V85 TT Merged Threadfest

[kingoffleece]

Don't discount how easy the Guzzi is to service.
For example, it looks like an hour just to GET to the Africa Twin valves.  Just sayin.............. ..

[Muzz]

Funny thing your statement is true for most Honda...

Love Honda to pieces for its awesome reliability but at the same time they turn into a bore after a while on the saddle...

I have owned a few Hondas. The steppys were fun.  The CB100 was an awesome commuter bike. The CB 250 RS I have cruised at 130km/hr and a barrel of laughs in the twisties.  The GB400 might not have been powerful but boy it was quick in the tight turns.

Perhaps it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow... <shrug>

[TimmyTheHog]

I have owned a few Hondas. The steppys were fun.  The CB100 was an awesome commuter bike. The CB 250 RS I have cruised at 130km/hr and a barrel of laughs in the twisties.  The GB400 might not have been powerful but boy it was quick in the tight turns.

Perhaps it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow... <shrug>

Oh no doubt there are some fun ones, therefore, I said "most".

I had fun on my brother's Monkey, my friend's older CB and some of the trial bikes...and yes, it is fun to ride slow bike fast than a fast bike slow :)

Also When it comes to the newer stuff like the new CB1100...great on paper with all the specs, but I just can't get myself into it my buddy and I traded bikes one weekend...

or the NC750 (I know it has a DCT) before I bought the V7...it checked literally all the boxes as I was looking for a mid size CC touring/street bike, but again, I just can't feel the vibe...

Maybe I am getting pickier as years go on...

[steven c]

Sign up for a test ride.
http://discoverv85.motoguzzi.com/en/#testride

[Trialsman]

Done!  I filled it out even though mine is to be the first one that comes in anyway.  A step in the right direction.

[Beowulf]

Im loving this bike. This may be my next bike. Ive ridden Hondas. They are not bad. But ive seen some bad mechanical failures on Hondas, Yamahas, suzukis, to name a few. I put more stock in proper maitenance and upkeep than brand. Moto Guzzi wins in my book for easy maitenance, quality and fun. Im thinking wait a year for a preloved V85. I may not be able to wait though. I think in the looks department the Honda africa twin loses to Guzzi.

[leafman60]

Has anyone seen a torque number for the V85?? 

.

[JJ]

Almost there.

All the specs should be present with the roll out in Europe in November.
Lots of debate about HPWR at the rear wheel.
Weight less than 450
Price $ 12,700 USD at current rate

I’d like to know seat height :)

1. $12,700 MSRP is certainly better than $14,000

2. I believe I read the SEAT HEIGHT is 30.5 inches

[JJ]

A group of my rider friends here were discussing factors with any of the new Adventure bike models, and we all agreed, especially out West where one has to occasionally flog it on the "Super Slab"...the bike needs to run at 75-80 mph comfortably, without straining the engine, and for hours.

[kingoffleece]

Yep,  that's some BIG country out there.
I hope to join it in two years time.

[roadscum]

A group of my rider friends here were discussing factors with any of the new Adventure bike models, and we all agreed, especially out West where one has to occasionally flog it on the "Super Slab"...the bike needs to run at 75-80 mph comfortably, without straining the engine, and for hours.

My Vespa 300 has done that, my V7 III will run 85-90 all day, been there done that, worry not! 

Paul

[rdbandkab]

Speaking of bikes that need to do 75-80 for a stretch.
Always wanted to buy a bike from the Cali coastal area and ride it back to West Virginia.  That would clean my biking bucket list up a bit.   
1.  Stopping in Denver to ride up Mt. Evans - 14200 ft (give or take).
2.  Highway 1.
3.  Go west middle age man. (if I live to be just over 100)
4.  Hit some classic routes on the way home.  Lincoln Highway (easy enough, goes right through here), Rt50, Rt66....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Has anyone seen a torque number for the V85?? 

.

https://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-v85-segreti-motore-intervista-cappellini-70088

80 nm @ 3400 rpms.

[Bulldog9]

Interesting conversation regarding chain VS shaft. I've had with few exceptions, shaft drives on my motorcycles and far prefer them for the low maintenance and attention. Annual flud change, maybe a shot of grease in a zert, that's it. I have a 78 xs 750 and 79 xs 1100 with well over 100-125k miles with nothing but lube changes.

Yes some parasitic loss of power, yes, some chassis dynamics, but I hated the sound and attention chains demanded. YMMV..... But I'll never own a chain drive again.

