adjusted the valves and the strange motor noise went away. I am very happy now, but still I can hear a metallic noise from the transmission at 50 kph when in fifth gear, or at 45 kph when in fourth gear. Also I can hear a howl from the shaft at 100 kph. Also I can hear pops from the muffler when decelerate. Besides that, the idle is not constant when the motor is hot.

Is all of this a normal thing because I have ridden it only for 2000 kms and in the future all these noises are going away?.

Thanks to all.
Pablo (Spain)

[Vagrant]

If you keep driving that low of RPM's in 5th gear you will destroy that engine. I can't say I don't occasionally get down to 3000 RPM in the first three gears but not often. These are short stroke engines made to run the happiest between 4000-7000 RPM.
Occasional popping on deceleration is normal.
The howl is most likely the tires. Some brands do it especially when tipped over only a few degrees.

[turboguzzi]

Begs to ask what bike you had before...

[Bulldog9]

Hi to all.
I bought last month a new Guzzi V85tt E5+. I love the bike but I could sense that the motor was not being smooth and the noise was a bit unpleasant and some metallic noises arose from the motor and the shaft. After the first service they adjusted the valves and the strange motor noise went away. I am very happy now, but still I can hear a metallic noise from the transmission at 50 kph when in fifth gear, or at 45 kph when in fourth gear. Also I can hear a howl from the shaft at 100 kph. Also I can hear pops from the muffler when decelerate. Besides that, the idle is not constant when the motor is hot.

Is all of this a normal thing because I have ridden it only for 2000 kms and in the future all these noises are going away?.

Thanks to all.
Pablo (Spain)

Of course we can not diagnose if your noises are normal over the internet, but............. Moto Guzzis make weird sounds and are very agricultural.  In the words of Guzzi Master Dave Richardson 'If your Moto Guzzi is not making weird sounds, clunks rattles and chucking sounds, you should be worried"

I'm only 10 years in, and I can say that his advice and guidance has saved me from MANY a sleepless night and worry.

Norge - 52K miles
1200 Sport - 70K+ miles
Stornello - 16K miles
Griso - 12K miles
Breva 750 - 14K miles
Convert 44K miles

ALL make unique strange noises, and are different from others. It is all part of the adventure. Do proper service, ride, and enjoy the unique personality of your bike.

A good case in point. the 8V Motor has a reputation for upper valvetrain noise similar to a can of gravel being shaken. But...... My 2012 does not. My 2014 did, and I hated it, but the 2012? not so much. It is there to be sure, but not bad.  Also, the dual plate clutch on the Griso rings and clatters like there is no tomorrow when the lever is pulled, but is whisper quiet when released. The Norge and 1200 Sport are the complete opposite.  The Stornello? when the clutch is pulled and held, it makes a deep chucking sound, is worse when hot, and has from day 1 (bought new).

Taking Dave's counsel, I ignore it all...... I Service and maintain my bikes and ride. Embrace it, if you don't you'll go crazy.

One final jacked up story.............. ........ I have a 2017 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7 DOHC  Dual VVT V8............ The off/light throttle valvetrain noise is absolutely crazy..... I had it to the dealer 10X the first year insisting there was something wrong.  They admitted it was louder than most, but that was just my motor.  I almost traded it, but had it marked in the service records if the motor grenaded. I also bought a magnetic drainplug to see if things were amiss.  Well, 8 years and 120K miles later, it still makes the same noises, has ZERO metal paste or anything on the drain plug, and has been mechanically flawless....... I'm not saying ignore odd noises, but if you own a Guzzi, you have to accept it as normal. 

It will let you know when something is really wrong 

[nmroadrunner]

IF it starts, runs, and rides well, then give it time to break in and follow the manufacturer's recommended service intervals. As stated above, DO NOT lug the engine in the higher gears,  This is an Italian throroughbread that needs to rev!

[Moparnut72]

Again, wind 'er up. I think your noises will go away. It will make some noise but it won't last if you continue to lug it. At 50 kph you shouldn't be above third gear and you won't hurt it in second.  Keep the rpm up and enjoy your bike. 
kk

[pablomr]

Thank you very much for all your help. I love your thoughts and experiences. Now I know this is the character of the brand and nothing to worry about. My other bike is a 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 Custom, which I love. This V85 is infinitely better when riding through curves and much more confortable. But you can't compare both in any sense.

