Moto Guzzi 2019: V85 TT | EICMA show
By Ben Purvis
Has written for dozens of magazines and websites, including most of the world’s biggest bike titles, as well as dabbling in car and technology journalism.
02.11.2018
2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT
Moto Guzzi has drawn out the reveal of its V85 TT over a full year since it first showed the prototype at EICMA 2017, but now it’s finally spilled the beans on the bike’s full specifications.
But since the V85 TT promises to have a wider mass-market appeal than any other Moto Guzzi in years, it’s easy to understand why the firm is keen to spread the word. As a middleweight adventure bike with a retro-inspired style that harks back to the firm’s 1980s Dakar rally racers, it’s aimed at the heart of two hugely popular market trends.
The newly-announced specifications confirm that Guzzi has pretty much nailed its 80 horsepower target for the new bike; its 59kW peak power translates to 80 metric horsepower, although our fractionally larger imperial horses mean it works out as 79.1bhp.
Guzzi says that the 853cc air-cooled V-twin is a completely new design, with a stiffer crankcase than the firm’s previous V9 engine and lighter internal components, allowing it to be the first ‘small block’ Guzzi engine to rev past 8,000rpm. The new crankshaft, pistons and rods are nearly 30% lighter than earlier versions, and the cylinder heads – while still two-valve – are completely new, with titanium intake valves. As you’d expect, there are multiple riding modes – Road, Rain and Off-Road – which alter not only the engine mapping but also the ABS and traction control settings.
It’s bolted into a new frame with no lower cradle, cutting weight and increasing ground clearance, and uses a new aluminium swingarm. Notably, it’s still shaft-drive in true Guzzi style, making it the only mid-sized adventure bike with that maintenance-free drive system. The suspension offers 170mm of travel at each end, with 41mm USD forks and a direct action monoshock, both adjustable for preload and rebound. Brembo brakes – radial mounted at the front – complete a high-spec chassis. At 229kg complete with a tank of fuel, it’s lighter than you might have expected from a bike like this.
In typical adventure bike style, there’s a huge range of accessories available. Aluminium panniers and a matching top case, a tall screen, a centre stand, Ohlins suspension, an Arrow exhaust, crash bars, extra lights and comfort seats are among the possibilities.
2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT spec
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