The Moto Guzzi V85 TT | The Gentleman's Explorer

How do you bridge the gap between an accomplished adventure bike, that can do it all, and a desirable retro that pulls at the geart strings?

In 2019, Moto Guzzi gave it their very best shot with the Moto Guzzi V85 TT.

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The Bike:

Moto Guzzi V85 TT
850cc
76hp
230kg (wet)
Air Cooled
V-Twin
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Partners:

QUADLOCK:
My Usual Bonneville Quad Lock setup: Wireless Charger, Vibration Dampener, Handlebar Mount Pro, iPhone Case, USB Charger

SIZZAPP:
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XLMOTO:
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HOOD JEANS
The highest safety rated motorcycle jeans

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Locations:

Holbrook , Suffolk

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My personal motorcycle: 2010 Triumph Bonneville 865cc (the base version)

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Gear for the Day:

- DMD Seventyfive Helmet
- Tobacco Motorwear Indigo Selvedge Jeans:
- Daytona Custom Helmet
- TCX X-Blend Boots
- Throttlesnake Glove Trotter Gloves

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Buy us a coffee:


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Find me on:

- PODCAST: Freedom Machines With Freddie Dobbs
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- Filming and editing: @monikameraki (Instagram)

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Music:

Roots and Recognition - The Set Back
Sunfish Groove - Unbroken Spirit

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Some affiliate links may be used. You won’t be charged a penny for clicking on them, but I may get some commission from any purchase

[archibald]

I had the reliability concerns, but bought one last year. 11, 000 miles later and it hasn't missed a beat. The word character is always used, but it really does sum up the V85. In the real world it has enough power. I came to mine from a Multistrada. Inevitably I initially noticed the reduced power, but the key to the v85 is getting the best out of the motor. When you do it is a joy, and such fun to ride. The best all round bike I've ever owned. Also I love it precisely because it not a BMW, ktm, or Japanese! I can't say I'm planning on visiting an art gallery any time soon, but I get your point👍
Good review one!

[paulprosser]

Strange thing is Freddie, Visited a multi franchise dealer here in Cardiff yesterday, looking to buy an adventure/touring bike. Being a Harley fan and owner I seriously went there to buy a Pan America. Ended up test riding the Pan America then the B.M.W GS 850, both were O.K, good and bad features on both. But sat all alone in the corner was a V85TT which I kept glancing at Just for the way it looked. Ended up test riding. Really had character, overall finish better than the two aforementioned bikes. Then bought it. So here goes Moto Guzzi ownership.

[garethwatkins]

Always wanted a Guzzi ever since i started riding 40+ yrs ago. Recently semi - retired bit the bullet and got myself a brand new V85tt Traveller. Just back from 2, 000 miles around Spain and Portugal on her and loved every minute . Never missed a beat, 65+ to the gallon in comfort. Would fully recomendva Guzzi to anyone. Pure joy .

[tdeloriea]

There are motorcycles that transport you and then there are motorcycles that transport the soul. This bike surprised me by being one of those motorcycles that moved me when my buddy bought one and I stepped off my 890 Rally during a ride and took his V85 TT. It shocked me at its capabilities. The best feature of this bike is it’s yellow lab good nature. It instantly lowers your blood pressure and puts you in the mood to relax and take in the beauty of the world around you. Such a great motorcycle.

[dant]

Okay so here's one for you, after owning a ktm 890r for just under a year I swapped to a v85 tt and hand on heart the best decision I ever made.
Keep up the good honest non biased reviews Freddie

[clemfandango]

One of the few bikes on the market with genuine character. It is genuinely special.

[davidhorne]

It's an historic marque, 100 years in same factory.... They are old school cool, not fast, not "try hard", just cool it's impossible to describe, but once you own a Moto Guzzi, you never want to be without one!

[bkr]

After having dreamt of it for a couple years, a few days ago I found a super-deal for one of the very last m.y. 2023 brand-new V85TTs still available, and couldn't resist: I bought it.

Picked it this morning at the dealer: she was waiting for me, her bright-red chassis dressed in a sporty and shiny Blu Uyuni suit smoothly leaning on that V-twin glorious masterpiece.

Got home with a ear-to-ear smile on my face after the first 200 km ride at a truly relaxing pace as it needs to be broken in.

An iconic, stylish, one-of-a-kind piece of engineering which is going to rank high on my personal best-buys-ever parade. Owning one makes me happy, and realizing how much appreciated it is worldwide makes me proud to be Italian.

This thing has a soul: I'm pretty sure I will end up selling my R1200RS, in which despite my efforts I haven't found one so far.

[Zeus-lzsd]

Adventure bikes are such practical all round machines, it makes them an obvious choice. But life is already too full of necessary practicalities. The V85 manages to combine practicality with passion and is the only adventure bike I'd consider.

[janzzen]

I am a long time Guzzi driver.
V35II, V50 MONZA, 850 lemans III And a 1200 ntx Stelvio. I know my Guzzi's.

Last weekend i rented a V85TT for 2 days . My Stelvio is becoming a bit heavy for me and i am looking for a alternative.
And the V85TT is just amazing, great looks, great handeling, enough power to keep up with the buddies. I just loved it.
It has the feeling of a Guzzi, it drives like a Guzzi and it actually breaths the history of Guzzi.

