WORDS: JOCK MCLAUCHLAN
PHOTOS: MOTO GUZZI
Evocative of the halcyon days of adventure travel, capable and versatile,
Guzzi’s V85TT stands alone.
I
’ll admit to feeling a tinge of sadness
when Moto Guzzi dropped the Stelvio
from its lineup a few years back. I had the
chance to ride it a couple of times here in
NZ, and found it to be a great touring bike
with decent gravel road capability, loads of
character and good performance across
the board. I remember thinking at the time
– what comes next? Well folks… the V85TT
is almost here in NZ as I write this and after
a few days in Thailand getting down and
sweaty with it, I have to say it’s a bloody fine
machine.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself, so despite
its smaller capacity it’s a fine alternative
to the out-going Stelvio, if not an exact
replacement, and the new machine is an
excellent addition to the Moto Guzzi family.
RARITY
In today’s world, Moto Guzzi is somewhat of
a rarity and something of a standout brand.
Why? Well, they’re all about tradition, style,
character and function – all based around the
company’s transversely-mounted 90-degree
V-twin. With Moto Guzzi’s machines, Italian
flair, passion, soul and the simple joy of riding
is often favoured over outright performance.
One look at the V85TT will tell you those
passionate, wear their hearts on their
sleeves, Italians have nailed it. One ride and
you’ll know they hit the nail on the head. But
for now, let’s get back to Thailand.
The V85TT launch was based in northern
Phuket for the Australasian market. On
KIWI RIDER 37