2022 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel Review

In the highly competitive motorcycle adventure touring category, it seems there is no bridge too far for performance and segment-transcending capability.

But what about character, panache and the kind of charm that would strike a chord with the Saturday latte set?

As odd as that combination sounds, it is the true calling card of the 2022 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel.

The Italian marque’s adventure tourer returns for 2022 bringing moderate performance and capability with its own unique twist on the go-anywhere genre.

After a couple of weeks’ seat time, there’s a certain charm to the Guzzi, even beyond its retro ‘80s styling. Is it enough to justify the lofty price positioning? Let’s find out.

What’s the V85 TT all about?

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT first emerged in 2019 to effectively replace the discontinued Stelvio, before the higher-specification TT Travel followed in 2020.

Both models were tweaked for 2021 with an updated engine, new wheels and graphics that coincide with Moto Guzzi’s centenary celebrations.

The regular V85 TT opens the Italian marque’s adventure tourer line-up at $22,230 ride away, with Evocative and Centenario variants imposing a $500 premium.

The V85 TT Travel ridden here is priced at $24,330 ride away. It differentiates itself from other variants with the fitment of a touring windscreen, side panniers, extra LED lights, adjustable heated grips, and the MIA platform, which allows riders to connect their iOS or Android smartphone to the motorbike's on-board electronics via Bluetooth.

At that money, the Travel variant dabbles with European rivals including the BMW F 850 GS Adventure and the KTM 890 Adventure, along with the imminent Aprilia Tuareg 660.

The V85 line-up shares a common 853cc air-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin engine that develops 59kW of power and 80Nm of torque. A shaft drive and dry clutch bode well for long mileage between major component servicing.

The engine received a mild going-over for 2021, with an optimised lifting of the pushrod and rockers timing cams, plus a consequent adapting of the engine control electronics. The V85 is Euro 5 compliant.

ABS, a ride-by-wire throttle and five different riding modes (Sport, Custom, Street, Rain and Off-road) are inclusive of the Guzzi’s on-road electronics suite, and integrated with a Marelli ECU.

Moto Guzzi fits spoked wheel rims with tubeless tyres as standard from 2021. This has resulted in a 1.5kg weight reduction, which Guzzi says further enhances the bike's riding dynamic.

The engine is wrapped in a tubular steel trellis frame that doubles as a stressed member, while the swingarm pivots directly off the six-speed gearbox.

In the skin

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel makes a fine first impression – though possibly not for the same reason as a traditional, robust adventurer.

Looking closely at our test bike, finished in a sandy Sabbia Namib hue, you quickly come to appreciate the finish of its paintwork on the tank and tubular frame, the intricate contrasting stitching on the seat and the fitment and gap consistency of its panels.

The quality of parts used and the overall finish certainly goes some way in justifying the purchase price, lending the bike a true sense of occasion.

Elsewhere the panniers can hold up to 11kg and offer adequate space for a weekend away, working in concert with the rear luggage rack for extended journeys. It’s worth noting the left-hand pannier is compromised spatially by the exhaust it wraps around.

The centre screen is likewise user-friendly and legible, changing settings automatically depending on the available ambient light. The TFT display offers all the key readouts, including fuel range, fuel average, riding modes and settings. About the only thing missing is tyre pressure monitoring.

Of course, you can also tap into additional functions including sat-nav when using a Bluetooth connection, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is offered.

All-weather, though not all-terrain

Getting comfortable on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel is a cinch, with broad handlebars, considered foot peg positioning and a relatively narrow, soft seat. The wide ‘bars afford an outstanding rearward view while the 830mm seat height offers a happy medium for all rider shapes and sizes.

Rubber inserts on the footpegs likewise help lessen vibration and can be easily removed if you’re off-roading.

It’s clear here that the price of entry into the Guzzi V85 TT Travel does include a strong spread of equipment. Heated grips and excellent lights offering a generous blanket of visibility on dark roads are appreciated on the early morning of our shoot.

On the move, the V85 TT Travel quickly establishes itself as a formidable open-road tourer. That fixed aforementioned windshield provides excellent protection from the elements, as do the protruding cylinder heads, surprisingly, the latter also with an added layer of warmth.

Predictable turn-in response and user-friendly modulation of the brakes and clutch lever help cultivate a nice feel for the motorcycle around town, with sound contact to the road thanks to Michelin Anakee rubber and excellent damping on everyday road surfaces.

Moderate vibration through the seat, footpegs and handlebars lend the Guzzi a certain charm around town, without overly detracting from refinement.

Those attributes are bolstered on open and rural roads as the Guzzi comfortably covers pockmarked surfaces and some broken bitumen – no thanks to recent rain on the eastern seaboard – with ease. In fact, we reckon this is the Guzzi’s happy hunting ground; a bike you could easily spend long hours touring the mountains or blazing on main thoroughfares in comfort.