For anyone who fancies the looks, just rent it for a couple days, drive it and experience it.
It will not disappoint you
And if it does, , then Moto Guzzi is just not the bike for you.

[garyedwards]

Great review. I pulled the trigger 18 months ago and bought the V85tt Travel. Absolutely love the bike and really impressed with the reliability and quality. Not having to mess around with oily chains before a ride is a big bonus.

[buckymoto]

I chose a 2022 V85TT over a GS. I'm a sucker for an Italian, and the bike that stands out from the crowd. I came from a tiger 1050 which I ended up hating, and sold it 1 Yr later. I've just come back from a 900 mile trip on part of the Irish wild Atlantic way and it was indeed all day comfort and never missed a beat. I've put 2500 miles on it in 6 weeks. Riding my Moto Guzzi makes me "feel" special and every single time I walk away I always have to take that second glance. I chose the satin black.

[thesmithsmaf]

So I finally went and did it! I bought my V85TT Travel "grigio' 3 weeks ago and this was one of the many reviews that sealed the deal for me - What a dream of a bike - I am no speed freak as only just passed my test at the tender age of 55 and mortality looms with increased foreboding nowadays. The character and balance of the vehicle are superb, I simply adore my daily rides even though I am breaking it in - I plan to pootle around the back roads of Sussex and Surrey for a few months, and then with my new, sadly black coloured, passport I will sally forth to Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain or anywhere else my whim whisks me away to...Love your channel Freddie and love love love this review in particular...

[jennamoonchild]

After various bikes through my life, I "upgraded" my 1100XX Blackbird to V85. V85TT is easily the best bike I have ever owned. Best stock suspension I have tried. Quality of craftsmanship is magnificent. Almost the whole bike is hand made in Italy and by parts made in Italy. Seat is very good after about 5000km, very plush and "sticky". Dry weight is just over 200kg, fuel tank is largest in class, 23 litres (6gallons). Fuel consumption is low, about 4 litres per 100km (my record is 3, 6l/100km). You can ride V85 TT everywhere, it really depends which tires you have. 10/10

[ericzeBooZ]

Hi Freddy. I pulled the trigger last November. My previous bike was the same as yours. A 2008 Bonneville SE. I really loved her. But to me, it was a little bit to small (I’m 1, 86m) and not really adequate for long trip (I’m older than you are).
I bought a V85TT and really don’t regret. 10 000 km since then, 2 road trips (one to Mandello of course!). So far, that was only fun! And reliability 100% at 15000 km.
I tried other bikes. All were good, even better (surely more powerful, maybe better suspensions), but there was no life out of them. This one is living, full of character!

[boblynch]

Out here in the American west ( Idaho ) it’s all about having a dealer that’s not 5 hours away. I’m in my golden years, just got back into motorcycles this year after 42 year hiatus, and picked up a Tiger 900. Lovely bike. As an aside I still own a Ducati 750:Sport I bought in 1974 so Italian machinery is close to my heart. If there was a dealer closer than Salt Lake the Guzzi would have been a serious consideration. At my age, horsepower isn’t the primary consideration. Looks like a bike that would put a grin on every time.

[willisbcteoh]

Freddie, thank you for an honest review. My twin brother and I bought the Yellow tri colour E4 V85TT without test riding it. We lusted for it from get go. Love at first sight. Waited for them to arrive, dreaming of them every night.
I own an Alfa Romeo 159 and an Abarth 124 spider.
All 3 of my Italian babies are art, form and function at their best. Everytime I walk towards them I stare, everytime I walk away I stare at my beauties. A Monica Bellucci moment I confess.

La vita è bèlla. Ciao.

[johnhamilton]

I bought my 1st Guzzi, the V85TT, in August of 2020. I'm about to turn 23k on it and love it. No problems whatsoever. I finally got to take a major tour the summer of 2021. I met up with an old friend in UT and we rode to the BMW National Rally in Great Falls, MT. BMW riders were constantly stopping me to have a look at my bike. I would imagine that there are so few dealers out there that many of them had only seen the bike in magazines. That ride included TX, NM, CO, UT, WY, MT and ID. I would recommend anyone to give one a test ride.

[krproton]

After my wife took on a new position at a college up in Michigan, we are moving away from West Virginia and the super-twisty roads i have been able to thoroughly enjoy on sporting bikes such as a Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM, a KTM 690 supermoto and more recently my Ducati 950 Hypermotard SP. The change in landscape from the twisty roads to the flat, straight roads has necessitaded the sale of my Ducati. I now find myself shopping for used adventure bikes the likes of Honda Africa Twin and Suzuki V-Strom 800. Those should be great bikes, but the practicalty of a adventure bikes just dont stirr my soul - until i saw the 2023 Motoguzzi 850 TT.

[jasonepley]

18, 000 miles on mine in the first 11months, leaving on another cross country trip here in the states in 2 weeks. It is exactly as you say. A fantastically wonderful machine!! I wholeheartedly love mine for exactly what it is, & for exactly what it’s not.