I have to say that I am really enjoying mine - nicely balanced, very responsive on the throttle (and probably even more so once I am through the first service this weekend) and the build quality seems really good on the whole.

The two areas that I am less enamoured with the V85 are the pathetic horn - this will be changed out when it gets back from its first service - and the starter button that seems a little flimsy.

The set up for the instrumentation and controls is a delight and everything falls to hand in what feels like a natural position. I went for the Tour and Tour+ packs - I was after a centre stand, engine guard, and additional lighting and I will be linking my phone to the bike to get the sat nav system working. I am happy with those choices - the panniers are really good with the top loading lids - my BMW has clam shell panniers and I have grown to dislike that style so much so that I have made my own for the BMW that are top loaders. I don't really use the top box at the moment as it makes the bike a bit too busy aesthetically but it will go back on for trips. The touring screen is fitted but I have the standard one it replaced and may fit that back on at some point.

I am getting approaching 60mpg (imperial)at the moment but this is getting better as the engine beds in properly and I expect that the figure will settle at around 62-3mpg.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

A little bit late but congratulate on a nice bike. It seems we have the same taste.

I have had my V85TT for 12000 km now and I think its going to stay for a long time in my garage. No huge issues with it. It feels solid as when I got it.

Even if there are slight issues with parts availability and it is not cheap I just say to people that they should at least try it out.
But beware the factory setting is set low on the gear change lights/limiter. It can easily be changed in the meny.

Do I dare to say it is probably plenty of bike to go on a long distance adventures around the world? Yes, I think it will. Yes its a bit heavy, yes its slower in comparison to other similar bikes. But there are lots of good points with it. You do not need to go fast to get around the world.

I wholeheartedly share your thoughts about the horn. Have not any issues with the starter button though.

Glad to see another V85TT owner. Hope you still are happy with it.

My bike:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y5tj0ka8zd...12011.jpg?dl=0

Have you had any noughts about the muck sprayed onto the engine by the front wheel? I understand there may be some sort of fix with a “hugger” mudguard and a small extension piece - apparently they are a standard item on another Moto Guzzi model - I will try and find out some more details if I can remember where I saw them.

Edit: Got it now. -it is the front mudguard / fender from an Aprillia Caponord 1200 Rally 2016-17 - https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=291&product s_id=5667

There is also an extension piece but I can’t find that at the moment.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

Yes the mud slinging is a annoyance.
I found the same front guard. But I also found these Pyramid Front Mudguards.
Front:
https://pyramid-plastics.co.uk/produ...zi-v85-tt-2019
Rear:
https://pyramid-plastics.co.uk/colle...zi-v85-tt-2019

I might go for these.


Edit: I found the fender extender.
https://pyramid-plastics.co.uk/produ...lack-2015-2017

I like the look of those particularly the front one - I wouldn’t go for the extenda. The price seems reasonable too. I will have a look at the splatter from the rear wheel to see if I would go for the rear hugger - what I couldn’t see was a price for the hugger.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

Don't ask me why, but I have always (at least in order what my country offers) bought bikes not so common: From a XL 250 to a XR400 Honda up to a Traveller Edition of the KTM640 and here unknown Husqvarna TR650 Terra. I have loved all of them, I still own the Terra and I want to keep it.

I might be interesed to travel from Northeast USA down to Panama, maybe next spring.
Sabbatical days: 4 months. Mexico is my main idea! Even if it still diff to plan, and wishing conditions change, my intention is to join my son's Univ. graduation, and face south up to the channel. This might be a solo or partially shared travells.

Not so fan of BMW, nor KTM, I'd like or a jap or an italian 2wheels. 200kg easy ride and affordable. Some miles (mainly in tarmac) would be 2up, and eventually some off-road. Legally, later import it to Ecuador, where I live and work.

I have rode in seldom roads of southern Europe and Brazil, and mainly in South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia), I'd like to have this bike maybe to continue to another latin countries, and who knows where else!
Maybe a Triumph, better a Tenere T7 (option), but seems to be unconfortable for 2up and waiting lists are still long, Suzuki is nice or maybe back to Honda.

What would you say about the MG V85TT? I like this type of bike.
I look forward to read you guys and visit us in Ecuador!

Its an amazing looking bike the MG V85TT. And for sure it would attract attention down through central America. But maybe not the right kind of attention in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador etc etc.