The suspension soaks up imperfections strongly in this capacity, though the rear tends to take longer to recover from large washouts than some rivals. Similarly, the standard Brembo brakes are solid and dependable on test, the rear occasionally subject to some ABS intervention.

As with many modern adventure tourers, the dynamic envelope here is quite broad: the V85 TT Travel happily hunkers down through corners and offers adequate stability and agility when required, even shaking off mid-corner bumps. In fact, on the right road, it doesn’t take long before you’re grazing the footpeg lugs on the bitumen underneath…

Elsewhere, the air-cooled engine offers an ample spread of power and torque, together with a characterful thrum through the midrange. We found the gearing well sorted in everyday scenarios, allowing you to make use of the engine’s broad spread (peak power form 7750rpm and torque at 5000rpm) and flat torque curve.

The march from 5000rpm toward the circa 8000rpm cut-out is where most of the excitement happens: a cluster of lights illuminate on the dashboard as the bike crests redline and the engine takes on added urgency. At this point progress is spirited rather than explosive, lacking the fizz of harder charging units and reinforcing the fact the Guzzi is happier cruising than it is being hammered.

To that end, the engine happily percolates at a lowly 3750rpm at 100km/h, accessing additional torque with little effort for climbs and overtaking manoeuvres.

On a mountain pass, the engine feels balanced through tight corners offering ample torque and minimal inertia from the bustling V-twin. Only when you try to attack corners at a faster clip does it require constant shifting to stay in its optimum rev range.

We reckon a quick-shifter would ultimately help the Guzzi’s cause from a dynamic standpoint, though the standard unit is relatively smooth and accessed by a light clutch lever.

We averaged 4.8L/100km in a mix of conditions on test. With a 23-litre fuel capacity, that translates to a generous 450-500km range – again reinforcing the touring mindset.

What about off-road, you ask? We hit some dirt roads and open fire trails during our time with the Guzzi and found its preference is clearly aimed at the tarmac.

Riding on a 19-inch front wheel –diehards off-road insist a 21-inch front is a strict prerequisite for a venerable off-roader – the Guzzi will comfortably traverse dirt roads, holes and corrugations, but can be easily caught out with larger obstacles and will occasionally skip on extended sections of hard-packed undulations.

Clearly, there is also only so much the KYB suspension – with its proven on-road tendencies – can handle.

In the case of our testing, that came in the form of a couple of spoon drains commonly located on open fire trails. The Guzzi’s advertised 170mm travel was simply overawed by physics and the bike’s claimed 230kg mass, particularly in the rear, which crashed through the bottom of the stroke and made an awful clunk in the process.

If we rewind up until that point, it honestly covered the basics with minimal fuss. The ergonomics are equally well suited to stand-up riding, and the bike’s front to rear balance made transitions from sand to hard pack surfaces relatively easy.

The V85 TT Travel’s different riding modes also offer a strong spread of electronic intervention; hit the dirt in road mode, for instance, and you’ll actively feel the ABS doing its thing and the stability control nipping at the rear wheel to keep proceedings in check.

Switch everything off and the bike will happily pendulum its way along the dirt, liberated from the electronic nannies.

The verdict

For the hard-core adventurer, it would be easy to simply dismiss the ability and appeal of the V85 TT Travel.

However, upon closer inspection it’s clear the rugged Italian does live up to the mantle in touring and light off-road capacities – clearly, to a point.

While there are other more capable, more performance-oriented machines at this price point, few offer the kind of style and charm of the Guzzi.

A retro-flavoured adventure tourer that happily stands out from the crowd – this is a fun, capable motorcycle, and one that isn’t afraid to get away from latte set when called upon.

Specs: 2022 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

ENGINE
Engine type: air-cooled 90-degree V-twin four stroke with twin spark ignition
Capacity: 853cc
Bore x stroke: 84 x 77mm
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection (Marelli 7SM2)

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Cardan shaft

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame:  High strength tubular steel frame.
Front suspension: 41mm telescopic hydraulic fork, 170mm travel
Rear suspension: Die-cast light alloy swingarm with monoshock, adjustable spring preload and hydraulic rebound, 170mm travel
Front brake: 320mm disc, radial-mount four-piston caliper
Rear brake: 260mm disc, twin-piston caliper
Tyre: Michelin Anakee; 110/80R19 front and 150/70R17 rear

DIMENSIONS
Claimed weight (without fuel): 229kg
Seat height: 830mm
Minimum ground clearance: 210mm
Fuel tank capacity: 23lt

OTHER STUFF
Price: $24,330 ride away
Colours: Sabbia Namib
Bike supplied by: PS Importers
Web: Moto Guzzi Australia