I ran the Stelvio and V85 together for 6 months. I kept the V85. The R1300 ASA is a great bike and I have a physical need for it. But I do miss my V85.
V85 new colours 2026 and 2025 deals
- Thread starter wessie
- Start date
That's a difficult one Nick. I'd done quite a lot of mods to my Euro5+, exactly the same bike as in the picture. Changed from spoked to alloy wheels, a slightly firmer ride but improved the handling no end. de-catted, mistral velocity stack and fuel enriching device. Other addons not performance related i.e. engine bars and stuff like that. It was my perfect bike. I could happily sit in my shed for an hour or two, with a couple of beers, more or less just looking at the bike. Something in it stirred my soul.
I just loved the way it rode, not massively powerful but quick enough and a joy to ride. Plus it's (in my eye) fabulous to look at and half the price of a 1300gs. The 1300 gs is without doubt a far superior bike than the V85, but do I want to sit in my shed with a beer and look at it... No.
It always felt just a little bit special riding it. Joanne alays called it my 'Goomah' Italian mistress.
Do it Nick, I doubt you'll regret it. And if you find it's not for you, move on.
I recently bought a V85TT to go alongside my R1300GS. Very different bikes, even if they cover the same brief in marketing terms. Unsurprisingly, the V85 has more character, more foibles and (to my eyes) is more attractive to look at. The R1300GS is efficient and 'sensible'.
The V85TT is comfortable and fun, and with plenty of power (and more importantly torque) to provide a relaxing ride. I got mine from MotoGB in the Potteries (last of the 2025's) at the end of January and just had the 900 mile service a couple of days ago. So far, so good.
The V85TT is comfortable and fun, and with plenty of power (and more importantly torque) to provide a relaxing ride. I got mine from MotoGB in the Potteries (last of the 2025's) at the end of January and just had the 900 mile service a couple of days ago. So far, so good.
I have had lots of bikes, particularly RT’s, GS and GSA’s but had a disagreement with a dealer and sent my BMW back and I had a 2020 v85 from new, £10k, ran it a year and sold it with 10k on the clock and not a problem. Sold it to a local chap and kept in touch with him. I regretted selling it and when he decided it wasn’t for him after 2 years I bought it back with 12k miles on it, ran it to 22k miles and then decided I wanted a change and sold it. Instantly regretted it and pined for it….i was stupid. So after a year with KTM 1290 s adventure which is an exceptionally lovely fast and spec’d bike but just delivers its performance at to high a speed than what I need, I have taken the plunge again and bought another V85
I have my soul mate bike and am loving it. Bags of character, gorgeous looks, stylish and does all I need. I even did full servicing on my old one and when the warranty expires on this I will do the same
They take a while to get under your skin but the longer you have them the more you love them…..a bit like the kids !
I have my soul mate bike and am loving it. Bags of character, gorgeous looks, stylish and does all I need. I even did full servicing on my old one and when the warranty expires on this I will do the same
They take a while to get under your skin but the longer you have them the more you love them…..a bit like the kids !
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Good choice john, they are a cracking bike.
Come on Guzzi, get an auto clutch sorted for the V85
I was admiring a V7 Sport in the dealers last week, according to the spec sheets on the the bikes, the different versions of the V7 (Stone, Sport etc) all have a different state of tune but all are less the the V85. As they are all 853cc lump, I don't get why they don't use the V85 lump in the V7's
I guess they can meet the V7 Sport E5+ emissions target at that 67hp/79Nm level using the older engine configuration.
My E5+ V85 has 80hp/83Nm but they have had to add VVT to the top end to meet emissions. If they added this engine to the V7 then it is going to drive up the price of that model to over £10k, when it is already looking a bit spendy compared to other European branded bikes in the retro sector, with many of them now made in Asia.
I wondered if it might be something to do with aiming the V7 at A2 licence holders, I assume the V85 can't be restricted for A2 licence holders. Even so they could do a premium version of the v7 sport with the pokier lump (for me
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Just bought this from Mark at Mototechniks..... Great to deal with !!
Bike at 0 miles registered 30.12.25
Its colour I wanted & on a deal with over 2k off ...
Not done many miles yet... but so far very very impressed with it.... super frugal...
Looks like I'll get 280 miles out of a full tank
Does it really need it? The clutch is so light you can pull it in with 2 fingers, heck it takes more grip strength to pull the brake.
Congratulations! If you like it now wait until it settles in at around 3,000 miles
I was at Mototechniks last week and they were loading a new one in these colours into their van for delivery. Probably yours. Looked very classy standing there in sunlight.
I once had over 300 out of a tank. But I was trying very hard.
Congrats and enjoy the bike.
