Great review, and glad you like the V85. I've had three now. Switched to a V100, missed the V85 and bought another, then bought another for my wife. Totally underrated bike, that works better overall than any other that I have owned. Range, handling, comfort, versatility. You just can't beat it. By the way, the shift light is programmable through the dash. From the factory, they set it really low to help you avoid over-revving during run-in. The redline is actually 8000, so I set the shift lights to 7500. Not much point in revving higher than that as the torque curve is so flat. Enjoy your beautiful Captain America edition! 😁
Most informative, open-minded review. All the more so as it was your first go on a Guzzi. Too many journalists and reviewers come with negative preconceptions. The 'unreliable' myth dates from the 1970's but only referred to electrical connections. This was sorted decades ago. They have never been unreliable mechanically and go forever. One key point often overlooked is that on all the air-cooled bikes (I have no information or experience on the new liquid-cooled engine), maintenance including valve-clearance is simple. Ownership is far cheaper than other comparable European brands. The build quality and finish are superb. And then there is the intangible, special feeling one gets from riding and owning a Guzzi. It's a bit like being in a good relationship that keeps developing.
Well said and i completely agree with you, riding this bike was a totaly new experience to me and i loved it. Thanks for your input and the kind words mate💪🏻
Have '22 Centenario. I know 21 was the centeniall but because of COVID, production continued over into '22. Love it. Highly recommended for touring and for backroad exploring.
Hi Pedro, thanks for the video i enjoyed it very much,a lucky man to have all that beautiful scenery to ride about in, I'm thinking about getting one of these bikes but cannot make up my mind yet,i have a California ev1100 and it's becoming a bit of a vintage machine and having to part with it is very difficult,all the best and stay safe, thanks again for sharing
haha I just sold my second Cali to buy a V85 and am so happy with my choice. I love this bike, I have put a nice free flow exhaust on it so it sounds like an old Le Mans and it is just fantastic to ride all day. Its not a Panigale but I can keep up with most bikes unless they are pushing it very hard.
Great review and valid points raised on a really underrated bike. I have a Moto Guzzi V7 and it shares the same engine, so it was interesting hearing this as it sounds exactly like my bike. Yes, a few quirks with Moto Guzzis but the engine sounds so good and even the V7 still has a massive 21L tank. The dry clutch takes some getting used to and you won’t be flying off at the lights but otherwise a great ride. Thanks for sharing.
@@davidphillips7255 they are tuned differently and have some different internal components like valves but at a high level are otherwise more similar than not.
I was just doing some research on this and it seems like the V7 will not be getting the same cylinder head update with the variable valve timing like the V85 did, at least not for now. Lets see what Guzzi does in the future
I bought mine because I liked its looks, I never test rode it beforehand and my first ride was 205 miles home from the dealership.. Do I regret anything, not really, it has a few niggles. The horn is pitiful, changed it with a cheap horn from amazon. The lightswitch has a large gap when on fog/driving lights. The cruise control warning light flashing when armed but not active, just under the left indicator repeater light. My biggest complaint is that due to work, I have not had enough time to really enjoy it. That will change next year.
I have the same one, always a pleasure to ride. Small quirks, great looks and nice sound makes it very lovable. Fuel consumption at your pace around 5l, i ride slower so i get 4l. Only downside is the poor aerodynamics, higher windshields actually make it worse (the gusts are hammering on your helmet). The small windshield in the lowest position works best for me
I wouldn't usually ride at this pace. I get between 3.6-3.8L on my T7, goes to show that i actually ride a much slower pace. Completely agree with you on the windscreen. At 1,85m i usually have the issue that almost all bikes push the air right at my face or at the top of the helmet, creating some turbulence. So all my windscreens are set at their lowest setting. That being said, it did impress me though how well this little screen removed the pressure off the upper body section. All in all i really like this bike. Have you ever had any issues with yours?
@@PedroAdventures1 Engineer brothers 2025 V85 Travel has the larger shield that can be moved up and down. My 2023 Travel has the larger shield adjustable for rake. I know from my V-Strom 1000 experience adjusting the shield more upright can greatly reduce buffeting. It worked and things are now much smoother. I'm happy.
just watched the video, nice job Pedro! seems like this bike would be a good fit for me currently ride a 701 and like the torque... the tt85 seems to be the "torqueiest" of the middle weights in the class from what I gather. or? have you done much trail riding? I do some, I wonder if with sAY 50/50 tires this would be OK. what you you and guys ridden off road?
