Moto Guzzi V85 TT
2026 Moto Guzzi V85 TT: 80 hp 853 cc twin adventure bike with shaft drive, 230 kg, €13,600. Full specs, press reviews and rivals.
At a glance
The Moto Guzzi V85 TT is a retro-styled road-biased adventure bike powered by an air-cooled 853 cc transverse V-twin (80 hp) with shaft final drive. Priced at €13,600 (€12,100 with the offer running until 31 October 2026), it sits between the Honda Transalp and the BMW F 900 GS, with the lowest power of its direct rivals. Reviewers praise its comfort, character and brakes, but criticise 230 kg for 80 hp, vibrations around 5,500 rpm and the lack of a quickshifter.
World press review
Meta-score
7 sources
Press ratings
Brembo brakes better than expected, good rider and passenger comfort; vibrations around 5,500 rpm blur the mirrors, soft fork that dives under braking, variable valve timing barely noticeable in everyday riding.
Pleasant, present twin, modern rider aids, low-maintenance shaft drive, standard cruise control and timeless looks; high weight relative to power, no quickshifter, not made for tough off-road terrain.
Pleasant engine, good road manners (especially the Strada), a mature project and well-sorted electronics; no standard centre stand, no preload knob on the Strada.
Compared with the Euro 5 version, the new V85 TT gains, thanks to variable valve timing, the engine authority it lacked, with a turbo-like torque plateau.
Looks, engine personality, precise front end, quality suspension and brakes, electronics; engine a little short with a passenger, no quickshifter or slipper clutch, TT and TT Travel a little expensive.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
Reviews cover the 2024 generation, technically identical to the 2026 model year. MCN rates it 5/5 and Motorcycle.com 84/100. RevZilla, 1000PS, Moto.it, MOTORRAD and Le Repaire des Motards tested it without a numeric score.
What reviewers like: the charm and character of the twin, smoother and torquier since the arrival of variable valve timing (MCN, MOTORRAD); comfort and damping quality (MCN, RevZilla); strong Brembo brakes (RevZilla, Le Repaire des Motards); electronics that are finally up to date and standard cruise control (Motorcycle.com, 1000PS); a project that has reached maturity (Moto.it).
What they criticise: high weight relative to power (1000PS, MCN); vibrations around 5,500 rpm and a soft fork (RevZilla); no quickshifter (1000PS, Le Repaire des Motards); switchgear seen as generic (MCN); a flimsy stock skid plate and a GPS mount that is hard to position (Motorcycle.com); the centre stand being optional (Moto.it); a price slightly above its rivals (MCN, Le Repaire des Motards).
Key quotes
"The V85 is nicely made, pleasing to ride, good looking, comfy… and it’s a Guzzi. And, deep down, everyone secretly wants a Guzzi, don’t they?"
"Character, it turns out, is a powerful feature, and compromise is a good thing."
"Overall, the V85 continues to be a solid niche bike but the addition of the Strada is a great call on Moto Guzzi's part to broaden the appeal of the model, improve street performance, and target riders who can be honest with themselves about never leaving pavement."
"All in all, the classically beautiful Moto Guzzi V85 TT - or Strada and TT Travel - is still a wonderful touring motorcycle that feels most at home on the road and is made for relaxed cruising, although it can also take corners with real agility and of course also masters easier off-road passages."
"It is a project that has been gradually refined over the years until it reached an enviable maturity, and in which it is hard to find a real flaw, except in the equipment, which, at least on the Travel, should almost have included the centre stand as standard rather than as an option."
"At last, the Moto Guzzi V85 TT has the engine authority it always deserved."
"Unique and iconic, the Moto Guzzi V85s belong to the protected species of timeless travellers."
Pros
- Characterful twin, torquey from 3,500 rpm
- Comfort and damping quality
- Strong Brembo brakes
- Shaft drive, no chain to maintain
- Standard cruise control and IMU
- Claimed range of over 400 km
Cons
- 230 kg for 80 hp
- Vibrations around 5,500 rpm
- No quickshifter or slipper clutch
- Soft fork under braking
- Centre stand and heated grips are optional
- Dearer than a Transalp or V-Strom 800DE
Our review
Which versions and at what price?
The V85 range includes three models in France. The V85 TT, covered here, is listed at €13,600 in Giallo Wadi or Grigio Yanar Dag. The V85 TT Travel (€15,100) adds side cases, a Touring windscreen, heated seat and grips, Moto Guzzi MIA connectivity and the Custom mode. The V85 Strada (€12,600) is the road version, with cast aluminium wheels and a low front mudguard. Until 31 October 2026, Moto Guzzi France offers a €1,500 customer discount across the range, bringing the TT down to €12,100. In the United States the TT costs $12,790; in the UK, £12,240.
No 35 kW version appears in the 2026 French range. Moto Guzzi does mention A2 licence eligibility in its promotional offer and sells an “optimised cornering ABS - 35 KW” accessory, but the restriction details are not published, so they should be checked with a dealer.
What does the 2026 model year bring?
