allrounder. It is very comfortable, has great
weather protection, handles in a lovely, light and
reassuring manner. Plus, it has an excellent fuel
range and looks very cool - to give a broad brushed
overview. I think, despite its TT designation, gravel
roads are about the sensible limit to its adventure
abilities in standard trim. It is more of a soft
roader than an off-roader. Even with knobbly
tyres fitted, it will really only become a better
gravel road blaster, it won’t transform into a vastly
more suitable off-road adventure bike. That’s not
to say it couldn’t be ridden in more extreme
conditions, but it will be out of its comfort zone
40 KIWI RIDER
to some extent, certainly when compared to
more focused dirt bikes – like most adventure
bikes which weigh in over 200kg in actual fact.
This slightly softer edge to the adventure bike
segment is exactly what Guzzi had in mind when
creating the V85TT. They could have gone down
the 21-inch front wheel route and pushed for a
more off-road style machine, but wisely to my
mind, they went with a 19-inch front hoop and
the superior feel and grip which come with it for
tarmac duties. It’s simply more in keeping with
the rest of the bike and what the majority of
riders are actually doing on this style of bike.