Hey mate! Thx for the comment. Unfortunately this baby isnt mine, and this was just a short test ride. The engine is indeed very torquey, it doesnt offer the high-rev thrills from your 701 though. If you wish to see some trail action from this bike i suggest you taking a look at a youtube channel called MotoGeo. That guy took a V85TT through some serious mountains in the USA, the bike seemed very capable offroad for what it is, you might find it helpful
@@PedroAdventures1 Thanks for the info and the referral; I checked out MotoGeo and yes, great video! So far the lone tester riding aggressive from what I've seen and yes quite impressive!
Thanks man! Not really, they are different though. Its kinda like comparing a high revving naturaly aspirated engine to a turbo engine. The T7 is like an NA and the V85 is like a diesel turbo. It doesnt give you that screaming engine thrill, but the torque is so broad and widely spread across the rev range that the bike builds up speed pretty much effortless. As i mentioned somewhere in the video, everytime i looked down at the speedo, i was going faster than i thought. One advantage of engines like this one is that they dont feel any slower with added weight/a passenger. The T7 will bog down a bit with a passenger and start to feel a bit "tired", the V85 couldnt care less, it just goes. Def a test ride worth, very interesting engine concept
Eagle eye😉 i did that on purpose. Along the corner i felt a bit of a different vibration coming from the front tire. I did that to feel out if the steering of the bike was so sensitive that it was communicating irregularities from the road or if i had a flat front tire. Gladly it was not a flat tire, but the bike letting me know that the road surface was irregular
Bonjour J'ai la même la boîte de vitesse fait un vacarme incroyable on l'entend bien ici aussi et personne n'en parle c'est etrange .ca gâche le plaisir du bruit du moteur Cordialement ❤😊
Je ne sais pas pour moi ça vient de la boîte de vitesse je vais la faire rouler dans le vide sur béquille histoire de bien localiser le bruit.sur ta vidéo on l'entend.c'rst rare souvent les essais en vidéo sont couverts par de la musique.. merci pour ta réponse.
Own a v85tt 2021 Centenario . I thought due to it's simplicity that here would be no issues . How wrong was i. Ongoing and still have an issue of surging on rpm on idle that guzzi refused acknowledge or to fix , which i believe is a crank position sensor gap that needs to be changed with the stator for the generator Then the issue with signals not working somehow water got into the circuit and fried it needed to be replaced . End bolts on my handle bar holding the crash guard decided to fall out after the first month . My most recent issue is a total wire harness change out on a 3 year old bike covered the part not labour out of warranty 1 month . Finally my center stand bolt decided to let go and nearly killed me when i was making a turn by rubbing on my tire . Blame the tech who installed it without loctite . Do i like the bike yes do i think italians know how to put a bike together no, would i buy another, sadly absolutely not . I have payments so i have no choice but to continue to make the best out of it but hopefully i can one day be smart enough and buy a Yamaha .
Oh wow that doesnt sound good. Some of the things you mentioned do sound like its dealers fault, like the bolts falling out, but things like the crank sensor, harness swap or burnt signals are def manufacturing problems. Kinda sounds like your bike was doomed from factory, sorry to hear that. Thanks for the input mate
Great review, and glad you like the V85. I've had three now. Switched to a V100, missed the V85 and bought another, then bought another for my wife. Totally underrated bike, that works better overall than any other that I have owned. Range, handling, comfort, versatility. You just can't beat it. By the way, the shift light is programmable through the dash. From the factory, they set it really low to help you avoid over-revving during run-in. The redline is actually 8000, so I set the shift lights to 7500. Not much point in revving higher than that as the torque curve is so flat. Enjoy your beautiful Captain America edition! 😁
Nice to hear some feedback from an owner of multiple examples! Thanks for the heads-up regarding the shift light, cheers mate and happy new year!
