Does anyone do 2up on a current guzzi?

[aklawok]

 I have had my CalVin now going on 5 years and primarily ride with my gf on back. It has done quite well 2 up touring. Seat can get a little tiring after awhile and I have looked at replacing it. I also have a v- strom 650 in a different city I use too, it gets a little cramped 2 up.
Before I consider my next ride I would like to hear if anyone has some experience in that regard on some of the newer guzzis. V85tt, v100 especially, v7 not so much.
Having been a Honda man for many years I am excited about the new CB1000 too. And ( gulp!) having never so much as thrown a leg up over a Harley or Indian considering them too.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I have had a pillion on my V7 850 quite a few times. Good for short rides, but it's exactly what you would expect in that it's a better passenger experience than riding on the back of a chopper but not as comfortable as on a Gold Wing.

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. it's exactly what you would expect in that it's a better passenger experience than riding on the back of a chopper but not as comfortable as on a Gold Wing.

That describes so many bikes. 

[yrunvs]

I've owned a few cycles and have been riding two up with my wife throughout and she says (and I agree) that the V85tt is by far the best. The seat is divided by a hump she has her space and I have mine the hump along with the top box secures her in place even if I brake hard or accelerate aggressively. She says she sits at just the right height protected from wind but able to see everything. The seat (for us) is comfortable especially with the sit n fly
seat cover that circulates air under our bums. She liked the Valkyrie but loves the V85tt.

[aklawok]

I've owned a few cycles and have been riding two up with my wife throughout and she says (and I agree) that the V85tt is by far the best. The seat is divided by a hump she has her space and I have mine the hump along with the top box secures her in place even if I brake hard or accelerate aggressively. She says she sits at just the right height protected from wind but able to see everything. The seat (for us) is comfortable especially with the sit n fly
seat cover that circulates air under our bums. She liked the Valkyrie but loves the V85tt.

This is exactly the type of information I am looking for. I am 5'11" and 220 my gf is 5'1" and 135 do you suppose this would match your ergonomics?

[yrunvs]

This is exactly the type of information I am looking for. I am 5'11" and 220 my gf is 5'1" and 135 do you suppose this would match your ergonomics?

The heights are about the same, weight for the wives are the same I'm about 185lbs. The V85tt has plenty of get up and go unless you're on the freeway all day everyday. And when you need to (or want to) ride gravel or dirt it's no problem. The cycle can be self maintained and it's not overly priced. Accessories come in the train load and you can farkle your heart away if you chose. I had a Vstrom 650 before the V85tt and liked it but for two up the V85tt wins.

[Bulldog9]

My wife doesn't ride with me much anymore but our specs are about the same.

Based on my experience and observation If I were to rate the current offerings for 2 up riding.

1. V100 Stelvio
2. V100 Mandello
3. V85
4. V7

But given the longevity and durability of a Guzzi, especially if well cared for, why not go for one of the 1400 California/Eldorado series bikes, Or if two up long distance is your thing, you can't beat a Norge. I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find a nice unit in great condition. You'd save yourself a serious chunk of change in the process. IIRC, The 1400 series had traction control ride modes and cruise control. The only drawback is the curb weight compared to the other bikes.

[TN Mark]

Very few Guzzi bikes are really designed for two up riding. Short trips is one thing. An hour or more is quite another.

By far, the best two up bikes I ever had were a Honda Valkyrie Interstate and a Victory Cross Roads, (Country, Tour). The Victory Cross bikes were designed from the ground up for two. Especially the Cross Country Tour with the factory trunk. My wife and I are both heavier than you and we fit with much room to spare. I have over 150k miles on Victory Cross bikes and they’ve been 100% reliable, 100% of the time.

As an added benefit, they can be purchased at very low prices since Polaris stopped making them. Many people worry about parts. That’s a needless worry. They don’t need factory parts. Every wear item is readily available from the aftermarket.

Anyway, IMHO, to overlook a Victory Cross bike as a two up tourer is likely to result in you spending a lot more money for a lot less motorcycle.

