In honour of a long-standing partnership with the Italian President’s security, Cuirassiers Regiment, Moto Guzzi has unveiled the limited edition V85 TT Guardia d’Honore.
Presented to the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, the special bike sports a gloss black livery with white accents painted at the front mudguard, fuel tank, side panels and windscreen.
The V85 TT Guardia d’Honore also features a taller windscreen, a centre stand, engine guard and auxiliary LED lights.
Customers can also get their hands on model-specific side panniers.
According to Moto Guzzi, there are only 1,946 units available with each bike will have the unit number engraved on the handlebar riser.
Nevertheless, the V85 TT Guardia d’Honore continue to make 80hp @ 7,750rpm and 80Nm @ 5,000rpm from the 853cc transverse V-Twin air-cooled engine.
All modern electronics including traction control, TFT display also available as standard.
Superstar Ewan McGregor is the new Moto Guzzi V85TT ambassador.
He agreed to promote the bike only after testing and liking it.
McGregor is a long-time Moto Guzzi fan.
Superstar Ewan McGregor is the new Moto Guzzi V85TT ambassador.
The V85TT surprised us at how good it was to ride and has plenty of charm. But it wasn’t only us who liked the bike. Sales in Italy, France, Germany and the UK have surpassed expectations. Heck, it even surprised Moto Guzzi and Piaggio brass, so much so that production couldn’t keep up with demand.
Back to the story, Ewan McGregor is made the ambassador because he likes the bike. Product endorsements by celebrities is one thing but McGregor agreed to promote the V85TT on one caveat: That he has to ride the bike and like it first. And he did.
McGregor took part in the bike’s launch in southern Sicily, Italy and rode through all sorts of terrains.
It wasn’t the first instance of the actor’s involvement with Moto Guzzi, however. He had liked the brand for a long time. He stopped by at the manufacturer’s HQ in Madello del Lario at the shores of Lake Como in the middle of his road trip in the “Long Way Down.” He also took part in the 2013 launch of the California 1400 in Australia.
Does this mean McGregor will ride the Moto Guzzi V85TT, while his friend and partner Charlie Boorman will ride the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx/XCa (Boorman is Triumph’s ambassador) in the upcoming sequel to “Long Way Down”?
We rode the 2019 Moto Guzzi V85TT at the Asia Pacific Media Launch.
The route chosen included wide expressways, country roads and off-road.
Read more below for the conclusion.
We sat down with Michele Livi, the Head of Research and Development, Asia Pacific 2 Wheeler for the Piaggio Group on the morning after our ride on the 2019 Moto Guzzi V85TT.
I have long held a gut instinct that building dual-purpose bikes is actually more difficult than creating a fire-breathing superbike like the Aprilia RSV4. That’s because superbikes have one function: To go fast on the straights and in corners, and ultimately win races. Comfort? Secondary, if at all. Touring? Forget about it.
Livi confirmed it when I asked him the question, “Which is harder to develop?”
You see, according to Moto Guzzi, they designed the V85TT in order to fit 95% of riders of all sizes and riding skills. Besides that, the bike must be capable for all sorts of riding conditions – hence the “TT” prefix which stands for Tutto Terreno (all terrain in Italian). And oh, don’t forget Guzzi’s DNA in terms of styling, engine choice, dynamics and emotions.
However, there is another important point which the factory stated.
It used to be that manufacturers produce motorcycles that they know are good and are definitely good, but they aren’t exactly what riders want. Thus, the V85TT signifies the first venture for the manufacturer to provide a product to riders’ wishes out there.
Those were exactly the objectives at stake when we headed out from Baba’s Beach Club at Phang Nga, Thailand for the Asia Pacific Media Launch.
Riding the Moto Guzzi V85TT
At 830 mm high, the seat was pretty low and manageable for a dual-sport motorcycle. So, for the 167cm guy in me, the midsection was narrow for my feet to reach the ground comfortably, yet just wide enough for the knees to clamp the sides of the tank easily.
The wide, tapered handlebar reached out to the rider’s arms instead of needing the rider to stretch forward akin to hugging a tree trunk. The top of the fuel tank was low to avoid a top-heavy feel.
Line of sight forward was equally good, with the screen disappearing beneath the helmet’s chinbar. The TFT screen was easy to read, providing the necessary data within a single glance, despite the bike being new to us.
The engine fired up with the characteristic 90o V-Twin rumble and kicked the bike to the left. Yes, the trademark Guzzi swing was still there.
With three riding modes offered, we chose ROAD for the trip ahead.
