Moto Guzzi V85 TT Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

The V85 TT is built around an 853 cc air-cooled V-twin set across the frame, 80 hp at 7,750 rpm and 59 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, fed through a six-speed box and a shaft final drive. That architecture, not the output figure, is what you are actually buying. Around it sits proper mid-size adventure hardware: a 19-inch front wheel, upside-down fork, adjustable suspension at both ends, ABS, traction control and ride modes as standard, plus a TFT dash, cruise control and an adjustable screen. The twin headlight and sculpted tank give it a shape nothing else in the class shares.

On the road it wants a rhythm, not a stopwatch. The 60.2 in wheelbase and the 19-inch front give it a calm, planted gait, and 48 mpg from a 6.1 gal tank puts roughly 290 miles between fuel stops. It is for riders who tour on pavement and graded dirt and care more about how a machine feels than how quickly it covers ground. The honest caveat: 6.7 in of travel at both ends and 505 lb wet set a ceiling on how rough the terrain can get, and early bikes carry recalls worth checking against the VIN before money changes hands.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	80 hp (59 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Torque	59 lb-ft (80 Nm) @ 5,000 rpm
Displacement	853 cc
Engine	90° V-twin
Cooling	Air-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Shaft
Fork	Upside-down (USD)
Front brake	320 mm
Front tire	110/80-19
Rear tire	150/70-17
Wheelbase	60.2 in (1530 mm)
Ground clearance	8.3 in (210 mm)
Front travel	6.7 in (170 mm)
Rear travel	6.7 in (170 mm)
Seat height	32.7 in (830 mm)
Wet weight	505 lb (229 kg)
Fuel capacity	6.1 gal (23 L)
Fuel economy	48 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

Front Suspension Adjustable Standard
Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard
Cruise Control Standard

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Adjustable Windscreen Standard
Adjustable Seat Height Optional
Luggage System Optional

Connectivity

TFT Display Standard
Smartphone Connectivity Optional
Navigation Optional
USB Charging Port Standard
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) Optional

Safety

ABS Standard
Traction Control Standard
Ride Modes Standard

The Truth on the Street

This section isn't my test ride. It's what I've picked up from riders over the years: paddock talk at events, conversations in parking lots and at club nights, and the messages and emails that land in my inbox from people who actually own the thing. On the V85 TT the pattern is unusually consistent. Owners talk about the engine and the look first, almost every time, and the complaints that follow are specific and repeatable rather than scattered.

What Owners Talk About First

The engine dominates the conversation. Riders describe the transverse V-twin as the reason they bought it and the reason they keep it, pointing to the throaty exhaust note and the mid-range pull that makes ordinary rides worth taking. Close behind comes the styling. The twin round headlights and the Dakar-era shape draw comment from owners and strangers alike, and plenty of riders mention it as a daily source of satisfaction. Comfort is the third recurring theme: an upright, natural riding position that holds up over long days, with useful protection from the screen. Owners also single out the shaft drive and the tubeless spoked wheels for keeping maintenance and roadside repairs simple, and the front brakes come in for steady praise for their strength and feel.

The Gripes That Keep Coming Up

Ground clearance is the most common complaint. Riders report the pegs and exhaust touching down at moderate lean, which puts a limit on what they attempt off pavement. Several also describe heavy engine braking unsettling the chassis on corner entry, enough that they ride around it with careful throttle work. The gearbox draws recurring criticism for notchy shifts, and owners note the dry clutch is neither as smooth nor as simple to service. At sustained highway speeds above 75 mph, fuel use climbs noticeably past the roughly 48 mpg riders see elsewhere. And on loose surfaces, the rear ABS gets called out for cutting in too early, with many owners switching it off before heading onto dirt.

Known issues

Final drive oil leak

drivetrain rare Recall

Internal oil seal may be damaged during assembly, causing oil to leak onto the rear tire. Affects early production units. Corrected by installing an outer seal cover.
Footrest pin retaining clip failure

bodywork rare Recall

Retaining clip on footrest mounting pin may break, potentially causing the footrest to fall off while riding.
Inlet valve wear / seizure

engine rare Recall

Safety recall PG2ZZQ2103 addresses wearing or seizing inlet valves on certain engine numbers. Owners should check VIN eligibility.
Under-filled transmission from factory

drivetrain rare

A few reports of transmissions delivered with insufficient oil, leading to early wear or failure.
Excessive oil consumption

engine occasional

Some owners report higher than expected oil usage, possibly related to air box design allowing debris and causing ring wear.
Air box debris ingress

engine rare

Faulty air box seal or design may allow dust and debris into the engine, potentially causing internal damage.
Transmission reluctance between 3rd and 4th gear

drivetrain occasional

Some gearboxes are hesitant to shift or feel notchy between third and fourth gear under hard acceleration. May improve with break-in.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Moto Guzzi V85 TT pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Long-Range Trust

Offroad Credibility

Suspension Range & Load Control

Luggage-Ready Escape Value

Low-Speed Balance

Rider Command While Standing

Torque in the Dirt

This bike Class average

The shape of the Moto Guzzi V85 TT — numbers and character vs. the average Adventure

Head-to-head: Moto Guzzi V85 TT vs. its rivals

Power

80 hp This bike 95 hp BMW F 850 GS 94 hp Triumph Tiger 900 80 hp Aprilia Tuareg 660 83 hp Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

Torque

59 lb-ft This bike 68 lb-ft BMW F 850 GS 64 lb-ft Triumph Tiger 900 52 lb-ft Aprilia Tuareg 660 58 lb-ft Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

Displacement

853 cc This bike 853 cc BMW F 850 GS 888 cc Triumph Tiger 900 659 cc Aprilia Tuareg 660 776 cc Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

Wet weight

505 lb This bike 505 lb BMW F 850 GS 472 lb Triumph Tiger 900 450 lb Aprilia Tuareg 660 507 lb Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

Seat height

32.7 in This bike 33.9 in BMW F 850 GS 31.9 in Triumph Tiger 900 33.9 in Aprilia Tuareg 660 33.7 in Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

The Long-Haul Verdict

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the V85 TT is actually built for.

Aerial view of a winding asphalt road cutting through volcanic terrain on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The road curves through sparse green vegetation with rocky volcanic peaks visible in the background and a settled valley to the left. Clear lane markings, dry climate, partly cloudy sky.

Best motorcycle for Highway 1?

Curves, comfort and a full day in the saddle suit it. The V-twin pulls from low down, the screen adjusts, cruise control is standard. Just don't expect it to hurry when you get greedy.

Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Two-up and loaded, 80 hp asks you to plan the passes rather than attack them. If a big day means unhurried miles and long views, it fits. If you want effortless overtakes, go heavier.

Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road

Best motorcycle for BDR routes?

Graded gravel and forest roads are its territory: 19-inch front, shaft drive, close to 290 miles of range. Rocky, rutted BDR sections will outrun its 6.7 in of travel.

Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route

Alternatives to the Moto Guzzi V85 TT

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Moto Guzzi V85 TT. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.