So this weekend, a BMW dealership had a demo ride for all 2019 models that they currently had in stock on the floor. That included the 310GS, 750GS, GS850, and the GS1250, as well as a few of their cruiser bikes. I have never rode on an adventure bike, but I've always loved and saw the the GS1200 series as a "one day I'll buy" bike. But my big concern is would I even really like adventure bikes in practical terms - I love them in theory, but will they actually work for me in their size, setup, and performance. They let me test each bike for a good 20-30 minutes including free way use and around town driving.
I rode the 750, 850, and 1250. All three were really wonderful. Huge smile on my face the whole time. The suspension felt extremely nimble and all three bikes felt very capable for this novice and absolutely wonderful on freeways for those long commutes. These bikes had more bells and whistles then I could shake a stick at too.
I bring this up because, after finishing the day of test riding, I got back on my v7, thinking maybe the v85tt wouldn't make sense for me. Maybe I should stray from the Guzzi brand and get a BMW and keep my v7 for my around town romper. The BMWs gave me cheek to cheek smiles the whole time and they were stunners, but then I got on my v7 and that visceral rawness, that beautiful sound from the exhaust and a professional tune (thanks Todd), and it really hit me that the v86tt might just be the perfect next bike. I hope it can hit that middle ground of being a fun middle weight adventure bike, capable both at commuting and on those dirt roads, but also provide a little old school rawness like the v7s. One thing for certain is that Adventure bikes are in my future and most closely aligned with the style of riding I like, I just never realized it until I rode the BMWs.
Fingers crossed that this v85tt has that guzzi magic.
I rode the 750, 850, and 1250. All three were really wonderful. Huge smile on my face the whole time. The suspension felt extremely nimble and all three bikes felt very capable for this novice and absolutely wonderful on freeways for those long commutes. These bikes had more bells and whistles then I could shake a stick at too.
I bring this up because, after finishing the day of test riding, I got back on my v7, thinking maybe the v85tt wouldn't make sense for me. Maybe I should stray from the Guzzi brand and get a BMW and keep my v7 for my around town romper. The BMWs gave me cheek to cheek smiles the whole time and they were stunners, but then I got on my v7 and that visceral rawness, that beautiful sound from the exhaust and a professional tune (thanks Todd), and it really hit me that the v86tt might just be the perfect next bike. I hope it can hit that middle ground of being a fun middle weight adventure bike, capable both at commuting and on those dirt roads, but also provide a little old school rawness like the v7s. One thing for certain is that Adventure bikes are in my future and most closely aligned with the style of riding I like, I just never realized it until I rode the BMWs.
Fingers crossed that this v85tt has that guzzi magic.