Author Topic: And the winner is... V85TT  (Read 6141 times)

Online faffi

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And the winner is... V85TT
« on: January 14, 2026, 06:54:58 AM »
German magazine MOTORRAD have listed the bikes with the longest range on a tank of gas, and the V85 offered the most with 548 km to bone dry (340 miles) with the consumption the bike had during the test loop (4.2 liters per 100 km = 56 mpg).
Current bikes:
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Offline PeteS

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2026, 08:17:47 AM »
Thats pretty much my experience. 65-70 mph is the sweet spot. Over 70 MPGs start to drop.

Pete

Offline rocker59

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2026, 09:31:27 AM »
Love the range on the V85TT  !!!  Wish I liked the bike, more.  Not that there's anything wrong with it.  Just not my style.
Michael T.
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Offline JJ

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2026, 09:44:43 AM »
Love the range on the V85TT  !!!  Wish I liked the bike, more.  Not that there's anything wrong with it.  Just not my style.

The number one issue with the entire V85TT series is that they are ALL just too tall in the saddle for me, (*SIGH*)  :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:  At age 72, I want to plant both feet solidly on the ground... :wink:
Life Member: MGNOC L-772, AMA, HOG,
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Current bike: 2025 Moto Morini Calibro 700
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Offline bad Chad

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2026, 11:57:30 AM »
I will point out that the v85 has a lower seat height than much of it's direct comp.   Seat height on the v85 is 32.6/830mm but can be dropped or raised close to an inch with the optional Guzzi seat.  I put on the high seat and love it!  Just for comparison, Triumph 900 adv is 33.8 and the Desert X is 34.4.
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Offline Luap McKeever

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2026, 08:49:20 AM »
I love my V85. It's quickly becoming the best all around Guzzi I've ever owned. Even with that 6 gallon tank, I've gotten into pickles before in back country and dang near ran it out of gas. So, I mounted two aluminum beer cans to my urban saddlebags for an extra 40 ounces of "reserve" or at least fuel to start a fire if I need to survive a night :evil:
You can see them in this photo I took a couple days ago.


Owner, Wildguzzi.com (est. 1996)
2021 V85TT Centenario E5
2001 California Special
2001 California EV
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Past Guzzi's: 72 Eldo, 73 Eldo, 98 EV, 2000 Quota, 76 T3, 84 V65C, 98 Centauro,  09 Stelvio, 12 Stelvio, 17 MGX21

Offline Ncdan

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2026, 09:27:20 AM »
Y’all’s bladders apparently hold a much larger volume of fluid than mine does because I’ve got to find a gas station every two hours for a “pit stop”😩🤣

Offline Vagrant

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2026, 10:05:58 AM »
Absolutely nothing to do with bladders! There are no gas stations West of the Mississippi in many states.
HE IS FREE WHO LIVES AS HE CHOOSES
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Offline JJ

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2026, 10:45:19 AM »
Y’all’s bladders apparently hold a much larger volume of fluid than mine does because I’ve got to find a gas station every two hours for a “pit stop”😩🤣

On our numerous "Road Trips", my wife has an expression which we live by: 

"Never pass up an opportunity for a bathroom break!"

 :laugh: :grin: :wink: :thumb: :cool: :boozing:
Life Member: MGNOC L-772, AMA, HOG,
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Offline jrt

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2026, 10:08:01 PM »
I love my V85. It's quickly becoming the best all around Guzzi I've ever owned. Even with that 6 gallon tank, I've gotten into pickles before in back country and dang near ran it out of gas. So, I mounted two aluminum beer cans to my urban saddlebags for an extra 40 ounces of "reserve" or at least fuel to start a fire if I need to survive a night :evil:
You can see them in this photo I took a couple days ago.



Luap, after your troubles with the 1400 and a few other bikes... I'm glad to read that you are becoming happy with this one.  You deserve it, 100%.  I sincerely hope it just get's better and better. 
I enjoyed my V85 for awhile, but it just didn't quite tick off what I wanted.  Now I've got a bit older 1100 Cali and it's just about right for me. 
L-720
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Online faffi

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2026, 05:15:52 PM »
Gas stations are some of the last places I want to be, and the fewer visits I must make, the better. A long range allow me to stop when I want to, instead of when I must in order to get fuel on board, be that car or bike. My family car can go up to 700 miles on a tank of gas, while my Roamer has an average range of 220 miles. More often than not, I have stopped by the side of the road to pee before I have exhausted the range even of the Guzzi.