Maybe the V-Strom 650 could be an option? The police down there somewhere uses V-Stroms, was it Panama, Costa Rica or Colombia? So at least there is a country or two that will have some basic spare parts for you....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

If a Moto Guzzi breaks a specific to them component in the UK you can be ****ed. The dealer stole a speedo unit from a demo bike when my V7 had the illumination fail and Guzzi couldn't/wouldn't give a straight answer after a week. My Dad's 2002 Nevada had a 2003 rear disc fitted from new. Took us three goes, three months and a lot of postage to work out Tony from Mandello either owns a time machine or makes this **** up as he goes along.

Do your research on support in the area you are going or can access (then get a Suzuki or Honda as your main bike).

Andy

https://www.gutsibits.co.uk/pr/Home/index.php

No problem.

Thanks for the comments, I still have at least 11 months to plan before hitting the road.
A big commercial group has invested with italian makes Piaggio/Guzzi/Aprilia in my country, maybe that can help not having a orfan bike. My journey will only be one-way. After that I want to import it to my home town. Maybe that will be after a 5400 o 5500 miles trip on the odometer, for a not so experienced ridder, that IS a big goal, reason I'm planning this a sabbatical, with more or less 3 or 4 months, so that's not gonna be on a hurry!
As I wrote, I haven't regret after choosing "alternative" bikes, and probably a Yamaha T7 (funky, i like it-still long waiting lists) or a Kawa can be more affordable, but my couple wants to join, so some parts may be 2up, where I have read good comments and thumbs up for the MG V85!
I was thinking only some scheduled maintanance on 2 or 3 spots, and later, from Panama, ship it to latitud 0.

Stay with the Moto Guzzi.

And avoid the main streem, as you have done before.
You will not regret.

Go on then, find a speedo for a V85



Andy

Easy, I go out and look at the one on my bike. It is there just above the headlights.

Oh, you mean a spare one. Well as the V85 has been in production for a short period of time so far I don’t expect here to be vast numbers on the market just yet for items that don’t die regularly - such items as speedos.

Over time the replacement market will become populated and used items will come in as bikes get trashed. It isn’t just true of Guzzis - how many replacement speedos have you seen for the Yamaha T7 so far.

I love my V85 - it has soul, it is the modern embodiment of the R80G/S - two cylinder, air cooled, shaft drive and pretty clear lines. The one thing missing from the V85 are the heated foot rests of my plain Jane R80.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

Finally, I bought the v85tt!
I'm not a true overlander, and as a short scale entrepreneur I can only spend to 4-5 days/month out ridding in my country, place where you still find a lot of unpaved, narrow tarmac and secondary roads between the 3 regions that the equator line cross thru.
The Guzzi was a sort of project to travel to Italy, place where I found that old 250, and with a legal accord between that country and mine, spend a holyday and bring the bike to the Andes. The expence was to high! Later ride it on the UStates: mucho dinero!
Found a new dealer in southern Ecuador, went to them and bought the V85TT, new for this country as model and as make, even if it's still associated to the 70/80's (some still running) Police bikes.
I found this 850 simply amazing. Right for my size, weight and ridding style. Good design, ergonomics and really capable off-road 19" bike. It has been a pleasure since the last September!
Finally, we'd like (2up) to spend this sort of sabbatical as soon borders will reopen in SA, we crossfingers it maybe jan2022. We swap our plan and we can spend 14 weeks holyday. As I described before, this is also a not common bike, as I choose (there is a reason i might probably share with a pint of birra) so welcome any suggestions in order to modify of simply get some tech specs or tips. We havent cho$e the Travel Edition, becau$e of 'time' i$$ue$.
With soft saddle bags, an old (used on my xr) touratech tailbag+drybag and tank bag, we want to face south and try to reach emblematic or geographic landmarks between Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, and be back to work in this lattitude (where we host the HU Meetings):
00°24.088"S
078°34.590"W
where you all are welcome!

The first thing that I changed was to get a decent horn for the bike. To fit it I had to put it to one side so that the new horn didn’t hit the mudguard when turning and put together a slight extension of the wiring so that the wires weren’t stretched. A massive difference. I have also added a wind deflector to the screen to make the bike quieter to ride and with less buffeting - an easy fix and cheap too - not terribly pretty but still better looking than me.

At some point I intend to put a mudguard hugger onto the front wheel so that mud isn’t thrown onto the engine so muchas per the link above from Triangularity.

Otherwise I think that the bike is pretty well sorted straight out of the box - I just love the engine and it is happy two up and doesn’t stress about life. Am I happy with my purchase? Oh, yes, very happy - and I hope you enjoy yours too.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.