The vibrations and rocking from engine disappeared as soon as the bike started rolling. The transmission shifted positively without needing us to second-guess.
The V85TT’s rider-friendly character showed itself within 10 minutes down the road. It was light on its feet and direction changes were accomplished easily. The suspension may be simple since it has few adjustments, but it didn’t bother the chassis when we ran over bumps and potholes.
Further up the road, we started encountering sweeping corners. One by one, we arced into them like a line of dominos. Thailand’s roads are notoriously slippery even when dry, but the suspension kept the tyres’ contact patches securely matched to the road surface. Never once did the tyres let go.
We soon began riding into the Thai countryside, passing small groups of houses along the way. The road became narrower and bumpier. Still, the bike kept the tyres hooked up and snapping over with a touch of steering input.
The engine on the other hand, purred on when we cruised but became louder as we wound on the power, instead of getting busier. Moto Guzzi chose widely-spaced ratios for the transmission to ride a wave of torque anywhere in the rev range. It turns at only 4,000 RPM at 110 km/h in sixth gear.
I detected no shaft jacking (lifting the rear) when the throttle was cracked open in the corners. The new cardan shaft played a large roll in this. Being lighter means less inertia, allowing torque to be transferred smoothly to the rear wheel. Also, the manufacturer did the correct thing of connecting the rear shock to the shaft assembly, thereby controlling the shaft from jacking.
However, the bike lifted slightly in left-hand corners while dropping into righthand corners due the crankshaft’s inertia. But the sensation was almost undetectable unless you’re really fixated on it.
Off-road riding
We headed to the hot spring in Plai Phu. We had to ride off-road and cross a stream to get there.
I left the ride mode in ROAD mode to see how it fared off-road. It turned out to be a bad idea as the engine control unit detected low traction and the wheels hopping off rocks, hence started to cut power. It also turned the rear brake disc blackish…
Still, everyone crossed the stream and up the far bank safely. I was on the Grey standard-coloured bike so it had Metzeler Tourance tyres. Yet it still managed the off-road section really well. Those on the Sahara Yellow (special colour along with Kalahari Red) bikes were shod with Michelin Anakee IIs and they fared even better.
The weather became too hot at this point, so no one participated in cooking eggs in the hot spring. We took a few photos and hopped back on our bikes. I switched the ride mode to OFF-ROAD. A warning lit up on the TFT screen to warn that the rear wheel’s ABS has been deactivated.
Now the throttle response was different – much smoother, in fact, to provide a steady flow of torque and power. I splashed through the stream again and let the engine’s torque haul the bike up the sand back. Done. No drama.
Changing ride modes was easy. With the engine on and throttle off, tap the starter button once and tap again to switch modes. Roll the throttle back on and voila, it’s activated. You can do so with the bike stationary or moving.
On the road again
We kept riding as the sun beat down on us with relentless rays of fire, threatening to turn us into khai yang (marinated grilled chicken). We kept riding and we could see that the heat was taking a toll on some riders as they started making mistakes. However, our limbs and buttocks didn’t hurt because the bike had become almost transparent at this point. We only concentrated on the road ahead, rather than having to coax the bike in some manner – and we were truly thankful for this.
We started encountering roads with dried mud and dirt smeared across them but again, the bike just rolled on as is they weren’t there. The road kept throwing surprises at us in the form of large potholes, covered over potholes, ripples, bumps… but the suspension held its composure like Captain America throughout the movie.
Finally, we reached the Sametnangshe Viewpoint where we were treated to a breathtaking view of the Phang Nga bay and the outcrops of little islands. It started to rain heavily but everyone was eager to keep riding. No one complained when the call came to get ready. No one moaned. No one grumbled. This was a sure sign of riding a good bike. The Thais say dïmãk (very good).
We stopped again at the Pak Phra Beach, a few kilometres away from the Sarasin Bridge. That little road we road on was strewn with fallen twigs, dried leaves and a loose gravel surface. I thought it’ll be a struggle since the heat and humidity had drawn out the last of my strength. But I was surprised to find that it was incredibly easy on the bike.
Back at the Baba Beach Club’s parking lot, everyone was impressed by the V85TT and how easy it was to ride. Even the grumpiest among us, myself included was still full of pep after riding nearly 260 km under the sun. We could still kid around to hearty roars of laughter.
It actually felt a little sad to leave the bike behind.
Conclusion
So, how did the Moto Guzzi V85TT fare?