But those are just my personal preferences and is not a general rule that apply for everybody. I would love to have a range of 600 miles on my motorcycle, but no stock bike I am aware of deliver that. At least none that I would like to own.
« Last Edit: January 17, 2026, 08:53:16 PM by Ncdan »
Current bikes:
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Offline yrunvs

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2026, 08:35:02 AM »
I find that the milage per tank and the milage per pee just about right on the V85tt.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2026, 08:35:50 AM by yrunvs »

Offline YellowDuck

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2026, 03:11:49 PM »
German magazine MOTORRAD have listed the bikes with the longest range on a tank of gas, and the V85 offered the most with 548 km to bone dry (340 miles) with the consumption the bike had during the test loop (4.2 liters per 100 km = 56 mpg).

I have been filling mine at 400 to 425 km because of all the warnings the bike throws up...but then it never takes more than 17 L.  The math said that it should do 500, easy.  Today I let the "trip fuel" counter thingy peg itself at 99.9 km, and also the range was showing "- - -" for a LONG time.  I finally gave in at 508 km and it took 21.2 L.  23 / 21.2 x 508 = 551, so I guess I got pretty much the same result as the Motorrad fellas. 

Strada with Puig short screen, empty Urban panniers, and just slightly heavier than average human at the helm.  Mostly travelling at about 100 km / h (indicated, so 93 km / h actual) on rural backroads.









« Last Edit: July 01, 2026, 03:14:45 PM by YellowDuck »

Offline Motormike

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2026, 03:46:35 PM »
The number one issue with the entire V85TT series is that they are ALL just too tall in the saddle for me, (*SIGH*)  :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:  At age 72, I want to plant both feet solidly on the ground... :wink:
Boy, I can relate.  I just got back from a ride in the UK on a rented Multistrada V2. A tall bike to begin with, then add all my gear and stuff, it was horribly top heavy.  I was in constant trepidation of dropping it.  Not a good feeling to have.

Online Huzo

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2026, 05:35:41 PM »
I have been filling mine at 400 to 425 km because of all the warnings the bike throws up...but then it never takes more than 17 L.  The math said that it should do 500, easy. 
There is an easy fix for that.
Search “V85 TT fuel gauge remedy”

Offline toomanybikes

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2026, 06:46:32 AM »
Thats pretty much my experience. 65-70 mph is the sweet spot. Over 70 MPGs start to drop.

Pete

Another data point. I recently did a 4 day, 800 mile trip. Day one was 230 miles on mostly back roads at 30-60 mph and I got 64 mpg. Days2-4 were 180-190 miles and had more 60-70 mph motorways. The overall mpg dropped to 58.3, including data from the first day.

Bike was mostly stock V85TT with luggage and a Puig windscreen added. Solo riding with filled bags, but not heavily loaded down.

Online faffi

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #16 on: July 04, 2026, 03:19:58 PM »
Another data point. I recently did a 4 day, 800 mile trip. Day one was 230 miles on mostly back roads at 30-60 mph and I got 64 mpg. Days2-4 were 180-190 miles and had more 60-70 mph motorways. The overall mpg dropped to 58.3, including data from the first day.

Bike was mostly stock V85TT with luggage and a Puig windscreen added. Solo riding with filled bags, but not heavily loaded down.

It takes 30% more energy to move through air at 70 mph than at 55 mph. On a level road with no headwind, most vehicles will be most efficient sitting in top gear doing around 40 mph, give or take 5. Cue lugging comments. Anyway, I am not surprised that your bike was more frugal below 60 than above.
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Offline blu guzz

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #17 on: July 05, 2026, 07:41:24 AM »
my v85 was very sensitive to speed, windscreen height and a full load of the 3 boxes. Over 70 mph, tall screen, 3 boxes, dropped to mid 40s without a headwind, with headwind, low 40s. on the other hand, the 1400 didn't seem to care.
Blue Guzz

Offline Perazzimx14

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Re: And the winner is... V85TT
« Reply #18 on: July 05, 2026, 10:05:41 AM »
my v85 was very sensitive to speed, windscreen height and a full load of the 3 boxes. Over 70 mph, tall screen, 3 boxes, dropped to mid 40s without a headwind, with headwind, low 40s. on the other hand, the 1400 didn't seem to care.

My bike (not a V85TT) is also subject to speed. 2 lane back roads I can get 53/55 MPG. Rolling down the highway at up to about 75 MPH will return MPG in the mid 40's start running 75+ and it not uncommon for the MPG to drop to the high 30's.

Adventure bikes are about as aerodynamic as a brick to begin with then hang a couple panniers and a top case off it and the coefficient of drag goes up.

Personally I don't care about fuel economy, I'm all about fuel range. Currently keeping an eye out for a 10L pannier rack mounted slave tank for the GSA to increase range to well past 400 miles per tanks.   

 

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