I guess that there are no Moto Guzzi riders on the form, re my previous posting.
So I will repost when I get further information. If this new offering from MG is as good as they state, should be a contender in the mid class of adventure touring bikes. Salty

There are a few in fact who still own or have owned MGs.


It can take a while for responses on this site: few are hanging around here as a routine ready to engage on the keyboard - most are out riding their bikes!


Personally, I wasn't aware of this bike coming to the UK market*.
An air cooled engine always interests me, and 80 HP is plenty.
There is also what appears to be a substantial subframe for the pillion/luggage.

Moto Guzzi


* Some year, soon.

__________________
Dave

I think it will look awesome in the flesh (it looks good enough in the mock-ups), but not sure how it will ride, I assume it will be pretty heavy.

Crying shame that it's only expected in 2020/21.

I have been looking at a v7 recently, but if the V85 was already in showrooms there'd be very little to stop me getting that.

Like most Guzzi's, this V85 looks fantastic. It's got all the right things in nearly all the right places ... but like other "Adventure" Guzzi's in the past ... it may be a case of "All Hat, No Cattle".

I think that bike is going to look great next to new KTM & BMW GS ADV bikes down the Cafe on Sunday Morning.

Not sure I'd want be piloting that Porky Guzzi in 2ft deep sand in Baja or struggling up a muddy slope in the Sierra, loaded up.



Guzzi tried this dual sport thing before, going back quite a few years. The Quota Guzzi I believe first came along in the 80's. Carried on a few years, never sold well, had numerous short comings like forks made of Spaghetti
and 40 HP on a 500 lb. bike.

For the last 5 or 6 years Guzzi have had the Guzzi Stelvio, now a 1200cc bike,
IIRC. I rode a demo Stelvio back in 2011. The newer Stelvio is said to be much better. The one I rode was a huge thing, ON road only IMO a nice ride but no comparison the the BMW R1200GS. (IMHO)

ALL Guzzi's take time to "adapt" to by the rider. Guzzi's are an acquired taste to be sure. Last one I had to test was the fabulous Guzzi Griso. I reviewed at least three other Guzzi's sportier bikes though out the 90's and into 2000's. The Griso my last Guzzi test bike, in around 2007. A real beauty. Most hate them first ride, but over time and some tweaking of suspension, gets better and better. I ended up really liking the Griso, last Guzzi I spent real time on.
(1500 miles over two weeks)

I don't even know who currently own Moto Guzzi. I wish them well. We need them in motorcycling.

A few years ago Piaggio swept the board of a few Italian brands:

https://www.piaggiogroup.co.uk/


The Stelvio is no more: reported to be killed off by Euro emission regulations.
The V85 may be the replacement:-
Moto Guzzi V85 | Piaggio Group


As much as anything, it may depend on what happens in Italy, overall - a new government, locked in dispute with the EU - see who blinks first.

__________________
Dave

I mostly agree - most V85s won't see dirt, and very few will be used for the off-road adventure journeys that the marketing already talks about.

But, depending on the implementation, there should be advantages to running a V85 that will apply to overlanding. Stuff like the ease of maintenance and low COG with the V-twin.

I reckon the V85 will stand a good chance of fulfilling my personal recipe for 'perfect bike'. Even if it's not ideal for off-road gallivanting.

I absolutely agree with your last point though - I don't mind the unstoppable march of electric motors, but motorbikes are becoming too plasticky, too complex and too expensive - and too difficult to maintain (to the point where most people don't even take it on anymore). I like Guzzi sticking to its guns, but I wonder about its long-term strategy & future.

Some folk attribute this to the takeover by the Piaggio group who may have introduced modern workplace practices etc etc.
Certainly, the modern products do not seem to have quite so many idiosyncracies compared with the "good old days" of MG*.


* mentioning which, there is even a reincarnation of the MG car nowadays: owned by someone from the far east I believe - Chinese??

__________________
Dave

I ride Guzzis, and have had several of them through the years, including the Quota, Stelvio and V65TT. For gravel road touring, they were all ok. The Q and Stelvio being on the heavy side, of course - just like a GS, I imagine. Today, I have a SP3 for asphalt duty and a California EV with sidecar (soon) for winter duty. The expected V85 just might replace my current beefed-up KTM 690, as my off road ambitions have waned with age. If the V85 holds up for gravel touring, I’ll be happy.

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

I also ride Guzzi and have had quite a few over the years fine machines - my Guzzi currently is a fairly heavy stelvio abs 8v (257 kgs full fuelled with 32 litre tank) but i only ride this as a road tourer.

Specificly about the V85, I think it will be something like the original BMW r80gs, about 200kgs - it has Simple air cooled 2 cylinder engine, 2 valves, pushrod and rocker system, separate gearbox, dry clutch, shaft drive that are with Guzzi usually over engineered and very reliable, basic but very descent quality suspension. Excellent handling, so all very simple, along with a well built frame, simple standard type electrics not the - bmw style can bus set up, comfortable seat and quality of finish on Guzzi these days is usually better than BMW and up there with the best of the tap stuff.

