Moto Guzzi V85TT: honest review by owner, update after 10 000km

This is an update for my original review after the first major service for V85TT

[@tangoreal9098]

2020 V85 Travel 10500 miles 4 months. 40% off road. I can assure my V85 has taken a beating off road on trails most would not travel. No mechanical or electrical problems. 2 front tire changes due to normal wear. 2 rear tire changes. Anake adventure just changed at 10K second Anake wild on front. Now running Motoz Adventure on rear. Replaced exhaust guards after ripping on off on a stepped rocky road. I purchased and ride as a big dirt bike and it’s impressive. I change oil frequently around 1500 miles no oil consumption. Although oil gets very dirty very quick. Updating breather to KandN due to dust leaching past stock filter.no complaints very satisfied.

[@scolarichris]

For me the most attractive part of this bike is how it is easy to do the maintenance, and how all the parts are accessible. You can do everything by yourself. Valve clearance for example. Try to do a valve clearance on a Japanese bike, you have to remove the cam shafts!!

[@nikos-giorgos]

No, you don't.

[@egrandmaison]

Thank you for the great review! I had a 2020 Africa Twin that was so uncomfortable for my long legs. The fit on the V85TT is so much better for me, plus it’s more enjoyable to ride in my experience.

[@bobbyblueace]

Very detailed and informative review and well delivered too. Excellent. Thanks.

[@vaerenbergh]

Thanks for the revieuw, i did not see valveadjustments every 1k km in the maintenance manual, been looking for a low maintenance bike like this

[@endo9913]

Great overview, thanks. I learned a lot

[@nickralph6765]

very interesting points you raised here. very helpful.

[@TwoHemiViewer]

Great feedback well done.

[@2dollarbill650]

I find the tires are good on the road but you are right about the horrible noise that they make.

[@walkoptic]

Thanks for you video update. I bought a 2021 V85 centennial a month ago and it’s just had its 1500 km service. For me, so far so good. It’s a joy to hear that engine working,I love it! My only complaint was Wind noise. I bought the bigger screen which didn’t really help. I tried the different helmets that I have (Shoei) I found the most expensive one 😟 the quietest. BUT even with the larger screen there was a ‘sonic’ boom from 55 kms per hr. So I then bought the extension screen which looks awful but definitely helps . And now I use ear plugs as well ! I know there are better bikes out there but in my opinion the Guzzi has loads of character .( my other bike is a Triumph Speed twin) Ride safe guys 👍😎

[@Kristisltu]

Have you tried Givi touring screen? That one is working great ;) stock travel one is not suitable for me too, but have heard a lot of great reviews from people riding with Givi :)

[@walkoptic]

I’m actually Not sure what my extension screen is ,it’s not a givi but it’s working 😊👍. My bike came fitted with Dunlop tyres and I have no complaints but again we’ve had no rain for months. Our rain season is usually from October ( Johannesburg) I’ll definitely not use the bike off road so the Dunlop’s on my bike are definitely a more road focused tyre.

[@hensola]

@@Kristisltu There are two types of Givi screens - one which is 60cm taller and another which is adjustable. I upgraded to the taller Moto Guzzi screen, but I still get wind vibrations for my height (182cm). Just not sure which Givi screen to go for at this time. Still love my V85 though :)

[@bicikla_amuzo]

I'm using ear blugs on every bike. I let "Hörluchs" make a set for me, that cancels wind noice frequences by round about 60%. The result is ammazing. I can hear my bike and other positiv noices around me much better now, while riding. The blugs costing 150,-€ a set custom made for your ears, but its a great increase of riding pleasure in my opinion.

[@tordamsleth7460]

Regarding oil consumption, I bought a new Bmw F 750GS last year and it used some oil in the first 5000km. Now it seems to have stabilized and it probably has something to do with running in the engine.🙂

[@grahamwright8447]

I have a 2020 model , no issues, but does it really matter if you have do do some maintenance along your ownership journey. No oil used in 3000 miles , no corrosion, no squeaking, no bland Japanese bike . I have no issues with the tyres ; find they grip well , no notable noise. What it does have , is character, the feel of being built by a person not a machine.