[bad Chad]

My dads 73 BMW 750/5 would run all day at 80 as happy as a kitten.

[Huzo]

Im loving this bike. This may be my next bike. Ive ridden Hondas. They are not bad. But ive seen some bad mechanical failures on Hondas, Yamahas, suzukis, to name a few. I put more stock in proper maitenance and upkeep than brand. Moto Guzzi wins in my book for easy maitenance, quality and fun. Im thinking wait a year for a preloved V85. I may not be able to wait though. I think in the looks department the Honda africa twin loses to Guzzi.

Good common sense, but help the brand and buy a new one.

[JohninVT]

My Vespa 300 has done that, my V7 III will run 85-90 all day, been there done that, worry not! 

Paul

I spent ten days in Montana in August and did a lot of sight seeing.  The West is.....VAST.  That's the best word I can use to describe it.  It's also really high in altitude.  The average elevation in Montana is 3,400'.  It's 6,800' in Colorado.  There are over 80 paved roads in Colorado that go above 6,000'.  The average elevation above sea level in Florida is 100'.  I really, really like the V7III(especially the blue Special) but I'm not convinced you'd run 85-90mph all day at 5-8,000' elevation.  If you accept the dyno charts on the internet a V7III has 47-48hp at the wheel. That's at sea level.  It would have about 40hp at 5,000' and about 35hp at 8,000.  That's close to what an old Honda CB350 had and neither of the two CB350's I owned would run 85-90 all day.  You need twice that hp to maintain 80mph out there and that's right where the V85TT is going to come in at.   

I think of the V85TT as an Italian, high spec 650 V-Strom.  That's a good thing as the Wee is one of the all time great ADV bikes.     

[grebmrof]

I find it slightly funny that with the beauty of the V85's fit & finish and the overall look, that they slap that cheap silver plastic eagle on the tank.  Looks like a misplaced wart on a beautiful girl.  It perhaps would look much better with large GUZZI lettering on each side of the tank.  Oh well, easy enough to take off.  I am sure some others out there love the look of the little silver eagle.  Nits...

[Kev m]

Yeah F chains, belt or shaft any day for me.

https://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-v85-segreti-motore-intervista-cappellini-70088

80 nm @ 3400 rpms.

That's a respectable 59 ft lbs!

Not bad.


John, hp may go down at altitude, but so does wind resistance. It's not 1:1, but it closes the gap.

Honestly I think my V7 with 40 screaming Italian ponies at the wheel will run 75-80 for hours at sea level.

I know Jenn's Duc with power similar to what claimed is on the V85 will without breaking a sweat.

So I'm thinking this would be fine. And with respect to the other comparisons you and I mentioned I believe the V85 has more torque to boot.

[kingoffleece]

I prefer to listen to my V7.  While it's capable and has run at 80 it's sweet spot is about 8mph under that.  The entire bike just settles in there.  Makes more sense to me that a number for a number's sake.

[Kev m]

I prefer to listen to my V7.  While it's capable and has run at 80 it's sweet spot is about 8mph under that.  The entire bike just settles in there.  Makes more sense to me that a number for a number's sake.

Don't get me wrong, I don't really consider my V7 to be a highway bike and definitely think there are better tools for the job.

But on the rare occasion I wear earplugs and a FF the highway seems more effortless than I previously would have thought.

I was out flogging it earlier this week. I found myself about 45 minutes from home with less than 30 to get there in time for the school bus and wicked it up (and made it with 4-5 minutes to spare).

I came up on a Harley who felt the need to wick it up and start passing traffic when he saw me closing. He was hammering it on the straights and pulling away from me till around 80-90, at which point he was running out of steam or desire.

I finally passed him near the ton and dipped into a sweeper I usually take around 70 without effort. He ran way wide and suddenly started dropping back.

I didn't see him again.

I got to my baby girl's bus stop in time.

The V7 felt like it took it all in stride, though I admit it would have been MORE effortless on our other bikes, especially the Duc.

[Vagrant]

I find it slightly funny that with the beauty of the V85's fit & finish and the overall look, that they slap that cheap silver plastic eagle on the tank.  Looks like a misplaced wart on a beautiful girl.  It perhaps would look much better with large GUZZI lettering on each side of the tank.  Oh well, easy enough to take off.  I am sure some others out there love the look of the little silver eagle.  Nits...

