tell me about your V85tt ownership

[FatAl]

I was out yesterday on my favourite roads, stopped off at Stoneyhurst College to admire the building, and then to the Riverside Tea Room at Slaidburn for a brew and a low calorie fruit scone, sadly no clotted cream available


I've now done just over 900 miles, the spanner came up on the dash at 900. I can't get it booked in for a service until mid September, just as well I've got a holiday in Italy before it. Looks like I'll be on my 650 Interceptor for a while. It's been sat in the garage this past few weeks looking sad and neglected

 

[Jazbee]

Al, your bike with Givi Outback Trekker panniers.... looks good
I have the top box but not the panniers, I use an Ortlieb bag on back seat for a tour.

 

[FatAl]

yes they look good and very robust. I did get a free pair of 'Urban' panniers with it, ( I think they are the one's that the V85 Travel is supplied with) I've yet to ride the bike with them on. I think for the limited amount of long distance touring I'll be doing in the foreseeable future the 'Urbans' will be OK.

 

[longdog]

They look good, how asymmetrical are they between the exhaust side and the opposite side?

 

[Jazbee]

St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife today for a wee run....... Old Course ️

 

[FatAl]

I had the 900 mile initial service done by A+D last week at 1050 miles. They loaned me a new Suzuki DR800 to go home on which was rather nice, but perhaps just little to tall for me, but it had a nice smooth motor and very comfortable. Still prefer the V85tt though.
The service cost £204 which included a valve clearance check so I thought the price was fairly reasonable, they also fitted my engine protection bars for free. They seem a good bunch there so I'll use them for the next service to keep the warranty up, after that I'll probably do my own maintenance.
I've now got over 1200 miles and looking forward to getting plenty more on. I should have been going for a five day ride about in Scotland next week, but have had to cancel due to a long awaited hospital appointment suddenly coming up. Probably just as well as the weather forecast up there next week isn't too good.

 

[AustinW]

Did I see you on Monday Al. V85 just outside High Bentham on the Slaidburn road. I was heading towards Slaidburn two up on a Red& White V85. Grey one, solo, heading towards Bentham. I did wave.

 

[Clifton]

The V85TT and I attended the Guzzi rally in Frankfort Kentucky last week for 4 days of pleasant riding, camaraderie, and of course bourbon. Weather couldn't have been nicer.



The more I ride my V85 the more I like it.

 

[FatAl]

Did I see you on Monday Al. V85 just outside High Bentham on the Slaidburn road. I was heading towards Slaidburn two up on a Red& White V85. Grey one, solo, heading towards Bentham. I did wave.

No mate, I was with Brut33, it was Gourmet Monday. We were at Knott End Chippy for lunch, and Rufford marina for afternoon tea.

 

[FatAl]

Just fitted a Cool Covers seat cover. I was finding that as I dismounted my right boot was sometimes scuffing the rear (passenger) section of the seat. Not just protect the seat but it's made the already comfy seat better. I've also found that these are effective in the summer to reduce sweaty arse syndrome, and in the rain lifts your backside a little, away from the water that can accumulate around there. I've had them fitted to a Honda CB500X and a T120 Bonneville (both these covers are for sale if anyone interested)

 

[AustinW]

Just fitted a Cool Covers seat cover. I was finding that as I dismounted my right boot was sometimes scuffing the rear (passenger) section of the seat. Not just protect the seat but it's made the already comfy seat better. I've also found that these are effective in the summer to reduce sweaty arse syndrome, and in the rain lifts your backside a little, away from the water that can accumulate around there. I've had them fitted to a Honda CB500X and a T120 Bonneville (both these covers are for sale if anyone interested)

View attachment 284979View attachment 284980

I’ve got one on mine. Bloody brilliant, especially in hot weather. Looks pretty good too.

 

[MartinK]

Interesting thought. My V85TT and my GS are the same age. Both 2019, both 20 odd thousand miles. V85TT has never been back to the dealer.... GS has had new cams, an oil leakage, 3 throttle bodies.... V85TT has been a gem !!!

 

[FatAl]

Interesting thought. My V85TT and my GS are the same age. Both 2019, both 20 odd thousand miles. V85TT has never been back to the dealer.... GS has had new cams, an oil leakage, 3 throttle bodies.... V85TT has been a gem !!!

I think Moto Guzzis often get unwarranted bad press regarding build quality and reliability. I remember posting on the forum back in 2009 when I bought my first Stelvio and one or two wags thought it funny to slag off Guzzis and reckoned I'd have a shed load of bother. I had two Stelvios and apart from one having to have a speedo sensor replaced and have two suppressor caps replaced due to a misfire in the wet, they were fine. Meanwhile I was reading on the forum about BMW final drive failures, and some problems with immobiliser attennas or some such thing, and some issues with the fuel system.
Having said that my mate has an 18 month old V85tt that's done about 10,000 miles and he's found his steering bearings a bit notchy, so not completely perfect, but there we go.

 

[AustinW]

There’s a bit of paint peeling from the alternator cover at the front of the engine. Other than that mine at 4 years old and 30,000 miles is still in very very good condition. It certainly doesn’t look like a 30,000 mile bike and I would say the paint and overall finish is significantly better than my old BMW R1200 gsa.

A couple of early well known issues were fixed under warranty but none of them were significant really (weep of oil from FD, oil pressure switch, and a few under-torqued bolts that I did myself). Wheel bearings after an 8000 mile two up trip this year.

My 2011 GSA at similar age and mileage was definitely showing wear and tear with the rear subframe and the screen support both very scabby. Rear wheel hub looked nasty too, and front engine cover well on its way out, and the whole bike had already lost its gleam.

 

[FatAl]

My pal in Edinburgh (not Posh Pete) bought his Stelvio at the same time I got my first one. Having no garage his bike stood out on the road uncovered 24/7, and gave him very little trouble. Admittedly after seven years of this it was starting to get a little ropey and developing a 'patina', however it fared far better than his R1150GS ADV that had been parked up in the same place for fewer years.
It might just be me, but I reckon BMW that I once considered top quality bikes have been building down to a price since the turn of the century. I seem to remember the quality of paint, chrome, and metals of the old 'air heads' being superior to their later bikes and always better than the other major manufacturers, although the Hinckley Triumphs IMHO were pretty good if my old 900 Trophy was anything to go by.

 

[Borderbob]

These are good, I had dry gloves despite some torrential downpours over the last few days.....

From Givi

Which hand guard extensions are those? I've been thinking of getting bigger ones but I don't really want to go down the Bark Buster route. These look like they will keep the weather off.

 

[AustinW]

I’ll answer for him as I think I know what they are….Givi extenders on the standard guards.

 

[Zorro]

I’ll answer for him as I think I know what they are….Givi extenders on the standard guards.

+1, I find they are very good for weather protection and reducing buffeting

 

[Fluffmeister]

Those givi hand guard extenders work really well, and are a really easy fit. Kept my mitts warm and dry in August in Switzerland


My fault for packing sunscreen

 

[FatAl]

When I see that snow and ice I'm glad it was only raining when I was there.