V85TT Review After a 3000 Mile Tour to Spain: The Good, the Bad and the Bits That Drive You Mad

MotoGuzzi V85TT in Spain

The Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel had a proper test, not just a quick Sunday blast or a few local miles. This one had to deal with a full tour of Spain, around 3,000 miles of motorways, fast flowing roads, tight mountain bends, villages, rough surfaces and even a stretch of off-road running up a riverbed.

It also had to cope with a big swing in conditions, from cold northern mornings around 4 degrees, to southern heat climbing into the mid 30s. That gives a pretty fair picture of what this bike is like when it is actually used as a touring motorcycle.

And the short version is this: there is a lot to love about the V85TT Travel, but there are also a few niggles - a couple of design frustrations and two or three things that can really get under your skin if you are living with the bike day after day.

The trip that tested it properly

The route started with the ferry into Santander, then headed south toward Alicante to meet up for the more interesting part of the tour. From there, the proper riding section ran from Alicante down to Malaga over five days. After that came the return leg, using less obvious roads to explore fresh routes, viewpoints and hotel options.

That mix matters, because it exposed the bike to almost everything a touring rider is likely to throw at it:

• Long motorway slogs

• Fast sweepers

• Tight, technical bends

• Town and village riding

• Hot weather and cold weather

• Loaded luggage

• Light off-road use

So this is not a first impression. It is a real world review of the Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel after serious mileage.

What the Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel gets brilliantly right

Motorway stability is outstanding

The first thing that stands out is how planted this bike feels on motorways - it is rock solid. Once it is up to speed, it feels settled, stable and very confidence inspiring.

That matters even more on a touring bike loaded up with panniers and luggage. Even then, it holds itself beautifully. Overtaking long lines of cars, lorries or caravans is easy because the bike has the sort of torque that lets you get on with the job without drama.

Crosswinds do not seem to upset it much either; ride over an exposed section of road or a high viaduct with wind hitting from the side and it stays composed. For anyone doing long distance touring, that kind of stability is a massive plus.

The torque is addictive

This bike pulls hard and that is what makes it so enjoyable. It is not about chasing big top speed numbers; it is about how easily it drives when the road opens up or when you need to make progress carrying a full touring load.

On long motorway inclines, it just gets on with it. No fuss. No strain. It feels like the engine always has something in reserve.

Fast sweepers are its happy place

If the road is open, flowing and smooth, the V85TT Travel feels superb; this is where the bike really shines. It settles into long bends with loads of confidence and gives that reassuring feeling that everything is under control.

There is a lovely rhythm to it on big Spanish roads where the turns open and close naturally. In those conditions, the bike feels exactly like it should: relaxed, stable, and enjoyable.

The engine sound has real character

Some bikes do the job but leave you feeling nothing - this is not one of them.

The V85TT has a soundtrack that gives it personality. Roll off on a mountain descent and the exhaust chatters and burbles away underneath you. It adds charm without becoming annoying and it makes the ride feel a bit more alive.

That sort of thing is hard to quantify, but it matters; it is part of what makes a bike feel special instead of just competent.

Wind protection is better than it looks

Even though the bike has a relatively open, upright look, it does a very good job of managing the wind; the screen works well and there is very little buffeting.

An extra screen extension was fitted, but not because the standard setup was poor - it was mainly to work around a sat nav mount which I attached to the adjustable screen. Raising the screen also raises the sat nav and that was not ideal, so a small extension solved the issue cheaply.

The wind deflectors do a great job

The Travel edition comes with wind deflectors and they are worth having - they help the bike feel more protected than its styling suggests.

For a machine some people like to call retro, it does not really ride that way. It feels much more like a modern adventure tourer with classic touches, than a nostalgic throwback.

Fuelling is smooth

There has been plenty of chat about fuelling issues on some bikes, but for me it has not been a problem. In traffic, through villages and at low speeds, the V85TT Travel has been smooth and easy to ride.

That is important on a tour, because not every day is made up of perfect roads. A bike that behaves nicely in awkward, low speed situations, is a far better travelling companion.

No engine heat roasting your legs

This is one of those things that becomes more important the farther south you go.

In proper heat, especially when crawling through towns or getting stuck in slow traffic, some bikes cook your legs. The V85TT does not. Even in very hot conditions, there was hardly any noticeable heat coming off the engine.

For summer touring in Spain, that is a serious advantage.

The fuel range is excellent

The range on this bike is superb. Around 250 miles on a tank is easily within reach and that changes the rhythm of a tour. You stop when you want to stop, not because the bike is demanding fuel every day.