As for the target of being able to fit 95% of the riders, the motojournalists present that day ranged from 162cm to 188cm, had different bodyweights and riding skills. Not one complained about being cramped or being difficult to ride. This means that the bike opens the Moto Guzzi brand to a whole range of riders, instead of those who are only into heritage.
Despite producing “just” 80 hp and 80 Nm of torque, the engine was truly flexible, and we couldn’t use all that power in the real world, anyway. Instead, what was important was how the power was fed in and how it tapers off when we went off the throttle.
To be succinct, Moto Guzzi got it right. It’s even more impressive when you remember that Guzzi is the “heritage” arm of the Piaggio group and this is their first dual-sport for more than twenty-years and their first middleweight dual-sport.
“Does this mean other manufacturers need to raise the alarm with the launch of the V85 TT?,” I asked Gianluca Fiume, the Chairman and General Director of Piaggio Vietnam.
“The not scared about us yet. But let’s hope to scare them as soon as possible,” he replied with a smile. “The emotions given by our brands is incomparable.”
Well answered. Because Moto Guzzi will use the bike as a platform for other such bikes.
So, the 2019 Moto Guzzi V85TT is a very important bike for the manufacturer. But it doesn’t stop here as it’s also a very important motorcycle for the middleweight dual-sport market and every rider like you and me.
The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT was unveiled to the Asian Pacific Media tonight (Monday).
The bike represents the company’s re-entry into the dual-purpose segment.
While it encompasses the company’s DNA, it’s a modern bike throughout.
The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT made (huge) waves since its launch. We were looking forward to its launch in Malaysia but received something even better: Attending the Asia Pacific Media Launch in Phang Nga, Thailand.
Before going further, Moto Guzzi did enter the Dakar Rally and Baja Rally many decades ago, but there was hardly any news about their involvement.
Those bikes were painted in yellow and white plus another in red and white. That is why the V85 TT includes two special paint schemes apart from three standard colours.
Anyway, listening to Moto Guzzi’s executives’ presentation made us realize that the manufacturer is also very excited (and hopeful) in introducing this model. To Italians, it would be described as passione (passion).
The bike is an entry into the middleweight dual-purpose segment. However, since Moto Guzzi is the “heritage” arm of the Piaggio Group, the V85TT gets a retro dual-purpose treatment.
The new bike’s heritage extends all the way back to the 1962 Lodola Regolarita, 1985 V65 TT Vestiti Baja, 1996 Quota 1000 and Stelvio 1200. Thus, the manufacturer describes the V85 TT as a dual-purpose with the Moto Guzzi’s DNA and identity.
However, rather than build an off-road-centric bike, the V85 TT was designed to be an all-rounder to fulfill the rolls of a tourer, leisure-bike, sporty bike and commuter. As such, the “TT” moniker means tutto terreno, Italian for all-terrain. (No, not that dude in Fast & Furious.)
But it is a modern bike throughout.
The electronics include three rides modes: Road, Rain and Off-Road (turns off the rear wheel’s ABS). There is also cruise control. The dash display uses a 5.3-inch TFT screen which looks shared with Aprilia. Lighting is LED all-around.
The engine is an 853cc, air-cooled, 90-degree transverse V-Twin which produces 80 hp (CV) at 7,750 RPM and 80 Nm of torque at 5,000 RPM. It’s adopted from the company’s V9 but has a different tune. Being a dual-sport, Moto Guzzi tuned the engine for a flat torque curve for better tractability rather than all-out horsepower. Other updates include titanium intake valves, a 30% lighter crankshaft, dual scavenging oil pumps. The pushrods are aluminium, actuated by roller tappets.
As for the chassis, the frame is made of steel tubes. The front suspension is adjustable for rebound only, while the rear piggyback shock is adjustable for preload and rebound. The front brakes consist of four-piston Brembo calipers.
Moto Guzzi was eager to highlight the engine’s efficiency, in terms of fuel savings. The 23-litre fuel tank is claimed to provide more than 400 kilometres of riding.
In a nutshell, the bike gives Moto Guzzi a dual-purpose/adventure-tourer after the discontinuation of the Stelvio 1200.
The bike looks handsome and much better up-close than in pictures. Stay tuned for our riding impression and full review.
The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure’s price has been revealed in America.
The V85 TT is full of features to rival other bikes in the category.
It is aggressively priced among its rivals.
The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT is the Italian firm’s foray into the still-expanding adventure market. Teased earlier and finally officially launched at INTERMOT this year. There is much enthusiasm for it since.
There are not much other details since then. However, we just learned that Moto Guzzi has revealed the V85 TT’s price in the United States of America.
