2020 MOTO GUZZI V85 TT TRAVEL
R I D E R E V I E W
P66
Given the weight and the fact much of it is carried
quite high around the outside of the steering head,
the Touring's handled most things we dared to throw
at it quite well. Dirt roads are easy once the ABS is
off, but we didn't dare take the Guzzi too far into KTM
Adventure off-road territory. That's not its MO. Tarmac
is really where this thing shines. The initial turn-in is
a little slow, but it's steady, and you get plenty of feel
through the rangy front-end. It'll hold a line at speed
well, but fast changes of direction require some fore-
thought. Lazy isn't really the right word to describe it,
more...dignified. Yeah, let's go with that.
You sit very much in the Guzzi, rather than on top
of it. With a seat height of 32.7 inches, you feel quite
connected to the chassis as opposed to some other
midsize bikes in the ADV category. Then again, I'd
align the Touring/Adventure/base model more as
street bikes than off-road versions of themselves.
Braking performance from the Brembo four-piston
front calipers is not what I'd hoped—there's a bit of
(Above) As a road-
touring mount, the V85
TT Travel is a sweet little
rig. Heavy, but sweet.
(Left) Side-mounted rear
shock will blow through
the stroke at any hint of
serious off-roading.