[aklawok]

My wife doesn't ride with me much anymore but our specs are about the same.

Based on my experience and observation If I were to rate the current offerings for 2 up riding.

1. V100 Stelvio
2. V100 Mandello
3. V85
4. V7

But given the longevity and durability of a Guzzi, especially if well cared for, why not go for one of the 1400 California/Eldorado series bikes, Or if two up long distance is your thing, you can't beat a Norge. I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find a nice unit in great condition. You'd save yourself a serious chunk of change in the process. IIRC, The 1400 series had traction control ride modes and cruise control. The only drawback is the curb weight compared to the other bikes.

  I really do like the cali 1400, and my current ride is a California vintage 1100, but it is now 19 years old and I don't think it will last forever. As I live in remote Alaska bringing it down to the lower 48 is cost prohibitive ( it cost me $1100 to fly it up to Nome from Fairbanks 5 years ago ) and why I have the strom down in Anc.
What I want is to pick up something new(ish) for a fly and ride down south, possibly thru canada or to Seattle.
Well...talk is cheap, and the next best thing. All you guys are great, and I want to experience more open road than I have available to me now.
Of course, I could rent a bike too.

[TN Mark]

IMHO, if you’d like a Moto Guzzi, the CA Touring 1400 has to be one of the best options: period.

Search Moto Guzzi 1400 on YouTube. There are dozens of very positive reviews on the entire 1400 line. Literally, not a ‘bad’ review to be found. Plus, they can be had at very reasonable prices.

I’ve had a 2016 Eldorado for less than a year. I plan to never part with it. But, it’s not really a two up ride. The only 1400 version that is would be the CA Touring.

[Grabcon]

My wife and I just did a month long trip, about 6200 miles on 4 wheels. I have a motovan and haul my V85TT in the back. During that trip we logged around 2000 miles doing 2 up, no luggage accept for a top box.

Mine is a 2020 with after market suspension that came with the bike when I bought it. OEM Moto Guzzi Ohlins Rear Shock and Andreani Group Fork Cartridge Kit. My wife and I are similar yo you and your wife. I also have a factory lowered seat.

A lot of our riding was at 50 or 60 mph or less, a lot of nice back country roads. We did do a lot of on and off the bike for stops/sight seeing. We did do a couple of runs around 200 miles each way, non stop accept for fuel. My wife said the ride on the back was fine for what we did. But she also said it was no ST1100 Honda on which we did 10s of thousands of miles 2 up. For me I had no issues it was basically like normal without a pillion. MPG didn't really change and the power was fine.

My wife loads first then I get on. That is my only issue, my 73 year old body doesn't like mounting from the side and pushing my leg across. I normally ride solo and mount standing on a peg and swinging the leg over.

[SirIzak]

I have a 22 V85tt and my wife and I have put most of the 27,000 or miles on it two up with nary a complaint. Stock suspension (though adjusted preload for two up) and with the top box and a pad on there she says its the comfiest back seat she's had second to our old road couch of a 92 Goldwing, lol. She likes the height and being able to see around me, I'm nearly a foot taller than she is. I'm a bit heavy, but she makes up for it in being a featherweight, and though the V85 is no rocket I've never been left wanting for more even with a weeks worth of camping gear while two up. I have enough room up front to be comfortable, usually my knees start to bother be before anything else, and we can make it a couple hundred miles at a time on the interstate between stretch / fuel stops with nary a complaint. Is it the greatest two up machine ever? Of course not. Does it do a fantastic job, especially for what it is? Very much so! At least in my opinion, that is. Hope this helps, let me know if I can be of any other assistance.

[Utrider]

I had a 2014 Cali Touring, with the 60 liter top box and a Corbin seat. It was awesome for 2 up touring.  I now have an Indian Challenger with tour pack on it.  The Indian is perhaps a bit more comfortable, but the Guzzi had so much more spirit.  The big Guzzi 1400 is a freight train and although on a sheet of paper the Indian has quite a bit more power the way the Guzzi made the power was far superior to me.

