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.

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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.

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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??

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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.

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

One thing that I realise that I completely failed to mention is that the brakes are significantly better in terms of power and feel than my BMW R80 - in part this will be down to the organic pads / cast iron disc on the BMW but I was still surprised at the difference in performance.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I put the deposit down today and should get the bike in the next week or so once the extras have been fitted. I am more than a little excited at the prospect of its arrival.

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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.

Various extras have arrived att he dealers for the new bike but they are yet to be fitted. Not that I am impatient. Oh, no. Not me, the very epitome of patience and not champing at the bit in the slightest.

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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.

Once upon a time long, long ago there was a motorbike that belonged to Dad:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b11kpkmnsq...%2008.jpg?dl=0

And as time went by the bike stopped being used when the children arrived. As the children got older Dad kept saying that he was going to get the motorbike back on the road but the children didn’t believe him so Dad proved them wrong for the first time and the bike, and Dad, was back on the road. After a while Dad decided that he wanted a new bike. He tried a few and liked them all but one captured his heart more than the others:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b11kpkmnsq...%2008.jpg?dl=0


When the new bike appeared at home Dad introduced the two bikes and they all lived happily ever after:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ibqoibkfq2...%2048.jpg?dl=0

__________________
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.