[@MsDenver2]

You can buy ceramic protectors for the alloy on your foot rests

[@curtisg7924]

Great info. Thank you.

[@MESTER47]

Hei man, great review and because you have a Garmin watch I'll listen all your advices for this bike! Many kilometers with this bike! You will buy it again, or you'll buy something else? Thanks so much and appreciate it! I'm thinking about a bmw, probably r nine t, because it has a drive shaft also, what's your opinion?

[@nomadpi1]

Thanks. A pertinent review of data, garnered from a true cross-country trip on foreign roads. showing weathering effects on the machine.

[@davidcollazos8985]

I like your videos.... beautiful moto the V85tt ..what about in terms of vibrations when cruising?...

[@mart7404]

Thanks for your insight. It appears you’ve updated the wind screen. Are you happy with the new one? Also it looks like the engine guards are not OEM? Are the GIVI more protective? I just purchased a 2021 V85TT and am looking to get engine guards and pannier racks set up for it. Cheers

[@Kristisltu]

Crashbars are original with just a Givi sliders addon, see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqi7nqeJls90r6s My windscreen is OEM travel version with an added small screen. All i can say is that for my height - they are as bad as it gets ;) i would recommend getting a Givi screen instead. But going back to OEM engine guard - they will have a tad more vibration due to additional bar going through the engine. So if u didnt buy it - try an sw-motech, givi or some other crash bar instead of oem :) but crash protection wise - they all perform well

[@nickralph6765]

i have Givi engine bars. They looked more substantial compared with oem

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

Thanks for a good review. Your English is excellent! Knowing what you do now about the bike - good & bad - if you had your time again, would you still buy it?

[@Kristisltu]

Thanks! Yes, but... :) bike is fantastic and is as tough as tractor and beautiful as true italian. But the only bike i would trade it would be MV Agusta Turismo Veloce. Yet Guzzi is much more reliable, robust and much more suited for travels :) All in all, really great bike, simple maintainance and at very competitive price. Probably the main issue is that u need to go after every bolt yourself at delivery + change gearbox oil (MG constantly underfills it) as soon as possible.

[@stoicwarrior346]

Thank you for the feedback, next time try not to do the review next to what sounds like a highway!

[@Kristisltu]

My bad, didnt sound too bad :)

[@velocita8842]

Honest review....thanks. I am considering this bike 2021 version. I wonder how many of your issues were sorted in the latest version?

[@Kristisltu]

The main changes were the rims and updated ecu. The rest are just quality control :)

[@LoL22761]

hey! for the rear shock squeaking, i had the same thing around 8k kms, just unscrew it, there's like a metal ball that rotates inside the connection point on both sides on the shock, clean it completely ( i used white oil) then when you look at that ball there's like a central "path" on it, spray some chain lube inside that path and around the ball, then mount it again on the bike. I'm at more than 30k kms now and never had that same squeak again, even though i'm going to detach and cleaining it again soon just out of curiosity :)

[@bicikla_amuzo]

I can confirm that procedure. I had the same issue with BMW GS and, once lubricated no issue anymore for over 100tkm. It's not a Guzzi issue. This happens from time to time on bikes of every brand, too.

[@darkomisic5875]

Pozdrav, Kris! Vrhunski review! Jako mi se sviđa motor, uspio sam odraditi test vožnju nedavno - motor se lagano vozi i jako je udoban! Jedina stvar koja me je dosta zabrinula jeste toplota od motora. Nisam ga vozio sporo, niti čekao na semaforima, a osjetio sam da jako grije (vozio sam u običnim farmericama). Mogu misliti kako bi bilo na +40 u sred ljeta. Da li si imao slične probleme?