Priced aggressively, it starts at USD 11,990 (RM 50,202.13) MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) for the grey paint option. On the other hand, the V85 TT Adventure, complete with red/yellow/white paint and panniers retails for USD 12,990 (RM 54,389.13).
Those are prices in the States, of course. Both bikes will be available in the US from May 2019. We will get confirmation if and when it will appear here.
The Moto Guzzi V85 TT is chock-full of features. Its new 850cc, 90oV-Twin engine produces 80 bhp and 80 Nm of torque.
That price includes a TFT screen, LED lighting, Cornering ABS, traction control, and three riding modes. The suspension is fully adjustable with 170mm travel up front. Moto Guzzi claims the 21-litre fuel tank can return a range of up to 402 kilometres. The bike weighs in at 208 kg, dry.
Looks like the middleweight adventure market wars is heating up!
Moto Guzzi has formally launched the V85 TT at Intermot.
The bike uses an all-new 850cc engine.
Moto Guzzi also unveiled the bike in a new colour.
Yes, yes, we’ve seen many pictures of the Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure bike, but you know what? We love it. Moto Guzzi has finally and officially unveiled it at the Intermot show after many months of “leaked” photos and patent filings.
Moto Guzzi has also added a new colour to the model during the launch, together with aluminium side and top cases.
Apart from that the exciting news is the engine. The transversely-mounted 850cc 90o V-Twin may seem like the one powering the V9 line-up, but it is actually all-new. It features a lighter crankshaft, bigger fuel intakes, bigger valves and pistons with shorter skirts. The changes bring power output to 80 bhp compared to the V9’s 55 bhp.
News is the new serves as a platform for future Moto Guzzi models.
The engine is mounted in the steel tube trellis frame as a stressed member for “exceptional stiffness” (according to Moto Guzzi).
The rear suspension is mounted asymmetrically since the swingarm/driveshaft housing is also asymmetrical on the right side of the bike, which makes it easier to reach the fully-adjustable shock’s settings. The front suspension consists of fully adjustable upside-down forks. There should be plenty of suspension travel, judging from the photos – good for some off-road trail riding.
Moto Guzzi says that the V85 TT is as much function as there is much form. The design harks back to the heady days of the Paris-Dakar Rally in the 80’s when large capacity bikes ruled the dunes of north Africa. The manufacturer also claims that the bike is instilled with lightness, agility and true off-road capabilities.
We do hope to see it on our shores soon. The Moto Guzzi V85 TT should be able to ride the adventure-touring wave if it proves to be any good.
The Moto Guzzi V85 TT replaces the cancelled Stelvio 1200.
The photos of the production version show that it is off-road capable.
The production V85 TT should appear at EICMA in November.
Moto Guzzi has finally unveiled the V85 TT adventure bike’s official production model photos.
The V85 concept was unveiled at EICMA 2017 to much anticipation as it seeks to replace the Stelvio 1200 which had been cancelled as it could not meet the Euro 4 emissions standards.
The production V85 TT looks remarkably similar to its EICMA concept, with only small changes. While Moto Guzzi did not release the bike’s specs, we could draw a few conclusions from these pictures.
Firstly, it surely looks more off-road capable that the V7 III Rough. We could see the headlamp mounts have been beefed up.
Apart from that, the handguards also carry the mirrors. Moving to the back, the rear portion of the subframe has fewer joints in its latticework. The production version’s exhaust canister is also larger and painted in black, besides having a heat shield next to the passenger’s footpeg.
The shape of the fuel tank is the same, although the paint scheme’s striping is diagonal instead of being horizontal.
The front brakes consist of twin discs clamped by radially-mounted, four-piston Brembo calipers.
The engine should be a new 850cc unit, said to produce 79 bhp, compared to the V9’s 850cc engine which produces 53.6 bhp.
The V85 TT will feature a fully-digital LCD instrument display. There is a compass bearing surrounding the screen. We wonder if it is merely decorative? (Please refer to the photo below).
What intrigues us is the two-helmet symbol in the display. The bike does not seem to be suspended by electronically-adjustable suspension, so that symbol could only mean integrated Bluetooth connectivity between the rider and passenger.
The smartphone symbol points towards Piaggio’s app which integrates with the bike to show upcoming service, locating the bike in a parking lot, locating the nearest petrol station and helping to call pre-stored emergency contacts.
Going further, notice the rain symbol and the word “PIOGGIA”? Pioggia means rain in Italian and it looks like the bike has ride modes and a ride-by-wire throttle.
