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V85 just doesn't have the beans for serious 2 up...

FedeleMotoGuzzi

FedeleMotoGuzzi

Cruisin' Guzzisti
GT di Razza Pura
Joined
Dec 22, 2021
Messages
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Location
Southeast Texas
...or does it?

Goal: I'm actively in the shopping stage of "I'm gonna sell all of my bikes this spring except for the MG 850 Special and buy a single "NOT AS HEAVY AS WE CURRENTLY HAVE" bike that will possibly get us to the grave".

Background: I'm part of the older riding crowd. Some might have been involved in my past posts and know my background (a "has been" and only exists for the laughs). My wife and I ride together on all two wheel options in our shop except for the bicycles. We aren't big people...skinny with long killdeer legs. Together with our riding gear on, we are 330ish lbs. Our long distance commuting bikes are the 2017 Triumph Trophy SE and a 2021 Yamaha SVTC. The TTSE is a dream, but the top heaviness is very noticeable at the end of a long riding day (6 hours max for us). If she so much as lifts an arm outside of my shoulder planes to point at something, I feel this bike's top heaviness real quick. The SVTC has ruined her (and me). Should have never bought this one! My 2 pair of skivies, tool essentials and her 3 kitchen sinks fit perfectly and the bike doesn't even notice the load. HOWEVER, on the local metal recycle scale, we weigh just over 1500 lbs. Handling, braking and even long redlights are OK with this 965 lb bike loaded to the gills. The reverse and electronically adjustable windshild are the cat's meow except at the end of a long days worth of riding. Even with the lower center of gravity, we've Weebled & Wobbled and slowly laid on the ground 4 different times. America's Funniest Home Videos would probably enjoy seeing us two older light weights trying to Jui Jitsu leverage this monstrocity upright. She is the ballast on the up side foot rests and I'm doing the lifting. Looks like she's hanging backwards on the side of a catamaran and I'm doing a deadlift in two weight classes above my weight! It works, but this whole circus just proves that we are a time bomb waiting something worse to happen. We also have a nice 2003 CalEV, but our legs are too long and it becomes uncomfortable too quick for our frame/joints.

Considerations: I had an order in for a 2025 Strada, but backed out because I just can't find enough data from actual owners that have more than one or two trips riding two up with 3 boxes loaded to the gills (we honestly know what and how to pack, but we do use all of our spaces). Lot's of speculative answers and those that just want to be helpful without having any actual experience on the V85. I found a single post on here from Mid 2023 by @cyclezen with two good responses from @Vagrant and @SirIzak. Maybe they will chime in on this post and give some updates from their experiences since 2023. This Saturday, I'm going to ride a low mileage 2017 R1200GS. I'm very against the "look at me and what I ride" BMWs and HDs, so this pains me that I'm even considering it. However, I have to be honest with myself after the hours of internet and showroom floor research. The R1200GS with all three BMW emblems covered by Tractor Supply stickers only weighs 25ish pounds more than a similarly equiped V85 and it does get a lot of great reviews. I've ridden 3 different V85s. Only one was with my helpmate. It had all three boxes (empty) and a 4 mile ride around the block just doesn't tell the tale for any of us. Based solely on our two up experience, seems that 1000cc power and frames are a good minimum. Like many, I've got MG blood and it's difficult to marry into another clan. Especially the "look at me Broke My Wallet" clan.

Any actual V85 owners that ride two up frequently enough and loaded to the gills?
- what are both your sizes?
- how are the following on long highway streches?
* ability to pass long lines of cars at highway speeds?
*STability when passing long lines of cars OR around semi-trucks?
*does the bike struggle with the weight at a cruise controlled 70-80mph?
-what else can you add that I might need to know?

Thanks in advance for the conversation.
 
Well, if you drop the hammer to pass doing 80 it will be better than a 1963 VW but you won't be impressed.
When I was 250# bare ass naked for my first four years on V85"s. I did a lot of trips fully loaded with all three bags. It's one of the least top heavy bikes (of this style) out there. Top heavy is why my 15 Versys 1000 went away for a 650 Versys. Even though it was very close to a V85 in the spec sheet it went away for a new V85 last month. There are a lot of deals out there on used 21-23 V85's I'd suggest you get one and try it for a while. Prices run from $7000-9000.
If you were closer to one of mine I'd let you try it for a couple of days.
 
I won’t be investing ANY time or money on the new Guzzis, but when asking about documented power, my painful and time exten$ive work linked below for those who aren’t too ignorant or cheap. Though it’s all coming to an end anyway, as 1~2 sales per year for my dyno proof and product development, to display here for free, is futile, and only seems to bring people here to try to argue with me. Most seem to all buy Chinese products and sensor foolers (with zero data proof) and their head up their proverbial argumentative cheap asses, for "improving" their hand-built limited production motorcycle.
That said, the 500# E5 V85TT is fine with my mods (fully loaded) if you ride more sedately and don’t spend much time above 80 mph.

GTM®

Thread 'GTM Fuel Kit - E5 V85TT Performance Mods & Dyno graphs and PC6 info'

We can FINALY offer a FULL dynamic Fuel kit for the E5 V85TT only (sorry, no '19-20 E4 models YET).