[@Kristisltu]

I'm sorry, but i will reply in english :) There are no issues for yourself in high heat, but engine tends to ping when hot and especially in Croatian mountains. Yet... Its easy to overcome, just remove the catalyst, install a Mistral plug or just a new map and its no longer overheating. Stock catalyst is the main source of heat

[@darkomisic5875]

@@Kristisltu thanks! Did you de-cat your engine, and did it solve the issue?

[@Kristisltu]

@@darkomisic5875 yep, just a few days ago, but im waiting on a Mistral plug still

[@kevinlee3174]

Good review. For a bike you love, there are alotta "buts" - lol. It is disappointing that for a late model, 21st century "low compression" two-valve twin that high octane fuel must be used.

[@Kristisltu]

Its a dieing breed of air cooled motorcycles :)

[@SteveJohnson-sn9gq]

Try Continental Trail Attack 3 tires. They are great, good grip and quiet. There 90/10. I got ride of my Michelin’s early on, way too noisy.

[@Kristisltu]

Actually, thats what i have changed into. Fantastic tires and way better handling than Anakee

[@Damian78687]

Hello Kristis. Furter to your experience with this beautiful bike, could you share your honest attitude to this bike? Would you buy it again? I got the opportunity to buy a new Tiger 900 for a good price and need to make a decision until the end of the year. I like very much the guzzi but didn't have a test ride. I was cinsidering to chose between this teo bikes. I have to wait till the spring because of the winter time to test ride... thank you in advance for any information 😊 Cheers from PL.

[@Kristisltu]

Yes, i would buy it again, but... Would go for 2021 version and not the new facelift as i love the colors of mine :) as for anything else - its a rather basic bike and is extremely easy bike to work with and comfy when traveling. The biggest minus of it is speed. Its comfortable up to 110km/h, anything above that - its a working experience :) Tiger can coast at much higher speed. Also, stock tyres are absolute garbage on the road :)

[@Damian78687]

@Kristisltu thank you :) Have a wonderful new year!

[@themarvelousvintage76]

Yes but adjust valve very easy on this bike you remove top engine part has adjustment screw you dont need buy a shim o remove cam chain......take 20 minuts do valve adjustment on guzzi I have honda its nightmare

[@themarvelousvintage76]

@ᴛᴀᴘ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴇ Riley I don't own v85tt I just went dealership and tried the v7 pretty much Carrie samd engine little bit detune on v7 so I dont really know about windshield......

[@tkpvideo8557]

Would you buy it again?

[@dimitris2679]

hi! do you like the big windshield? I have a lot of wind on my helmet with it, it's really annoying. Does that windshield extention work for you? Should I try install one at mine?

[@Kristisltu]

Stock one has way too much buffeting for me. And that small add-on is enough for me (im 191cm). But i have also have the height set in 1/3 way up. If i'd increase the height - it again increases buffeting. If u want my opinion, if u are my height or higher - choose Givi screen. They are way better from what i've heard from taller riders. If u are up to 190cm - that extension might work, but u will still get some flow to the very top of the helmey, around the top of visor

[@marcel6264]

@@Kristisltu @Dmitris K K, agree with Kristis. Have the same RMA extention on the tour screen. Beter go for the Givi airflow.

[@walkoptic]

Hi Dimitris, I’m 1:83 mtrs tall . The extension screen I bought definitely helps me. I experimented with different helmets,different windscreen settings etc etc. And I find ear plugs help as well !! The ‘sonic’ boom I experienced was unbelievable and it started at only 55 kms per hour. My other bike is aTriumph Speed twin. A so called naked bike. I get less helmet noise on this bike than on the V85. But with the extension screen I’m much happier. Safe riding guys 😎😊

[@dimitris2679]

@@Kristisltu Hi again. I am 1.76, I tried having the height all the way up . I get too match buffeting and side wind on my head. I tried it at the lowest position and I have similar wind problem , and I have also tried the stock one for the most of the kilometers I have already done with the bike and I think is the best one , It doesn't provide wind protection but I don't have that match of buffeting and side winds at my head. Maybe I'm gonna get the big givi windshield .