Most informative, open-minded review. All the more so as it was your first go on a Guzzi. Too many journalists and reviewers come with negative preconceptions. The 'unreliable' myth dates from the 1970's but only referred to electrical connections. This was sorted decades ago. They have never been unreliable mechanically and go forever. One key point often overlooked is that on all the air-cooled bikes (I have no information or experience on the new liquid-cooled engine), maintenance including valve-clearance is simple. Ownership is far cheaper than other comparable European brands. The build quality and finish are superb. And then there is the intangible, special feeling one gets from riding and owning a Guzzi. It's a bit like being in a good relationship that keeps developing.
Well said and i completely agree with you, riding this bike was a totaly new experience to me and i loved it. Thanks for your input and the kind words mate💪🏻
nice feedback on the build quality and ownership experience
Have '22 Centenario. I know 21 was the centeniall but because of COVID, production continued over into '22. Love it. Highly recommended for touring and for backroad exploring.
Just bought a used 2023. looking forward to hitting the road.
I've got a 2021 v85tt and it's a great bike. I installed a "Mistral v-twin boost" module and throttle improved dramatically.
I just hit 1200 miles on 2023. It's a great bike
Hi Pedro, thanks for the video i enjoyed it very much,a lucky man to have all that beautiful scenery to ride about in, I'm thinking about getting one of these bikes but cannot make up my mind yet,i have a California ev1100 and it's becoming a bit of a vintage machine and having to part with it is very difficult,all the best and stay safe, thanks again for sharing
Wow the Californias are super nice! Maybe a test drive could help you with your decision? Thanks for the kind words!
haha I just sold my second Cali to buy a V85 and am so happy with my choice. I love this bike, I have put a nice free flow exhaust on it so it sounds like an old Le Mans and it is just fantastic to ride all day. Its not a Panigale but I can keep up with most bikes unless they are pushing it very hard.
It's my first Moto Guzzi and i love it , great bike to ride 👌
It is! I was really impressed with it, indeed a great bike
Good vid. Like the soundtrac! Love my 2020, owned it since June. Just wish it had a higher 6th gear. Might add a handlebar riser.
You think it revs too high in 6th?
@@PedroAdventures1 Just think 5th and 6th gears could be farther apart. More like an overdrive gear for 6th.
Great review and valid points raised on a really underrated bike.
I have a Moto Guzzi V7 and it shares the same engine, so it was interesting hearing this as it sounds exactly like my bike.
Yes, a few quirks with Moto Guzzis but the engine sounds so good and even the V7 still has a massive 21L tank.
The dry clutch takes some getting used to and you won’t be flying off at the lights but otherwise a great ride.
Thanks for sharing.
Your feedback is much appreciated mate, thanks!
My V7 was well broken in and my V85 is much quicker to rev and smoother. They are not the same engine.
@@davidphillips7255 they are tuned differently and have some different internal components like valves but at a high level are otherwise more similar than not.
I was just doing some research on this and it seems like the V7 will not be getting the same cylinder head update with the variable valve timing like the V85 did, at least not for now. Lets see what Guzzi does in the future
I bought mine because I liked its looks, I never test rode it beforehand and my first ride was 205 miles home from the dealership..
Do I regret anything, not really, it has a few niggles. The horn is pitiful, changed it with a cheap horn from amazon. The lightswitch has a large gap when on fog/driving lights. The cruise control warning light flashing when armed but not active, just under the left indicator repeater light. My biggest complaint is that due to work, I have not had enough time to really enjoy it. That will change next year.
I have the same one, always a pleasure to ride. Small quirks, great looks and nice sound makes it very lovable. Fuel consumption at your pace around 5l, i ride slower so i get 4l. Only downside is the poor aerodynamics, higher windshields actually make it worse (the gusts are hammering on your helmet). The small windshield in the lowest position works best for me
I wouldn't usually ride at this pace. I get between 3.6-3.8L on my T7, goes to show that i actually ride a much slower pace. Completely agree with you on the windscreen. At 1,85m i usually have the issue that almost all bikes push the air right at my face or at the top of the helmet, creating some turbulence. So all my windscreens are set at their lowest setting. That being said, it did impress me though how well this little screen removed the pressure off the upper body section. All in all i really like this bike. Have you ever had any issues with yours?