 
Pablo

[Huzo]

The only thing I’d add, is that if the “noise” is coming from the rear drive, it won’t have any relevance to whether you’re lugging the motor or not. The torque coming from the output shaft of the gearbox is the only thing your rear drive knows about, the engine is if course a different matter.
The first thing to do is ride along and get the noise, then grab another gear at the same road speed and see if the noise alters pitch.
If it does, it’s on the input side of the gearbox.
If it does not, it’s on the output side.

[blu guzz]

Although they are both V twins of roughly equal size, a Harley and an MG are definitely different beasts.  It sounds like you have a great pairing there.

[PeteS]

Don’t overlook the simple stuff. Is the muffler clamp tight? Are you using premium fuel. Low RPMs in a higher gear can cause pinging under load.

Pete

[1wild1]

After riding harleys and honda vtwins, the hardest thing to get used to is running up the rpms on a constant basis.  You can let it sing, it likes it. 

[Bulldog9]

Thank you very much for all your help. I love your thoughts and experiences. Now I know this is the character of the brand and nothing to worry about. My other bike is a 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 Custom, which I love. This V85 is infinitely better when riding through curves and much more confortable. But you can't compare both in any sense.

 
Pablo

If what you're used to is a Harley, keep in mind that a Moto Guzzi V-Twin is just waking up at RPMs that would destroy the Harley motor.

Moto Guzzi's love to stay between 4 and 6K RPM, and even bounced off the rev limiter. Wind that sucker out let it sing they love to be flogged.

[pablomr]

Thank you for your comments. Thanks to Vagrant I think I have discovered the origin of the howl, which I attributed to the shaft, when riding at 100 kph (or 60 mph). It seems that my tires, Michelin Anakee Adventure, makes that loud noise at that speed, everybody comments that in the forums. I will put  street tires when they wear out. I am much more calm now that I know that this problem will dissapear. The only worry now is the metallic whirring in the transmission, it dissapears when I pull the clutch, but I am sure it will lessen as I use it more.

Another point I appreciate is the remarks that this bike is no similar to the harley,m that I have to ride it more revved up. My instic is to ride it as low as the harley 

Once again, thank you all!!   

Pablo

[Vagrant]

Mine has Michelin too. Great tire but noisy. The dry clutch is what you hear. You must be young with good ears. Go ride the dog shit out of it.

[Moparnut72]

When I traded my 110" Harley for my 1400 Guzzi I was at first unintentionally abusing it lugging it something awful. It took a while to get used to winding up the Guzzi. Winding up that bike wasn't quite what the small block V7lll likes. The V7 seemed to always want more no matter how high I reved it. My 850 is now approaching the end of the break in period, I need to get the manual out to figure out how to raise the shift point warning. It is now popping up quite often. Typical Guzzi, it gets better with every mile.
kk

[DaGootz]

My current 2002 BMW K1200RS has a clutch rattle in neutral that would drive normal people crazy, until you pull the clutch lever in that it goes away. It sounds like a bucket of rocks.......but it's normal and I learned to live with it with no concern. Just ride it and let the noises become part of your being, things mechanical make noises. It reminds me of F1 Aerodynamicist Adrian Newey when he said, "Everything on an F1 car moves".

[MikeP996]

All the Ducati sportbikes I've owned were dry-clutch and did the same thing.

[SkyPilot]

Coming from Hondas and Harleys, when I bought my '23 V7 Special Red Stripe, the small shop owner waved goodbye and I was off for my ride home in the chill of April, 50 miles away.  I went 2 blocks and immediately returned to the dealership.  "I think something's wrong.  It's got a lot of shake and is making some weird noises and it really clunks when I shift."  He just chuckled and said, "It's a Moto Guzzi...perfectly normal." I headed off and road home shaking my head, wondering if I'd made the right decision buying it.  The shake is what some call "characterful," and the weird noises were just the heavy clunk when shifting and the whirl sound of the shaft drive.  I've ridden that bike over 6,000 miles in the last year and a half.  I love the bike more today than when I rode it home that day.  After 2 services, the most recent one by myself, the bike shifts smoothly, with just a predictable, yet deliberate more refined clunk, and the shake smoothed out quite a bit.

After a ride, the long way home of course, I have to wipe that silly grin off my face, so I look like the motorcyclist I am! At night, I sometimes find myself thinking about the eagle I saw that day, or the deer that watched me glide by, and then I dream of my next ride, and the next.  After 60 years of riding, in my 70s now, I can't think of a better bike for me than my V7 Special...at least until the next Moto Guzzi. Perhaps a V85 TT or a Mandello S or a....