Bone stock E5 models pull ~65 RWHP on our Axis Dyno. Below is an overlay for the mods and power at the tire. You must use BOTH GTM BT FT AND PC6/AT-300 (Purchase info HERE) if you want full power.
At the bottom are some quick notes on installation for the PC6. Our maps are developed around our SAS Kit, and big power numbers include an opened air box lid with high-flow element. In order to use the AT-300, your exhaust MUST have large M18 02-sensor bungs - the GTM Headers...
  • Like
 
I have not ridden 2-up on the V85TT, but I routinely stuff all 3 bags (I really like the aluminum bags) and find it very stable at any speed. I have even filled them with tools and test equipment to go rescue friends with car trouble. The V85 definitely feels less top heavy than other bikes of its type. I had a BMW 650GS Dakar that I never liked because it was a little too tall for me and felt very top heavy. The V85 is actually heavier, but feels much lighter than the 650GS. I rode a rental GS1250 from Anchorage, AK to Portland, OR in 2019 and really liked it, but did not want that large of bike for my adventure riding. I was really hooked on the V85 when I first saw one and have been very happy with it. You will find that the big GS has more power than the V85 so you need to think about how much power you really need. I noticed a bit of increase in power when I replaced the OEM paper air filter with a K&N so I have no doubt that the GTM fueling kit would make a big difference--it would give you more power without the higher weight of a larger bike.

For what it is worth, the V85TT could be my only bike if I did not already have the R1150RS. I like the gearing of the V85 better than the shaft drive BMW's. The BMW 6-speed transmissions have closer ratios between gears and their overall gearing makes first gear faster than ideal for slow maneuvering.
 
@GTM®

So very sorry to hear about your results of the fire. Hurts my heart. I can only imagine.

IF I pursue the V85, I have had in the back of my mind to pursue your perf mods. Your data makes too much sense and I'm baffled hearing about the lack of interest in proven results. You/your store offer so much value! Thanks for all you do for the community.
 
What Todd was able to get out of the V85tt to me is astounding. 83 hp and 63 ft torque is very good. Todd just did my 1200 S with PC and AT200 and got 78 hp and 65ft and has got plenty of power for two up riding. I don’t know how much lighter the V85tt is but I would think that a V85tt with Todd’s mods would certainly work for you.
 
FedeleMotoGuzzi said:
So very sorry to hear about your results of the fire. Hurts my heart. I can only imagine.
IF I pursue the V85, I have had in the back of my mind to pursue your perf mods. Your data makes too much sense and I'm baffled hearing about the lack of interest in proven results. You/your store offer so much value! Thanks for all you do for the community.
Click to expand...
Appreciated. It's only starting to surface on how tough this will be. We shall see if I am still offering anything by the time you are ready. Some like what I offer, not many will step up and purchase anything. Most simply complain about the cost. It's a big expense, one that I understand is a tough one to swallow, but power costs money. Especially in today's world. Not many will spend for our micro brand.
groundhog105 said:
What Todd was able to get out of the V85tt to me is astounding. 83 hp and 63 ft torque is very good. Todd just did my 1200 S with PC and AT200 and got 78 hp and 65ft and has got plenty of power for two up riding. I don’t know how much lighter the V85tt is but I would think that a V85tt with Todd’s mods would certainly work for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks Bob, as you know, not many believe my documented proof here. The V85TT (as noted above) is ~500 lbs ready to ride, so the 1200S shows it to be around that number "dry," so call it ~540-ish ready to ride. Next you have your bike in my shop, remind me to weigh it.
 
Anybody that is on the fence about purchasing the PC6 and autotune should go into the forum and read what the results of this tuning combination does for the running of the different guzzi models. Yes it’s expensive but when you look at the cost over the years of use the cost is very reasonable. We here are very fortunate to have the knowledge and expertise of Todd but he cannot stay in business and carry on with this forum without the support of the Guzzi community in both supporting the forum and buying from his store and using his shop when you need work done.
 
groundhog105 said:
Anybody that is on the fence about purchasing the PC6 and autotune should go into the forum and read what the results of this tuning combination does for the running of the different guzzi models. Yes it’s expensive but when you look at the cost over the years of use the cost is very reasonable. We here are very fortunate to have the knowledge and expertise of Todd but he cannot stay in business and carry on with this forum without the support of the Guzzi community in both supporting the forum and buying from his store and using his shop when you need work done.
Click to expand...
I've purchased more than a handful of items from SAS to shocks and know the quality and value of the offerings. IF I go with the V85 Strada consideration, I will embellish it with ALL of the performance mods that Todd has so graciously and diligently developed!

Irritatingly enough, over the last week, I've worn out my eyes and mouse fingers trying to narrow down my search. No different than 20 years ago, I think motorcycles are like shoes...a person cannot get along with just one pair. I need (want?) tennis shoes for speed and cornering, rubberboots for offroad, comfy dad shoes for the long haul. My dream of just one bike is, again, turning into a "pipe" dream...might have to be OK with having more than one bike in the shop. ;)

AND FINALLY, I've also added the 2025 Stelvio to my list. Like most on here, MG is a bloodtype for some. After 5 MGs over the decades, they get under the skin, in the soul and cause heart palpitations!
 
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We ( the wife and I ) rode two up on a CB360T … but we are a couple light weights,
But I don’t see how the TT would not be up to the task unless your talking about cross country tours with luggage, even then How much luggage are we talking ???
 
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DeadEye said:
We ( the wife and I ) rode two up on a CB360T … but we area couple light weights,
But I don’t see how the TT would not be up to the task unless your talking about cross country tours with luggage, even then How much luggage are we talking ???
Click to expand...
We live in a power demanding world these days. Newer riders especially so.
 
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