Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel
It’s got the least performance and the most weight, but the Guzzi’s also bloody good at making you feel all gooey and smug
When first introduced to writing road tests for a motorcycle magazine you’re presented with The Master Book of Motorcycling Clichés. It’s full of all the favourites about wooden brakes, how the controls fall into your hands and keeping up with sportsbikes in the twisties (it’s a tome which some journalists and writers seem to mistakenly use as their how-to-write guide). There’s also one in there about how Italian motorbikes have lashings of character.
Except that if you go for a decent ride on the Guzzi V85 it’s nigh-on impossible to accurately describe what it’s like without mentioning the C-word. It isn’t from trying to pass off any shortcomings or annoyances by calling them character – we’re not talking about the quirks of a 1986 Ducati Paso or a finicky MV Agusta from the early 2000s. It’s because the V85 has a unique dynamic and distinct feel. It connects with its rider more than the other bikes, is the one that feels most like some sort of living, breathing device.
‘It’s got a character the Triumph simply hasn’t,’ reckons Nathan. ‘The Tiger’s very capable but feels a bit too “meh” where the Guzzi always feels like you’ve got something interesting under you. Its sound and feel just make you grin. It’s so pleasing to ride.’
This isn’t something you notice immediately, however. Instead, what you first spot about the Guzzi is that it feels low and heavy, has weighty levers and vibrates like one of those whacker plates you use to compress hardcore. Its switchgear is unique, and appears to have its buttons and controls in unusual places for the sheer hell of it. There are obvious adventure-bike elements, but with its low seat, sat
‘The Guzzi’s sound and feel just make you grin, it’s so pleasing to ride’
in stance and pulled-back ’bars the V85 feels more like a ho-hum roadster than an inspiring globe-trotter.
Feed out the clutch, sample the softly-softly delivery of the 853cc, two-valves-per-cylinder, 75bhp air-cooled V-twin, and you realise the Guzzi isn’t the most thrilling machine either. With the shortest rev range and a substantial 230kg wet weight, its the slowest-revving bike here and has the lowest power-to-weight ratio. Wheelies? Yeah, right. Thing is, we’re not scrabbling off through the forests or fording any rock-strewn rivers. We’re doing what most owners do – heading away for a couple of days riding on great roads – and the further we get into our sunny Welsh exploration the more we fall for the Guzzi’s charms. It may resonate at idle but as soon as you pull away the V-twin is silky smooth with beautiful manners. The gearbox is great too – it drops into first inaudibly and with barely any sense of engagement, swaps ratios cleanly, but gives a wonderful sense of there being giant levers, dogs and shafts making huge movements somewhere inside.
But its chassis is the highlight. Quietly sneaking into this gaggle of 21-inchers with its 19-inch front wheel, the V85 could never be called quick steering but rolls into turns with measured ease, surprising accuracy and pleasing road-holding. It’s not sharp, but it’s definitely fun. And the Guzzi’s suspension is wonderful too. It’s not just got the best ride quality of the bunch, but some of the best I’ve ever sampled.
There’s adjustment for preload and rebound at both ends, but I can’t imagine why you’d ever stray from the magical standard set-up. ‘My first ride was in the mountains and it didn’t inspire me, but the run we’ve just done over the hills on the B4391 shows it’s a stunning road bike,’ froths Nathan. ‘For covering ground at a decent pace, in the flow, it’s a delight. The V-twin is gruntier than you think, and it handles just as well as the Tiger, if not better. You sit lower and the ’pegs feel lower, and because it turns and drops in super-easy your toes touch down – it made me jump at first but then I was just smiling. It’s fun.’ Greatness continues on the M54, clogged M6 and A14. This is the Travel version with a larger screen (plus panniers, centrestand, heated grips, tyre monitoring), and miles slip by effortlessly as the V-twin purrs and the suspension… er, suspends. You breeze along noting the quality of the fixtures and fittings, the sense of class. Nathan again: ‘On motorways it’s super-comfy. The ’bars, seat and ’pegs are spot on.’ Yes, the V85 feels a bit different and needs time to acclimatise. But for doing the practical, usable adventure-bike thing without being same-same it’s capable, characterful and compelling. List for this Travel spec is £12,500, but Guzzi have been offering a trade-in bonus that slashes £750 off and makes the classy pannier-shod twin less than the Yam and almost £2k less than the Triumph. ‘For long trips,’ says Nathan, ‘I’d take the V85 over the Tiger every time.’