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V85TT updates for 2021

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Apparently, the V85 will be getting more low- and mid-range torque, new tubeless tyres and new wheels, 2 more riding modes (sport and custom) and a new matte black paint job.
Thanks Tom. More info below...

01_v85_tt_2021.webp

BIG NEWS IN 2021 FOR THE TWO VERSIONS OF THE CLASSIC TRAVEL BIKE FROM MANDELLO

ENGINES WITH MORE LOW-END AND MEDIUM-RANGE TORQUE, FIVE RIDING MODES, NEW WHEEL RIMS FOR TUBELESS TYRES AND NEW GRAPHICS

2021 is an important time for Moto Guzzi as it celebrates its 100th birthday. A century of tradition, passion, great commercial and sporting success; one hundred years of magnificent motorcycles that have always been built in Mandello del Lario, combining the best technologies and the most valuable Italian manufacturing. Since 1921, these have been Moto Guzzi values.

Therefore, in observance of such a strong tradition, the V85 TT was born, dedicated to adventurous trips, which have always been part of Moto Guzzi heritage, in their purest and most original conception, bringing to mind the strong image of desert competitions like the Paris–Dakar, the famous African race which experienced its glory days in the early ‘80s.

The fundamental concepts at the base of the V85 TT are minimalism, ease and practicality, typical of enduro bikes from that decade that could be used to do anything, from daily commuting to adventurous travel, values that are being lost in an increasingly commercial market where the products proposed favour significant sizes and weights. Moto Guzzi V85 TT has achieved the ambitious goal of combining a style based on bringing back those values with the equipment of a modern touring enduro. For this reason, it has earned the title of the first and only classic enduro on the market.

After the success achieved by the V85 TT from critics and the general public since its début, for 2021, Moto Guzzi presents an updated version of its best seller, based on the requests of its fans. The improvements involve primarily the engine. The construction layout is still the exclusive one of all Moto Guzzi bikes currently in production: a 90° transversal, air-cooled V-twin with a pushrod and rockers timing system and two valves per cylinder (intake cylinders in titanium), the pride and tradition of the Mandello Eagle. The unit now has greater torque at low and medium rpm thanks to optimised lifting of the pushrod and rockers timing cams and a consequent adapting of the engine control electronics. The new spoked wheel rims now mount tubeless tyres: together, they guarantee about 1.5 kg lower weight, reducing the unsprung masses which benefits the already outstanding riding dynamic. As for the riding assist electronics systems, two new Riding Modes (Sport, suitable for more sporty riding and Custom, customisable) join the existing three (Strada - Street, Pioggia - Rain, Off-road) to manage traction control, ABS and the response of the Ride-by-Wire throttle. Cruise control and the colour TFT instrument panel also come standard. Using Moto Guzzi MIA, the Moto Guzzi multimedia platform optionally available in the vast range of accessories in the dedicated catalogue, you can connect your smart phone to the vehicle, extending the instrument panel’s functions.

The three versions of graphics available for the V85 TT are also new: Nero Etna, Giallo Mojave and Rosso Uluru.

V85 TT Travel receives all the technical upgrades of the V85 TT; as in the past, its complete equipment package makes it stand out, preparing it for any trip and including a Touring windscreen, side panniers from the Urban series with high cargo capacity and reduced lateral bulk, the pair of supplementary LED lights and the set of adjustable heated hand grips, as well as the Moto Guzzi MIA multimedia platform.
 
The unit now has greater torque at low and medium rpm thanks to optimised lifting of the pushrod and rockers timing cams and a consequent adapting of the engine control electronics. The new spoked wheel rims now mount tubeless tyres: together, they guarantee about 1.5 kg lower weight, reducing the unsprung masses which benefits the already outstanding riding dynamic. As for the riding assist electronics systems, two new Riding Modes (Sport, suitable for more sporty riding and Custom, customisable) join the existing three (Strada - Street, Pioggia - Rain, Off-road) to manage traction control, ABS and the response of the Ride-by-Wire throttle.

Do you think these changes can be implemented on the 1st gen V85TTs? I don't mind not having 2 new riding modes, but the increase in torque would be nice to have, if it's very noticeable.
 
Great on the tubeless tires but I'd be amazed if it even has 1 more foot-pound at 2500 so don't get too excited yet. Probably some slight changes to get by euro 5
Unless they re-cam'ed it. They did this with the Stelvio, and I wish they hadn't. What it really needs is a top gear over-drive. The gearing for the Southwest U.S. is too short/high revs at speed.
 
Am I the only one that doesn't mind tube wheels? Should I care :speechless::D?

Unless they re-cam'ed it. They did this with the Stelvio, and I wish they hadn't. What it really needs is a top gear over-drive. The gearing for the Southwest U.S. is too short/high revs at speed.

May you kindly elaborate about the re-camming and why you wish they hadn't?

And yes, that over-drive is waaay overdue. They should implement it somehow so that even the 1st Gen V85TTs can have them replaced or something like that.
 
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And yes, that over-drive is waaay overdue. They should implement it somehow so that even the 1st Gen V85TTs can have them replaced or something like that.

How do propose this happens? Would you like to see an additional gear, or perhaps drop the existing 1st gear, and stagger the ratios across the rest? I think first gear is already too high -8 speed box the ultimate solution?
 
Am I the only one that doesn't mind tubeless wheels? Should I care :speechless::D?
Do you mean you don't mind tubed wheels?
May you kindly elaborate about the re-camming and why you wish they hadn't?
The '09 Stelvio shared the engine with the Griso A5 engine (cam), solid mid-range with a nice hit of power in the upper RPM ranges. In '11 they went to the A8, a "more midrange" cam, and lost all of the top end hit. In '12, they revised again with the roller rocker profile (A10) engine, which is much improved, but the top end rush is still gone. For a big and heavy ADV bike, the top end power of the A5 engine was wonderful. I’ve done many Stelvio turned to Griso cams on the roller rocker update kits. ;)
I think the V85TT engine/cam profile is decent, I just wish it had a 6th gear overdrive.
 
How do propose this happens? Would you like to see an additional gear, or perhaps drop the existing 1st gear, and stagger the ratios across the rest? I think first gear is already too high -8 speed box the ultimate solution?

I honestly don't know how they would do anything that would involve implementation to 1st Gen bikes and reducing RPM at highway speeds, I just don't want to buy an entire transmission to make that happen :D


Do you mean you don't mind tubed wheels?

Right, tubed wheels is what I meant.
 
I really dig the V85TT, but I think I’ll hold out for a pure street version. The FI operating system is a great upgrade over the old V7’s system and tubeless spoke wheels seal the deal. I just don’t see myself needing an ADV formatted bike...I’d rather just buy an old dual-sport.
 
Has anyone found any photos of the new 2021 V85TT "Travel"? I'm curious if has undergone any cosmetic styling tweaks, similar to how the "Adventure" model graphics were updated. So far, I've not been able to find any concrete examples of a 2021 "Travel" model.

Here's the "Adventure":

v85tt-new.webp

__Jason
 
Another thing I wished they fix was for the gear shift indicator to work all of the time even while clutch was in!
Unfortunately, the current indicator is "working as designed." In order to get it to work the way you want, they would have to throw out the current solution and build something new from scratch. Fixing it isn't possible.

__Jason
 
I like the color scheme on that, but for something as special as a 100th anniversary edition, I think they should have given it the same trim level as the "top tier" Travel version.

Also, a brown suede saddle on that would look great :)

__Jason
 
It's got a brown suede saddle :) and to be fair, I don't want the travel kit - big fat heavy metal boxes? No thanks - soft luggage all the way
 
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