The great thing is once you feed the TC-Off instruction into the settings, the bike remembers your preference for no Traction Control every time you switch to Offroad mode, and thereafter the bike goes pretty much wherever you point it. Once I had that sorted and got the hang of using the V85’ s long-legged first gear with plenty of gusto to climb mountains rather than clutching in 2nd, like the dirtbike it isn’ t, we have become a much more effective team. Progress in the serious terrain improved to the point the lads on the orange steeds didn’ t have to keep looking back over their shoulders to make sure the fella on the bulkier transverse V-twin wasn’ t stuck on a hill climb or knee deep and splashing about in a river going nowhere, well, not too much anyway. On gravel in Offroad mode the TT is fun, surefooted, and even comfortable at a healthy triple figure pace. On the tar’ there is the choice of Road mode for normal riding, which gives plenty of oomph with all safety features on, or Sport mode which gives you 100 percent of the jungle juice, and the fun police backs off further to let you ride it like you stole it and, if you trust your semi-knobblies, it boogies enough on the tight twisties to have you scaring the knee-dragger clan. After five months it’ s now nudging 7500km on the odo, and I’ ve fitted both a K & N lifetime air filter plus the factory crash bars I really needed for the trip South. I just love this bike and still pat myself on the back at a decision well made( not easy at my age). The V85TT is a great daily rider and stablemate for my older sports Guzzi, plus is more than happy to have a back seat passenger onboard with just a few twists of the rear preload knob. For serious( read muddy / clay / wet / steep single track) adventure outings, the V85TT isn’ t the bike I’ d jump at, I have a great old XR thumper for that( have you spotted I’ m an airhead fan?), however for long range adventuring and gravel exploring, the Guzzi is sublime, rapid when in the mood, has the rider neutrally positioned for a comfy long-haul run and, speaking of which, has a 400km plus fuel range. I am damn impressed thus far, it’ s a keeper, and did I mention it’ s also clearly the best-looking adventure bike out there? I may, however, be a tad biased.
46 KIWI RIDER