Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1111003
2019 MOTO GUZZI V85TT FIRST REVIEW P88 rattles or mechanical noise of previous Guzzi OHV motors. Just a single 52mm Dell'Orto throttle body is fitted, partially aimed at decreasing fuel consumption. Guzzi claims a frugal 48 mpg, which with a six-gallon fuel tank that's the largest in the 700-900cc middleweight sector, delivers a claimed range of 250 miles. That single throttle body is controlled by a Magneti Marelli ECU with Ride- by-Wire (RBW) digital throttle offering three different riding modes: Road, Rain and Off-Road. Each delivers full engine power but with a different throttle response via altered engine mapping, plus vari- able engine brak- ing settings and a different calibration for the dual-channel Continental ABS and switchable MGCT traction control both fitted as standard. Road mode has a medium level of MGCT, ABS is active on both wheels, and there's a prompt throttle response with reduced engine braking, while Rain features a high level of traction control, ABS is active on both wheels, and there's a gentle throttle response and increased engine braking. Offroad delivers a low level of TC, ABS is only active on the front wheel (but can be deactivated entirely), and there's again a gentle throttle response and more engine braking. Cruise control is fitted as standard, and the power is transmitted reduced inertia. They've achieved this by pro- ducing a semi-dry sump engine design with the oil tank positioned in the lower crankcase half complete with sight glass and twin oil pumps. This reduces oil drag on the crank- shaft assembly which, with lighter conrods and pistons, too, is 30% lower in weight than previous Moto Guzzi small-block motors, resulting in much improved and more zestful pickup, especially from low revs. That's aided by the use of titanium for the large 42.5mm inlet valve that's almost half the weight of an equivalent steel item in each cylinder head. These feature completely revised porting and a new combustion chamber design, but still, however, employ steel 35.5mm exhaust valves. The valves are operated by aluminum pushrods with redesigned roller tappets, again resulting in much lighter and notably quieter operation of the valve gear—there's none of the An all-new display reveals all the essential information. "You're encouraged to use the very sweet-shifting gearbox (I can't remember the last time I ever used that term to describe a Moto Guzzi transmission!)"