Thorn in my ride
Editor’s first ride on another great effort from Moto Guzzi takes an unwelcome turn…
THE FIRST RIDE on a new bike is always special. We’ve just got a Moto Guzzi V85TT on long term loan, but its maiden outing is a mundane 90-mile waft down the A1 to North London. Hard to please Mrs W is coming along for the ride. We strap a decent sized roll bag to the funky tubular rack and the 80bhp, ohv V-twin tugs us southwards at a decent pace. It’s indicating an average of 52mpg and the easy to use cruise control is a good thing on tedious stretches of speed restricted road works, but there’s a fair amount of wind noise, generated by the low screen. Michelin Anakees, running inner tubes on spoked wheels, give decent feel on the roundabouts that are provided to enliven the ride. It slices through London traffic too.
The return ride didn’t last long. A glowing fuel light suggested a stop to refill the 23-litre tank (though it only took 16.33 litres to brim it). After paying for the petrol I discover the back tyre is flat, thanks to an innocuous looking thorn. Time to utilise my newly acquired AA card. Sitting in the garage forecourt, waiting for the AA, gives Mrs W the chance to pass on her opinion on the Guzzi; ‘it’s comfy, I like the seat shape and I like the rack and the grab rails, but I’m feeling the heat from the exhaust on my leg and the footrests are very wide apart. I’m prepared to consider a longer journey.’ This is high praise.
Within 40 minutes Howard arrives in a yellow AA Transit van, and my heart sinks. I was hoping for immediate relay, not to have someone confirm that, on a Sunday evening the tubed tyre couldn’t be fixed. But, in the back of the van is an impressive fold-out, transformer style trailer, so that a couple of hours later we’re back in Peterborough. I’m impressed.