@@PedroAdventures1 Engineer brothers 2025 V85 Travel has the larger shield that can be moved up and down. My 2023 Travel has the larger shield adjustable for rake. I know from my V-Strom 1000 experience adjusting the shield more upright can greatly reduce buffeting. It worked and things are now much smoother. I'm happy.
@@davidphillips7255 nice, good to know, thanks mate
I have a centenario 2021, its a great bike!
Such a great bike
just watched the video, nice job Pedro! seems like this bike would be a good fit for me currently ride a 701 and like the torque... the tt85 seems to be the "torqueiest" of the middle weights in the class from what I gather. or? have you done much trail riding? I do some, I wonder if with sAY 50/50 tires this would be OK. what you you and guys ridden off road?
Hey mate! Thx for the comment. Unfortunately this baby isnt mine, and this was just a short test ride. The engine is indeed very torquey, it doesnt offer the high-rev thrills from your 701 though. If you wish to see some trail action from this bike i suggest you taking a look at a youtube channel called MotoGeo. That guy took a V85TT through some serious mountains in the USA, the bike seemed very capable offroad for what it is, you might find it helpful
@@PedroAdventures1 Thanks for the info and the referral; I checked out MotoGeo and yes, great video! So far the lone tester riding aggressive from what I've seen and yes quite impressive!
Great video, one question, does it feel slower than the t7 ?
Thanks man! Not really, they are different though. Its kinda like comparing a high revving naturaly aspirated engine to a turbo engine. The T7 is like an NA and the V85 is like a diesel turbo. It doesnt give you that screaming engine thrill, but the torque is so broad and widely spread across the rev range that the bike builds up speed pretty much effortless. As i mentioned somewhere in the video, everytime i looked down at the speedo, i was going faster than i thought. One advantage of engines like this one is that they dont feel any slower with added weight/a passenger. The T7 will bog down a bit with a passenger and start to feel a bit "tired", the V85 couldnt care less, it just goes. Def a test ride worth, very interesting engine concept
At about 4:48, are you doing that? Or did you experience a low speed death wobble?
Eagle eye😉 i did that on purpose. Along the corner i felt a bit of a different vibration coming from the front tire. I did that to feel out if the steering of the bike was so sensitive that it was communicating irregularities from the road or if i had a flat front tire. Gladly it was not a flat tire, but the bike letting me know that the road surface was irregular
@PedroAdventures1 OK. Thanks for the explanation and awesome review.
Thx mate
Bonjour
J'ai la même la boîte de vitesse fait un vacarme incroyable on l'entend bien ici aussi et personne n'en parle c'est etrange .ca gâche le plaisir du bruit du moteur
Cordialement
❤😊
Yeah i think i know what you mean, do you think its the gearbox or the shaft-drive?
Je ne sais pas pour moi ça vient de la boîte de vitesse je vais la faire rouler dans le vide sur béquille histoire de bien localiser le bruit.sur ta vidéo on l'entend.c'rst rare souvent les essais en vidéo sont couverts par de la musique.. merci pour ta réponse.
Own a v85tt 2021 Centenario . I thought due to it's simplicity that here would be no issues . How wrong was i. Ongoing and still have an issue of surging on rpm on idle that guzzi refused acknowledge or to fix , which i believe is a crank position sensor gap that needs to be changed with the stator for the generator Then the issue with signals not working somehow water got into the circuit and fried it needed to be replaced . End bolts on my handle bar holding the crash guard decided to fall out after the first month . My most recent issue is a total wire harness change out on a 3 year old bike covered the part not labour out of warranty 1 month . Finally my center stand bolt decided to let go and nearly killed me when i was making a turn by rubbing on my tire . Blame the tech who installed it without loctite . Do i like the bike yes do i think italians know how to put a bike together no, would i buy another, sadly absolutely not . I have payments so i have no choice but to continue to make the best out of it but hopefully i can one day be smart enough and buy a Yamaha .
Oh wow that doesnt sound good. Some of the things you mentioned do sound like its dealers fault, like the bolts falling out, but things like the crank sensor, harness swap or burnt signals are def manufacturing problems. Kinda sounds like your bike was doomed from factory, sorry to hear that. Thanks for the input mate
🖐