For long distance riders, that is a genuine benefit: fewer fuel stops means smoother travel days and more flexibility when petrol services are sparse.

The panniers are very light

The standard panniers are impressively lightweight, which is a big tick for a touring setup. Heavy luggage systems can quickly make a bike feel cumbersome, so the low weight here is definitely welcome.

Unfortunately, that same luggage setup also leads to one of the biggest annoyances on the bike; we'll talk about that later.

I added straps on the panniers as I wasn’t fully convinced that they wouldn’t fall open!

The little niggles that may start to annoy you

Not every issue is serious - some are just the sort of thing that repeatedly irritates you until they simply become part of the bike’s personality.

The switchgear can be awkward

The high beam button is easy to hit by mistake. It is not a disaster, but it is one of those repeated little annoyances that keeps happening.

The hazard light switch is another one. It sits under the starter button and is very easy to press accidentally when starting the bike. If you do not notice, you can end up leaving the hazards flashing when you stop and remove the key. Then you have to put the key back in just to turn them off.

Again, not a major fault - just irritating.

The fuel range display is oddly slow to update

The TFT dash is generally very good, but the estimated fuel range does something strange: it updates after you stop and restart the bike, rather than continuously adjusting as you ride, so you might travel 50 or 60 miles and still see the original range estimate until the next restart. It is hardly the end of the world, but it does seem a bit daft.

The side stand can catch your boot

With certain boots, especially chunkier touring boots, the side stand design can snag your foot as you put it down. That can feel awkward and slightly unsettling when it happens unexpectedly.

This may not affect everyone, but it is one of those small usability things you notice once you start living with the bike.

Neutral can be frustrating to find

Trying to snick it into neutral while rolling gently toward a stop is often more trouble than it is worth. In practice, it is easier to leave it in gear, come to a halt and sort neutral out afterwards.

That is not ideal, especially on a bike intended for easy touring life.

The mirrors have a blind spot

The mirrors are serviceable, but they are not brilliant. There is a definite blind spot that requires a proper shoulder check to cover fully.

You should be doing that anyway, of course, but some mirror setups are simply more helpful than others. These could be better.

A very cold engine can feel flat pulling uphill

This is a more specific issue, but worth knowing - if the bike is stone cold and you ask it to pull away uphill straight away, it can feel reluctant and lacking in drive.

That becomes noticeable in places like underground car parks with a steep exit ramp. The simple fix is to let the engine run for a minute or two before setting off. Once it has a little warmth in it, the problem disappears.

Easy enough to manage, but still something to be aware of.

The phone app does not reconnect automatically

The Moto Guzzi phone app is useful when connected, but the connection process is clumsy. Each time the bike is switched off, the link drops. When the ignition comes back on, it does not automatically reconnect.

That means you can be some way down the road before realising your music or other features are not available because you forgot to pair it again. It is another small but persistent annoyance.

The tank bag issue you won't notice until everything falls out

One practical surprise came from fitting a Givi tank ring and tank bag.

Because of the angle of the tank and the way the bag sits, opening it in the normal orientation meant the contents wanted to spill out. The workaround was to rotate the ring so the bag opens toward the rider instead.

That solves one problem but creates another. The cable access point on the bag ends up on the wrong side, so charging kit has to be rerouted. The solution here was to fit USB chargers under the seat and run the cables from there.

It works, but it is a faff. And it is the sort of thing you only discover after buying the setup.

Where the handling starts to unravel

This is where the review gets more serious.

On sweeping roads, the V85TT Travel feels excellent. On tight, technical bends, especially when the pace picks up or the line is not perfect, it becomes much less forgiving.

It rewards smooth, accurate riding

If you are in the right gear, carrying the right momentum and taking the right line, the bike can be lovely through tighter corners. Get all three right and it flows through beautifully.

The trouble starts when one of those elements is slightly off. That is the real world, because nobody gets every corner perfectly right all day long.

When the entry is a little untidy, or the braking is a touch sharp, or the line is not ideal, the bike can feel unsettled. Instead of helping you recover, it can feel like it is making life harder.

The front end dives too much

One likely cause is the front suspension. Under braking, the fork can dive quite heavily. If that happens just before turn in, the bike pitches forward, and from there it can feel awkward as you ask it to lean and hold a tighter line.

That does not inspire confidence on demanding roads and it may well be improved with suspension adjustment. The rear was tweaked during the tour and improved noticeably, so the front probably deserves the same attention.

Ground clearance is not brilliant

Another limitation is ground clearance: there were moments where boots touched down, and not at silly lean angles either. That happened on both left and right handers. It is the kind of thing that gets your attention very quickly.

