V85tt E5+

[benellifred]

Been toying with the idea of changing my Centenario V85 for a while now and was pretty sure it would be for a Stelvio…… I test rode one a while back. It was ok, but that was it, just ok….

Then I saw the new V85tt at SP motorcycles down to £9999. It arrives next week

That price is actually £250 less than I paid for the Cent new 3 years ago…….

Fred

 

[Wrinkly]

Been toying with the idea of changing my Centenario V85 for a while now and was pretty sure it would be for a Stelvio…… I test rode one a while back. It was ok, but that was it, just ok….

Then I saw the new V85tt at SP motorcycles down to £9999. It arrives next week

That price is actually £250 less than I paid for the Cent new 3 years ago…….

Fred

Nice one Fred. I owned the New Stelvio and Euro5+ back to back for several months. I only ever intended keeping one of them. I kept the V85.

 

[EKIMYRF]

Nice one Fred. I owned the New Stelvio and Euro5+ back to back for several months. I only ever intended keeping one of them. I kept the V85.

We did a review of the Stelvio and the first gen V85 and I preferred the V85

 

[Clifton]

I'll offer my thoughts, having both in the garage. The Stelvio is faster, noticeably more powerful, handles better at higher speed, and offers better aerodynamics with smoother airflow. But it's not quite as comfortable, the suspension is pretty harsh, and engine heat becomes noticeable around 31+c. It also produces quite a clunk and lurch when engaging 1st from neutral from clutch drag with high idle speed. Valve clearance inspection on the Stelvio is at least double what is called for on a V85, 12k vs 6K IIRC, but will be a lot more time consuming to check and much more involved to actually adjust.

I enjoy riding the Stelvio with its wonderful power delivery and sound but it requires accepting some compromises. The V85 does not, as long as 60 or so rear wheel HP is adequate, which generally is for me. Besides the two Guzzi's I have a few others, and were I to keep only one motorcycle I believe it'd be the V85TT.

BTW Mike's video is nicely done and accurate IMO.

 

[MartinK]

Good points all round ^^^^
But
I had a V85TT for 2 years and 13k miles. Loved it.
Traded for a V100 Stelvio last year and not looked back.
Got it setup as I like it, including the suspension. Done a 1600 miles trip of Ireland last year and thought it was almost perfect. Rode with Mark (ikkje) on his 1250 GS. Mark's a nifty (IAM) rider and I would have had to be pretty brutal with the V85TT to keep up (if I could have kept up at all!). The Stelvio has that extra torque out of corners and overtakes IMO allowing a brisker pace to be maintained with ease.... I did love the character and simplicity of the V85TT, but now swayed by the extra performance of the Stelvio....

 

[EKIMYRF]

At the end of the day they are both superb bikes

 

[Arsey]

At the end of the day they are both superb bikes

It’s just that the V85 is superberer

 

[EKIMYRF]

It’s just that the V85 is superberer

the best ever nothing has ever been that good superberer .... to use current parlance

 

[Clifton]

I just returned from taking the Stelvio on a little 60-70 mile ride this afternoon and it was delightful. It was all on smoothish little 2-lane roads and the temp was around 23-24. The engine's throttling is spot on and the power it makes along with its nice sound is wonderful.

 

[Posh Pete]

I just returned from taking the Stelvio on a little 60-70 mile ride this afternoon and it was delightful. It was all on smoothish little 2-lane roads and the temp was around 23-24. The engine's throttling is spot on and the power it makes along with its nice sound is wonderful.

If that's Fahrenheit, you;re a brave man! If it's Celsius, I'm very jealous!

 

[benellifred]

Thanks everyone for your input. The thing that really helped sway my decision was the price.

Also, I find it pretty ironic that this forum seems to be the best place for Guzzi chat, compared to other places

 

[EKIMYRF]

Thanks everyone for your input. The thing that really helped sway my decision was the price.

Also, I find it pretty ironic that this forum seems to be the best place for Guzzi chat, compared to other places

We have impeccable taste

 

[Clifton]

If that's Fahrenheit, you;re a brave man! If it's Celsius, I'm very jealous!

24f is way too cold for me, Pete. It hit 76f yesterday and supposed to get to 71 today. A brisk 48 now at 8:40 as I'm off to Old Men on Old Bikes at Rising Creek Bakery.

 

[benellifred]

Picked it up yesterday. As good as every one says it is. Strangely, the bike feels bigger than my cent, unsure wether it is or wether it’s just me……

 

[LockieP]

Picked it up yesterday. As good as every one says it is. Strangely, the bike feels bigger than my cent, unsure wether it is or wether it’s just me……

Maybe the bike is the same size but you’ve shrunk?

 

[benellifred]

Maybe the bike is the same size but you’ve shrunk?

I can only hope…..

 

[Peter Perfect]

I'd rather that Guzzi started their prices lower and built in small increases, than started high and then dropped the new price!! Yamaha and their 700 is a text-book study of how to price correctly. They came in low and crept the new price up. Owners could ride for two years, then get all their money back against a new one!

 

[MartinK]

Away touring with my brother and his V85TT

Been nice trying them back to back

 

[benellifred]

500 miles in. The new V85 is as good as I hoped it would be. Just a little bit better in every aspect than the older one. And real looker in the grey/white

 

[Jazbee]

My V85TT GDO at Broughty Ferry beach today, great bike for coastal jaunts on sunny days