Yes you loose passing power in Co. but it will run 80-90 all day long on any road there. Yess I've done it! and at 65-70 MPG because of the altitude.

[Chuck in Indiana]

But on the rare occasion I wear earplugs and a FF the highway seems more effortless

Kev.. I'm tellin ya.. you are going to be sorry down the road. Ask Wayne..
Wear hearing protection, dammit..

[Kev m]

Kev.. I'm tellin ya.. you are going to be sorry down the road. Ask Wayne..
Wear hearing protection, dammit..

Thanks and I do HEAR you, no pun intended.

Fwiw I'm 25+ years into riding mostly without plugs or a FF and I suspect my experience is largely because I tend to ride behind a windshield more often than not, but I am aware of the potential hazard.

[egschade]

Thanks and I do HEAR you, no pun intended.

Fwiw I'm 25+ years into riding mostly without plugs or a FF and I suspect my experience is largely because I tend to ride behind a windshield more often than not, but I am aware of the potential hazard.

The ringing in my ears started roughly 10 years ago - after about 30 years of riding. Not saying it's coming but by the time I realized I had damaged my hearing it was too late. Wearing plugs for anything over my 30 mph commute had kept things from getting worse. Running my big windshield does cut the noise but most of my big miles were on big touring rigs with full fairings and windscreens and it still happened. I think all we're saying is the ounce of prevention line...

[egschade]

Don't get me wrong, I don't really consider my V7 to be a highway bike and definitely think there are better tools for the job.

But on the rare occasion I wear earplugs and a FF the highway seems more effortless than I previously would have thought

I've slabbed the V7 III at 75-80 mph and it handles that speed with plenty of reserve - more than I recall the earlier V7 models having so the new heads do help in the upper 30% of the rev range. Like you though, I think the bike is more suited for 40-60 mph two lanes. Wouldn't want to really attack them like I could on the Griso but I really don't ride that way anymore and find the V7 a much more versatile ride. If the V85 isn't too much heavier and brings better suspension along with the added HP then I will be really tempted to upgrade.

[pete roper]

I spent ten days in Montana in August and did a lot of sight seeing.  The West is.....VAST.  That's the best word I can use to describe it.  It's also really high in altitude.  The average elevation in Montana is 3,400'.  It's 6,800' in Colorado.  There are over 80 paved roads in Colorado that go above 6,000'.  The average elevation above sea level in Florida is 100'.  I really, really like the V7III(especially the blue Special) but I'm not convinced you'd run 85-90mph all day at 5-8,000' elevation.  If you accept the dyno charts on the internet a V7III has 47-48hp at the wheel. That's at sea level.  It would have about 40hp at 5,000' and about 35hp at 8,000.  That's close to what an old Honda CB350 had and neither of the two CB350's I owned would run 85-90 all day.  You need twice that hp to maintain 80mph out there and that's right where the V85TT is going to come in at.   

I think of the V85TT as an Italian, high spec 650 V-Strom.  That's a good thing as the Wee is one of the all time great ADV bikes.   

John, back in 2004 I rode my Convert all over the USA. A 'Vert makes at the very best 48 HP on a good day at close to sea level. I rode at some fairly high elevations and never buggered about with the jetting but it was always happy to cruise at 80 on the flat with more to come if needed and this was while carting my largeness, two rubber chickens, a shit-tonne of tools I never used and camping and traveling equipment for six or seven weeks!

The idea that modern motorbike, even one producing what I expect to be at the very best mid sixties  HP, using even vaguely accurate AP compensation for altitude wont be able to lumber along at a similar velocity, (As long as they haven't completely screwed up the gearing!) is bonkers!

Look, I have no great hopes or fears for the V85, I certainly won't be buying one! But the ability to cruise at any altitude in the US on a road that will allow it at 80mph just shouldn't be in the equation.

Pete

[twowheeladdict]

A group of my rider friends here were discussing factors with any of the new Adventure bike models, and we all agreed, especially out West where one has to occasionally flog it on the "Super Slab"...the bike needs to run at 75-80 mph comfortably, without straining the engine, and for hours.

My KLX250S would run a true 65 with me and backpack all day long.  I would think the V85 would be loping along at those speeds.

[pyoungbl]

I may have missed this but...is that gas tank metal?  If plastic I'd be cautious.  After a couple Stelvio tanks, a couple Norge tanks, and a FEW Multistrada tanks I'm over that particular experiment.

Peter Y.

[jdgretz]

Me too - looking forward to trying one out.

jdg