LIGHTWEIGHT

READ THE FULL TEST HERE

hey’ re both great, but also quite different

Engine: 853cc, oil / air-cooled, DOHC,

Power:

Torque: transverse V-twin( V85TT) 1042cc, liquid cooled, DOHC, transverse V-twin( STELVIO) 59kW( 80hp) @ 7750rpm( V85TT) 84.6kW( 113hp) @ 8800rpm( STELVIO) 83Nm @ 5100rpm( V85TT) 105Nm @ 6750rpm( STELVIO)

Tank capacity: 23 litres( V85TT)

21 litres( STELVIO) Gears / drive: Six speed, shaft( both) Seat height: 830mm( both) Wheels: 19F / 17R-inch, tubeless( both) Weight: 243kg fuelled( V85TT)

246kg fuelled( STELVIO) albeit our test Stelvio had a slight wrinkle in one of the side graphics and the V85TT had a slightly hard-to-find neutral. At heart the V85TT is the handsome, relaxed, commuter, adventure tourer. The Stelvio is the more expensive, gorgeous, bit more frantic, sporty adventure-tourer. The Stelvio looks fantastic, enhanced by the single-sided swingarm and stunning livery. The TT Travel livery can’ t compete, but if you put a regular TT in‘ Rosso Fuji’ red / white livery next to the Stelvio, it’ d have tougher competition. It really comes down to horses for courses. If you’ re intending to adventure ride / tour around NZ and want to get a bit grubby from time-totime with easy single track and river crossings in the mix, then go for the V85TT. But if you wanted to adventure ride / tour around NZ and only intended to ride black-top or gravel then

the Stelvio, with its long-haul suitability and hotrod personality might just be the Italian for you.

38 KIWI RIDER