[@morenobaruffini2689]

I’m a guy with a 2019 model and yes, my headers all completely rusted...😅

[@piotrwozniak9141]

Can't comment on the bike but I have absolutely no clue what You are talking about the tires. I'm using a 2nd set of them on my Tiger 900 and they are absolutely sweet on both dry and wet termac.

[@Kristisltu]

OEM and off the shelf tyres are a bit dofferet, even the model is the same :) but im glad u have possitive experience with them

[@theodoreberbach9562]

I test rode a V85tt recently I have 2 big gripe about it. The throttle is very snatchy and the shocks is too soft and it dive a lot. The shocks can probably be adjusted. But the throttle is just way too snatchy

[@Kristisltu]

Yep, shocks are adjustable and as for throttle - mine was the same for probably the first 500km. I dont know if its due to ECU self learning or just components beding in...

[@tomaskral4685]

Hi there! I just moved to Croatia and will be bringing my BMW and Moto Guzzi bikes down here as well. You mentioned you had your 10000km service done there. Could you please mention their address and how you were satisfied with their service? (I'm guessing not too much since they screwed the oil filter the wrong way..)😃 Thanks!

[@Kristisltu]

Theres only one dealer on the coast - Motostar. I dont want to say anything bad publicly :) they did everything i've asked them to except - didnt enter the service data into the dealer system and made a horible mess under the bike :) just double check on these two things and u should be golden :)

[@tomaskral4685]

@@Kristisltu ok, I will!- thanks Kristis!

[@blueyesITA]

as of now, did you actually have to adjust the valves every 10k kms?

[@Kristisltu]

Not really... if u dont constantly overheat it - u can go by feeling. Mine were way off at 5k km, but after that - they are super solid. Also, stock values will get your engine pinging. You should use 0.15/0.20 intake/exhaust and engine will sound way better and will have less pinging :)

[@MsDenver2]

How bad is the vibration as I’m looking at shaft driven bikes for long distances

[@Kristisltu]

Depends on your tolerance level. If you drive between 90-120km/h - its very smooth. If you will go above that - it vibrates and resonates, if bellow - you will feel vibration yet non resonating. It's definitely not highway cruiser

[@benevolentprime3214]

You have to grease the bushing

[@MsDenver2]

You can also buy an oil cooler

[@Kristisltu]

You can, but theres no place to fit it if you have crash bars ;)

[@LightInnDmountain]

Honest advice…….. wear safety gear, or at least shoes (dome kids are watching and cloning dome decision ) . Otherwise the review is great 👍

[@Kristisltu]

I am, but this was 100m away from flat and with 33C heat, so... :)

[@WereWolf27181]

From what I know from this company because I intend to get one. It has a warranty for 4 years and an unlimited number of kilometers. As for temperature ... all machines have this especially in the summer, think the machine is at your feet.

[@Kristisltu]

At least in Lithuanian market the warranty is 2 years only ;)

[@WereWolf27181]

@@Kristisltu here in Cyprus 4 years. 🇨🇾

[@aussie1546]

Please tell me that you are NOT riding in sandals......

[@Kristisltu]

Im not ;)

[@aussie1546]

@@Kristisltu LOL

[@aussie1546]

Stay safe

[@WilkoLV]

Sounds like the most unreliable bike of all time with all those issues. My friend has one, and had his collected from his house on a flatbed truck three times in the first ten weeks for engine and brake issues. Once or twice in the same year after that for other issues. I don't know if he still has it. Where I have a DRZ400 that is 18years old, and a Honda CBR that is eight years old and they never skip a beat. My 2018 brand new Z650, that I had for eight months was completely fine to! No warranty issues or things going wrong. Only thing was bad OEM tyres, but that's the same for 99% of new bikes..

[@Kristisltu]

Dont get me wrong, bike is reliable as hell. All those small issues like loose bolts are common with 2cyl bikes (for example HD guys always carry a wrench and locktite :D). The other issues like under-filled gearbox - that's a bigger issue. I would also partially blame that on the dealer which probably skipped PDI (pre-delivery inspection) and just gave me the bike. But outside of that - its a great bike. Just MG has morons running the technical department and all of their stated maintenance statistics and recommendations are off by a lot. But all in all, bike itself is bulletproof and only issues are with factory fills and lack of adhesives on bolts...