Nothing technical: Moto Guzzi only announces new colours for 2026. The last update dates from 2024, when the V85 was fully overhauled with variable valve timing, a six-axis IMU, a 5-inch colour TFT screen and a new windscreen.
How good is the engine?
The 853 cc 90° transverse V-twin (84 x 77 mm) keeps its pushrod-and-rocker valvetrain, two valves per cylinder (titanium intake valves) and air cooling. Since 2024, a centrifugal mechanism with six balls rotates the camshaft between 6,500 and 7,000 rpm, by up to 7° at the cam (14° at the crank). Power is back up to 80 hp at 7,750 rpm (76 hp on the Euro 5 version) and torque reaches 83 Nm at 5,100 rpm, with 90% available from 3,500 rpm. Fuel injection uses a single 52 mm throttle body, and lubrication is semi-dry sump. The gearbox has six speeds and final drive is by shaft, an exception in this displacement class according to Moto Guzzi.
MOTORRAD considers that variable valve timing finally gives the twin the authority it lacked. RevZilla barely feels its effect in everyday riding and notes vibrations around 5,500 rpm; Le Repaire des Motards finds the engine a little short with a passenger.
What chassis?
The tubular steel trellis frame uses the engine as a stressed member. The asymmetric aluminium swingarm houses the shaft drive. The 41 mm upside-down fork and the side-mounted shock (knob-adjustable preload) offer 170 mm of travel. Braking combines two 320 mm floating discs gripped by Brembo four-piston radial monobloc calipers and a 260 mm rear disc. The 19- and 17-inch tubeless cross-spoked wheels wear Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres (110/80-19 and 150/70-17). Ground clearance is 210 mm, seat height 830 mm and weight 230 kg kerb (209 kg dry).
Moto Guzzi no longer publishes the steering geometry. RevZilla and Moto.it give a 1,530 mm wheelbase and RevZilla 128 mm of trail, the same figures as Moto Guzzi’s 2021 manual. Rake figures differ: 25.7° for RevZilla and that manual, 28° for Cycle World.
MCN praises the comfort and damping; RevZilla finds the fork soft under braking.
What electronics?
The IMU enables cornering ABS and traction control (MGCT). Four modes are offered: Road, Sport, Rain and Off-Road, the latter limiting ABS to the front wheel, which can be switched off. The Custom mode is an accessory (€99) on the TT. Cruise control, LED lighting with daytime running lights and a USB socket are standard. There is neither a quickshifter nor a slipper clutch, two omissions noted by 1000PS and Le Repaire des Motards. Heated grips (€259) and a centre stand (€199) are accessories.
Who is it for?
The V85 TT targets riders who value character and comfort over performance: 1000PS describes it as a touring bike at home on the road, capable on easy trails but not made for tough off-road riding. Shaft drive and a claimed range of over 400 km suit that purpose. More expensive than a Honda Transalp (€10,349) or a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE (€11,299), it costs less than a BMW F 900 GS (€14,500) or a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro (€16,395).
Fuel consumption and maintenance
Moto Guzzi quotes 4.9 L/100 km and 119 g/km of CO2. None of the reviews consulted publishes a measured fuel consumption. The available Moto Guzzi documents (2020 and 2021) call for an oil change every 10,000 km or 12 months; the 2024 manual is only supplied against a frame number.
Recalls
No recall affects the 2024-2026 generation (NHTSA, Safety Gate, RappelConso). The first generation was recalled in 2019-2020 (oil leak from the final drive seal, footrest pin clip), and a 2023 European campaign addressed a risk of engine stalling.
Specifications
| Displacement | 853 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 80 hp @ 7,750 rpm |
| Torque | 83 Nm @ 5,100 rpm |
| Weight | 230 kg (kerb, tank 90% full); 209 kg dry |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 2.88 |
| Seat height | 830 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 23 L |
| Fuel consumption | 4.9 L/100 km — 119 g/km CO2 (Moto Guzzi figure, test cycle not specified) |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 10,000 km or 12 months — Valves: adjustment every 10,000 km (Moto Guzzi documents 2020-2021, previous generation) |
| Engine type | 90° transverse V-twin, 4-stroke, 2 valves per cylinder (pushrods and rockers), variable valve timing, air-cooled |
| Cooling | air |
| Transmission | 6-speed, shaft final drive |
| License | A |
| MSRP | €13,600 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 84 x 77 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 10.5:1 (Moto Guzzi 2021 manual, previous generation) |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection, single 52 mm throttle body, ride-by-wire |
| Valve train | Pushrods and rockers, 2 valves per cylinder (titanium intake valves), centrifugal variable camshaft timing |
| Max power RPM | 7750 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 5100 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Euro standard | Euro 5+ |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Tubular steel trellis, engine as stressed member |
|---|---|
| Trail | 128 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1530 mm |
| Ground clearance | 210 mm |