[TN Mark]

I had a 2014 Cali Touring, with the 60 liter top box and a Corbin seat. It was awesome for 2 up touring.  I now have an Indian Challenger with tour pack on it.  The Indian is perhaps a bit more comfortable, but the Guzzi had so much more spirit.  The big Guzzi 1400 is a freight train and although on a sheet of paper the Indian has quite a bit more power the way the Guzzi made the power was far superior to me.

My Victory 106” is cammed, tuned, with intake and exhaust mods. It legitimately puts out 114 rwhp and 114 rwfttrq. Again, on paper my Victory should smoke my Eldorado 1400.

Paper and the real world don’t always align. Bella hits way above her weight class. She’s beyond impressive.

[aklawok]

the 1400 does not come up for sale very often, but if anyone in IL. Is interested, this is the only one I found. And at $9.9k seems a little high.
https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2017-Moto+Guzzi-California+1400+Touring-5040436809#sid=323519

[Stretch]

The big Cali 1400 Touring is quite comfortable 2 up, although slightly less roomy than either
the Triumph Trophy 1200 or the Rocket 3 Touring. H&B backrest and luggage rack with a
Corbin, (heated! ) seat.

                                  -Stretch

[Tusayan]

My similarly small statured wife was not happy on our V85TT.  The biggest issue was footpeg vibration (she said it was very annoying on one side) and the seat apparently wasn’t that great for her either.  Her dislike of the bike was one of several things that made me sell it.  The best thing about the V85TT for two-up touring was the three aluminum bags with liners, which are excellent if heavy.  The power was adequate for two up riding with our fairly light combined weight, just about, but you have to rev it hard and use the gearbox if you want to move.  The longest day we did on the V85TT was about 400 miles.  It never gave me a lot of satisfaction as a two up tourer and I would not recommend it for that use other than the bags.

For whatever it’s worth, the most comfortable bike we’ve ridden for my wife is our 2002 K1200RS with better GT seat but the 1992 R100GS is overall her favorite because it’s (in her words) “more fun”, and also very comfortable.  She also likes our ST4 Ducati with Sargent or Corbin seat, and we’ve taken multi-thousand mile trips on that one, with long days, and while it’s slower than the K1200RS its lighter and sportier.  The compact seating space on the ST4 does not affect her due to her size.

Newer bikes are becoming less comfortable for passengers unless they are specialized two-up touring models.

[Moparnut72]

Warning, thread drift. I thought I was the only one complaining about vibration with the 850's. My V7 in my opinion is unacceptable partially due to my sensitivity due to old age. I checked valves, installed anti-vibration risers, filled the bars with lead shot and have Grip Puppies. It is better but still not great. Ok on short rides but hours in the saddle still an unknown. Back to our regularly scheduled program.
kk

[theoneandonlymin]

You want space and comfort ?
The 8V Stelvio is top rated according to my girlfriend. Comfy seat, loads of room. Get the suspension at a sweet spot and you're rocking.

[aklawok]

 I see there is a crack in the armor of the tt! Vibration can be a killer alright. But if I wanted just a couch to munch drone miles I would be looking elsewhere. And still open if not partially opinionated. I could pick up something like this
https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/anchorage-1200-gs-bmw/tYp228V1pYJDhFFH13HytR
Relatively local but I still reasonable. I don't want to say better than a v85tt, as I have not ridden either, but as for new or current model I have ruled out the big R bikes based solely on price.

[Kildareman]

The only bike I've owned that was as good 2 up was my Tiger 800, according to my wife. The Strada is the dog's dangles 2 up. Admittedly I have a Top Sellerie (french) seat but that's primarily to help me reach the ground. It is extremely comfortable, allowing many km per day. Longest single day was 526km to the Burren and back.
From her experience on the back her last favourite bike was my VF400FD. And we travelled from Cambridge in the UK to Kilkenny in Ireland without problems, but also with her wearing a rucksack. Don't think she liked that journey! I was grand on the front though   

[steven c]

Gold Wing.