[@gere7739]

Its a bad bike or a bad bike shop? Who and how check the bike befor sell It Is a Key element. The bike is good and reliable.

[@Dave-sw2dm]

If I had limited funds, I'd be happy with your bikes. Enjoy! Fortunately, I can afford to try different bikes for a time.

[@emsenjansgasten]

@@Kristisltu reliable as hell? i don't so if i hear all the stories on you tube, to bad, otherwise i will buy one..such great model

[@Kristisltu]

@@emsenjansgasten cant comment on other stories, but i have mentioned all the small nimbles here. Had way more problems with BMW and Yamaha, and those problems were trip ending, unlike with MG

[@NirLouk]

It look like you need to be brave or crazy to buy a new bike that has so many issues after only 10k. But then I noticed - Are you riding with sandals???? Really??...

[@Kristisltu]

Nope, just went up a hill from a house, max 100m ;) It does not have as many problems as iy might seem. More or less, half of them are because of me beeing picky :D

[@kaosbc]

coat the bushing with lithium grease

[@Kristisltu]

I'm doing this after almost every wash/rain. It doesnt help too much as its an open bushing and water gets in very easy thus creating the mess again

[@marcinbielecki]

Super review but this place you choose... Its horrible, very noisy

[@Kristisltu]

My bad, thought it was better on site than on vid 😇

[@sv650nyc7]

I really appreciate your detailed review, but please please please never record again next to a busy street. It's really annoying and distracting.

[@kevinlee3174]

Good review, decent coverage for a bike you love with alotta "buts" - lol. So disappointing to read about a late model "low compression" two-valve 21st century twin needing high octane fuel.

[@russellbanks5815]

needs a oil cooler....!

[@Kristisltu]

It does, but theres no easy place to route it if u have crash-bars :(

[@janvanginneken5387]

Maybe it wasn’t your intention, but I think your review of all the problems after only 10 K is devastating for the bikes reputation.

[@Kristisltu]

Perhaps :) but yet again, im picky, more than the half of people would have just skipped issues i noted :) also, i have only had 1 visit to dealer of warranty issues and it happened at first 1000km which was due to very strong resonating vibration at 3.5-4.2k RPM. And was fixed by a softwere update. As for more annoying small stuff like loosing bolts every now and then - this is a 2cyl engine and yet still its not as bad as it is with HD bikes :D and my idea here is to show the other side which is usually left out by real journalists or reviewers - small and common everyday issues and TCO of the bike over some time span.

[@nickralph6765]

i get your point, but i'm new to biking and found the review interesting and potentially helpful. There are tips here warning about potential rusting, so we can now try to prevent this. All bikes will have there foibles i'm sure. if you buy a small production Italian bike it's unlikely to be the same as a mass produced Japanese bike. You buy with your heart.

[@themarvelousvintage76]

@@nickralph6765 i have japanese bike honda 2018 the turn signal they broke 2 time with inline 4 vibration so.japanese bike build taiwan there are really not much better maybe engine the rest its all cheap plastic after a while will crack

[@nomadpi1]

Those comments re: his "destroying" the bike's reputation----> remember where he's been and where he is! That's a long trip on poor roads, salt damage and the bike's wearing is due to true road travel under weather conditions not found in piddling UK riding or the U.S. A point is similarly made by a review circa nathanthepostman's trip across the USA; look at his bike while he speaks.

[@aaronis31337]

This video makes me not want this mike anymore. These issues shouldn't be happening on a new bike. I hear the 2021/22 models are mostly fixed however.

[@Kristisltu]

Most of the issues are quality control. For example - pre delivery inspection. So with a good dealer its not an issue. But such stuff like underfulled gearbox - yes, this was annoying :) but as i have said in the vid, this bike is bulletproof, all of the small issues were insignificant