| Front suspension | 41 mm upside-down fork, adjustable preload and rebound, 170 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Side-mounted monoshock, remote knob preload adjustment, adjustable rebound, 170 mm travel |
| Front brake | Dual 320 mm floating discs, Brembo four-piston radial monobloc calipers |
| Rear brake | Single 260 mm disc, two-piston floating caliper |
| Front tire | 110/80-19 (tubeless cross-spoked wheel) |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 (tubeless cross-spoked wheel) |
| ABS system | Cornering ABS (six-axis IMU); in Off-Road mode, front-wheel-only ABS that can be switched off |
Electronics & rider aids
| Riding modes | Road, Sport, Rain, Off-Road |
|---|---|
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Not available (neither standard nor as an accessory) |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Dashboard | 5-inch colour TFT |
| Connectivity | Moto Guzzi MIA standard on the TT Travel only |
| Other features | Six-axis IMU (cornering ABS and MGCT traction control), Custom mode as an accessory (€99), LED lighting with daytime running lights, USB socket, Aluminium skid plate, Hand guards, Aluminium rear rack |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Road adventure: upright, wide handlebars |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | Windscreen manually adjustable over 5 positions (70 mm), hand guards |
| Max total weight | 448 kg |
The V85 TT offers a road-adventure riding position, upright with wide handlebars, and an 830 mm seat. The windscreen adjusts by hand over five positions and 70 mm; according to Moto Guzzi, air pressure on the rider is 37% lower than on the previous generation, and the hand guards are wider. MCN and RevZilla highlight rider and passenger comfort, Motorcycle.com improved ergonomics but a GPS mount that is hard to position. RevZilla notes that vibrations around 5,500 rpm make the mirrors of little use. Moto Guzzi’s 2021 manual gives a maximum permissible mass of 448 kg.
Ownership & maintenance
~Over 400 km (Moto Guzzi claim, 23 L tank)
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 10,000 km or every 12 months |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 10,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 30,000 km |
| Chain | Not applicable: shaft drive (final drive oil every 30,000 km) |
Warranty
2 years
Moto Guzzi only supplies the 2024-2026 owner’s manual against a frame number. The available data come from Moto Guzzi UK’s maintenance schedule dated August 2020 (2019-2020 generation) and Moto Guzzi’s March 2021 manual (Euro 5 generation): first service at 1,500 km, then oil and oil filter every 10,000 km or 12 months, air filter every 10,000 km and valve clearance adjustment at every 10,000 km service. Spark plugs, gearbox oil and final drive oil are replaced every 30,000 km, fork oil at 40,000 km and brake fluid every 24 months. MCN quotes 6,000-mile intervals, consistent with this schedule. Air cooling, pushrod valvetrain and shaft drive mean no coolant, no belt and no chain. Intervals specific to the 2024 variable-timing engine are not published. Moto Guzzi France’s warranty is 2 years; the Moto Guzzi Days offer extends it free of charge to 4 years until 31 October 2026, and paid X-Care+ extensions are available.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moto Guzzi V85 TT | €13,600 | 80 hp @ 7,750 rpm | 230 kg (kerb, tank 90% full); 209 kg dry |
| Honda XL750 Transalp2026 | €10,349 | 91.8 hp | 210 kg (kerb) |
| Suzuki V-Strom 800DE2026 | €11,299 | 84 hp | 230 kg (kerb, full tank) |
| BMW F 900 GS2026 | €14,500 | 105 hp | 219 kg (kerb, tank 90% full) |
| Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro2026 | €16,395 | 108 hp | 222 kg (wet) |
Generations
- V85 TT (Euro 4)2019 – 2020
853 cc · 80 hp · 80 Nm · 208 kg (dry)
Launch: new 853 cc small-block V-twin, steel trellis frame, aluminium swingarm and shaft drive, TFT screen, cruise control and three riding modes; TT Travel added in 2020.
- V85 TT (Euro 5)2021 – 2023
853 cc · 76 hp · 82 Nm · 209 kg (dry)
Euro 5 update: more low and mid-range torque but 76 hp instead of 80, Sport and Custom modes added, tubeless spoked wheels.
- V85 TT (Euro 5+)2024 – today
853 cc · 80 hp · 83 Nm · 209 kg (dry)
Variable valve timing, IMU (cornering ABS and traction control), 5-inch TFT, 5-position adjustable windscreen, preload knob and the new V85 Strada; the 2026 model year only brings new colours.
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V85 TT (Euro 4)2019 – 2020 Launch: new 853 cc small-block V-twin, steel trellis frame, aluminium swingarm and shaft drive, TFT screen, cruise control and three riding modes; TT Travel added in 2020. | 853 cc | 80 hp | 80 Nm | 208 kg dry |
| V85 TT (Euro 5)2021 – 2023 Euro 5 update: more low and mid-range torque but 76 hp instead of 80, Sport and Custom modes added, tubeless spoked wheels. | 853 cc | 76 hp | 82 Nm | 209 kg dry |
| V85 TT (Euro 5+)2024 – today Variable valve timing, IMU (cornering ABS and traction control), 5-inch TFT, 5-position adjustable windscreen, preload knob and the new V85 Strada; the 2026 model year only brings new colours. | 853 cc | 80 hp | 83 Nm | 209 kg dry |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
No known recalls for this model.