If you ride briskly on mountain roads, this is worth knowing. The bike is not especially eager to be hustled hard in tighter stuff.

It feels heavier than expected when loaded

The bike did not feel especially heavy on a short test ride, but once you add the panniers and top box and head into real roads, the weight becomes more noticeable.

That extra heft is not much of an issue on open roads. In quick left to right transitions or when entering a corner a bit hot, though, it is definitely there.

Compared with more nimble machines, the V85TT does not flick through technical bends with the same ease.

White villages of Andalucía

Probably not the best choice for a novice

This may not be popular, but it is a fair conclusion from the way the bike behaves: for a newer rider, especially one still learning how to manage gear selection, corner entry speed and line choice, this may not be the friendliest bike in tight bends.

It can be wonderful when ridden well, but it is less tolerant of mistakes than some alternatives. That makes it a better fit for someone who already has a bit of experience and a decent feel for cornering.

The panniers are light, but the design is a pain

The side opening panniers are probably the most disappointing practical feature of the whole bike.

Yes, they are light. Yes, they are easy to take on and off. But side opening luggage is awkward when you are actually touring. Unless you use inner bags, things can spill or shift too easily. And if you do use inner bags, you lose some usable packing space.

That leaves a choice between convenience and capacity, which is not ideal on a travel bike.

The alternative is swapping to aluminium luggage, but that adds a lot of cost and extra weight. So the standard panniers are something to persevere with first, but they are far from perfect.

The biggest surprise: the seat

Here is the real curveball.

At first sit, the seat feels comfortable. Around twisty roads, shorter stints, and stop start touring days, it can seem absolutely fine.

But on long, dull transition days where you are sat in one position for hour after hour, the seat becomes a real problem.

After an hour and a half or so of steady riding without moving around much, it started to become seriously uncomfortable. On one long day heading south, it got so bad that frequent stops were needed just to walk around. The discomfort did not vanish the next morning either. It took time to recover from it.

And the same thing happened again on the return leg across flatter, less interesting roads.

That is what makes it such a frustrating issue. The seat feels fine until it very much is not.

For touring riders, that matters a lot. Transition days are part of the deal. If the seat makes those days miserable, it becomes one of the biggest weaknesses on the bike.

Changes I've already made that improved the bike

A few additions and adjustments helped make the V85TT Travel a better touring companion:

• Crash bars fitted

• Water bottle mounts added

• Sat nav mount installed

• USB charging fitted under the seat

• Handlebar risers already on the bike and very welcome

• Rear suspension preload increased by roughly two and a half turns

  
  

The rear suspension adjustment made a noticeable difference. Before the change, the back end felt a bit bouncy. After the tweak, it felt much better controlled.

That gives some hope that a proper setup session with the front suspension may improve the dive and, in turn, the bike’s behaviour in tighter twisties.

So, is the Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel a good touring bike?

Yes, it is. Absolutley. In many ways it is a cracking motorcycle.

It looks fantastic, feels full of character, sounds great and does a lot of touring duties extremely well. On motorways and sweeping roads, it is properly impressive. The engine has loads of useful torque, wind protection is strong, heat management is excellent and the fuel range is genuinely brilliant.

It is also comfortable in the general sense. The riding position is pleasant, the bars feel good and, for most riding situations, the bike is easy enough to get along with.

But it is not flawless, and the flaws are not all minor.

The main drawbacks are these:

The seat can become agonising on long, steady days, the side opening panniers are impractical, the bike is less forgiving in tight corners than you might expect, the front end dive needs attention and a handful of smaller niggles can chip away at the ownership experience.

If your riding is mostly long distance, sweeping roads, scenic touring and motorway work, the V85TT Travel has a lot going for it. If your priority is attacking tight mountain hairpins with complete confidence, especially when your line or braking is not perfect, then it may frustrate you.

Final thoughts after 3000 miles in Spain

The Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel is one of those bikes that can be both lovable and irritating at the same time. It has charm, presence and some genuinely excellent touring qualities. It also has a few habits that can leave you muttering into your helmet.

That does not mean it is a bad bike. Far from it. It means it has a distinct personality, and whether that personality suits you depends on the sort of riding you do most.

For big miles across Spain, for mixed road touring, for comfort in the wind, for torque, sound, and range, there is plenty here to enjoy.

Just keep an eye on the seat, think carefully about the panniers, and do not assume it will flatter you in every tight bend.

Get those bits sorted, and there is every chance this bike could become a very good long distance companion indeed.