Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel
Guzzi raid the extras cupboard for their latest version of Bike favourite, with mixed results…
Moto Guzzi’s V85 TT drips in quirky charm and suave confidence. It’s something you feel on every ride – something every bit as special as a GS’S sophistication, a Ténéré’s greater green-lane skills or a KTM’S acceleration. The V85 isn’t trying to be the fastest adventure bike, nor the lightest, the smartest or the muckiest. As a result, it’s perhaps the coolest. But the laid-back character that sets the V85 aside from the rest of the adventure-world appears to have rubbed off a little too much on the folk behind this new ‘Travel’ version. This isn’t a big-tanked touring update, nor a crash-bars-and-knobblies off-road relative. Instead, it’s simply a V85 TT with a list of bits from Guzzi’s accessories catalogue and a one-off paintscheme. Let’s charitably call it a chilled-out approach to bike development…
That’s no bad thing when it comes to the fundamentals. There’s the same 853cc air-cooled V-twin with the same two-valve heads and same aluminium pushrods. It’s still the heart and soul of the bike from the moment it chugs and blusters into life, gently rocking the bike at tickover to the beat of its throaty exhaust note. It’s lumpier than a BMW boxer, but more refined than a Harley. Performance lies between leisurely and brisk. The delivery’s undemanding but unhurried, with a flat torque curve from 4000rpm upwards. It revs past the indicated redline to 8000rpm, but even screaming its head off – which doesn’t feel right given the rest of the bike – there’s only 79bhp, of which less than 70 reaches the tyre. It holds a decent pace on an open road, but don’t expect immediate any-gear roll-on shunt. Think V-strom 650 rather than 1050 and expectations will be suitably managed.
Guzzi haven’t touched the V85’s chassis either, so it still steers with ease and accuracy, while the suspension gives remarkable ride quality. It’s soft but controlled – the way it seamlessly soaks up lumps and bumps tells you it’s been developed by road riders, not national-level racers or motocross loons. But it’s still not a light bike. With its 23-litre fuel tank brimmed, this Travel tips our digital scales at 254kg. That’s measured with a pair of plastic panniers fitted, but that’s only fair given they come with the Travel. On a standard V85 TT they, plus their mounting kit, add £841. There’s 37 litres of storage on the right side, which is enough for a full-face lid, but a miniscule 27.5 litres on the left, where it wraps around the silencer. Needing the ignition key every time you want to open each box irritates too. Other standard-fit extras include a Touring windshield (normally £183), which is markedly taller and wider than the standard bike’s screen, offering 60% more surface area to shelter behind. Heated grips (normally £216) are a mixed blessing. They integrate cleanly, operate with a button already on the left-hand switchgear, and their heat level is shown by an icon on the TFT dash. But on full power they get just warm-ish, not Bmw-spec inferno. There’s also a pair of LED spotlights (normally £239), which help supplement the headlight. Finally, the Travel has Moto Guzzi’s MIA multimedia platform thingamibob (normally £128), which lets your phone talk to the dash via Bluetooth, allowing the display to show turn-by-turn sat-nav directions. Those with enough fingers and toes will have added up over £1600-worth of official extras. Given the list price of the Travel is just £900 more than the V85 TT Premium, or £1100 over the standard model, that sounds like a bargain. If you already like the V85 TT, already want all these extras and the Travel’s sand-coloured paintscheme pleases, you’re quids in. However, recently Colchester Kawasaki were offering pre-reg V85s for £8999. That’s £3000 less than this Travel, which buys a huge pile of whatever aftermarket extras you like – including, perhaps, some larger luggage and some hotter grips.
‘The V85 isn’t trying to be the fastest adventure bike, nor the muckiest. As a result, it’s perhaps the coolest’