This allows travellers easy servicing, very reliable engine developed from the current line up - Guzzi has been making V twins in this configuration since 1967 but have been making bikes at mandello since1921 the longest of all the european manufacturers and they are still built at Mandello Italy, not built in asia, china or elsewhere. There is great pride and has been massive upgrades in quality control. These are fine bikes.

Guzzi are quirky and take time to get used to them but thats part of the attraction that haven't had all the soul and uniqueness knocked out of them.

The V85 is a road bike with some off road ability but will be more than able to travel most places that someone on larger capacity gs or honda go. it is not going to be an off road machine and won't try to compete with the likes of KTM pure bloodline but as a travel / tour think of an old airhead with maybe 80hp and much higher and better torque delivery all with some ability to go off tarmac.

If they get it right then this should be a winner for many users and for moto guzzi.

Im looking forward to testing one. Jake.

Looks really promising indeed ! I like the fact that they go for the 80s' spirit : simple, reliable and stylish. That's what I want in a motorbike, I don't need all the technology modern GS got onboard...Mid-size is a good idea too! Especially that it's quite hard to enter the travel-bike market in the biggest category, where the GS is the queen and got all the attention for so many years...
If that works, we could even hope for a maxi-trail version in a few years

I ride a V7 racer to work every day. (its my wifes if the truth be known but I love it)Its a great Little thing.

Im looking forward to seeing the V85 in the flesh. Dont think im gunna be trading my 1190 ADV in but hey it might be a good thing for the wife.

I have been riding a 750 Breva for 15 years now, seems perfect to me for touring, I dont want a large motorcycle as they are too heavy to move about, and I dont need to impress any one, I like the way it blends into the background and I get left alone
the new bike looks nice though, but at my age a new one is unlikely
just got this one settled in and running sweetly

I had a V7 for 15 months in 2015-16. The electrics live up to the Italian reputation and spares availability is zero. The dealer stole an £800 speedo display unit off his demo bike to sort my warranty claim. This unit is part of a mini Can-bus with the engine ECU, so air-cooled expertise isn't saving you when the water inside does more than cook the LED's. Yep, that's £800 for the equivalent of a blown speedo lamp outside the warranty period.

Hobby bikes for people who can just hop in their Ferrari to go drink coffee by the lake when it's not playing.

Andy

Well nice to see the guzzi V85 specs are out now, and excellent they are for a comfy travel bike mainly designed for tarmac. Several heavy Stelvios have done the RTW trips so i am sure this Guzzi with shaft drive and easy maintenance is a new and progressive move forward for travellers and should be very manageable off the road as well. Think of an OLD GS airhead with more power and torque and far superior braking suspension and handling and guzzles do handle well.

The Guzzi has longer stroke engines than airheads and is much slimmer profile. With 400km range from 21 litre tank, wet weight with 90% full tank is 229 kg, tubed tyres on heavy duty spoked wheels, , 830mm seat height,79bhp @ 7700 rpm and 80nm torque @ 3500 rpm, simple air cooled two valve tappet adjustment , separate gearbox , dry clutch and shaft drive( Guzzi shaft drives are very reliable unlike many BMW shaft drives. No fancy can bus simple repairable electrics, and very good build quality these days. There will be lots of add ons for those inclined exhausts panniers various upgrades etc but all at a cost like everything else.

Its not a race bred off road bike but will be a good road bike with dirt road usability. so don't expect a KTM here.

Priced around £11000 its a lot of wonga I suppose but so it seems is everything else. Even better is its built in Europe (Italy) at the same factory that Guzzi has been building bikes in since 1921 - so lots of history no doubt a few foibles as well just to keep things interesting - but behind it pride from its local workers some of whom have had several generations working at the factory, these are machines which are a true evolution of the marque not just a dressed up copy with a badge bought by some conglomerate.

Im sticking with my big heavy Stelvio as I being retired don't have the spare wonga to change bikes at the moment - I know there are many bikes out there many of them very complex in engineering and electronics but there is a big place for old fashioned thinking and simplicity .

If i were changing bikes now this would be top of my list i have to say.

http://discoverv85.motoguzzi.com/en/#project

Tchus Jake.

Hi Andy, thats more complex than i realised, I know the first versions of the stelvio did not have good waterproofing to the speedo unit, but do know of them operating ok even when wet inside, So far I've not had any problems and i ride all year round but i think they got onto top of this problem on the stelvio since 2011 version, hopefully they have done the same with the v85. I did not know that the bike wouldn't work without the unit functioning that is bad. However i have never had hassle with spares but then again I have never really needed any other than basic service items. So far my bike has been very reliable previous owner in Scotland done three trips to italy and been used all year round in the uk. many Stelvios have done huge round the clock all weather miles and keep going strong, the v85 is a replacement in a way for the stelvio. I did my usual prep i do with every bike though, grease and oil nuts bolts electrical connections etc as soon a s i get it i don't leave it upto the manufacturer to do this as none of them ever do be that guzzi bmw or hondokawasayamauki.

Its a shame yours was a problem but hobby bikes I am not so sure about as most folk I know who ride them are more than happy with them and ride all year round but i am sure your right the v7 did have a few electrical foibles.. Dealers can be iffy but not just Guzzi dealers many dealers are crap after market some are excellent.

Jake.