MOTO GUZZI V85TT GETS
OFFICIAL NZ LAUNCH
F
or Italian manufacturer Moto Guzzi, the
new V85TT is a game-changing motorcycle,
and now it has officially been launched into
the New Zealand marketplace after a successful
introduction in late May. See page 92 for more of
the NZ launch of the bike.
The V85TT is the first adventure bike from Moto
Guzzi since the Stelvio 1200 and refines the
brand’s place as more than just a quirky Italian
stallion.
“To be honest we’ve been blown away by the
reception to the V85TT, says Moto Guzzi’s NZ
distributor Salero Holdings spokesman, Michael
Beckhaus.
“We received our first shipment at the end of
May, and basically the first one sold out before
they even landed in the country. The second
shipment which arrived earlier in July, again, I
think it was something like 80% pre-sold before
it arrived, so I think dealers are already running
out of stock. I think it is a game-changer for Guzzi
because in some ways it is moving the brand a
little bit more into the mainstream possibly –
hopefully no too much because we’d like it to
retain its charm and quirkiness – but in some
ways this bike is very much a step in the right
direction in terms of getting some more volume
for the brand out there as it caters to a broad
range of riders.”
With the TT in the name standing for Tuto
Terreno – Italian for “All Terrain” – the V85TT
brings the brand into perhaps what is the most
competitive segment in the market today. With
other premium European brands launching
new mid-size adventure machines in the last 12
months, the V85TT needed to have a few tricks
up its sleeve if it wanted to compete against the
likes of Triumph’s new Tiger 800 range, KTM’s 790
Adventure and Ducati’s Multistrada 900.
With prices in New Zealand from $19,990, Moto
Guzzi’s all-new V85TT is not only keenly priced,
but is also the first motorcycle to be marketed
as a combination of the classic and adventure
motorcycle markets with Moto Guzzi also coining
the phrase “Classic Enduro” to try describe where
the bike fits in the motorcycle world.
KIWI RIDER 89