ADVENTURE | Is the new Guzzi V85 a real adventure motorcycle or just an enduro-cafe?
Moto Guzzi unveiled the V85 as a concept at the EICMA (the Milan Show). But a dedicated website and some patent drawings that appeared on the internet suggest that the V85 will get a Guzzi-style name and will hit the market soon – probably next year.
Moto Guzzi claims that the V85 is the “first classic enduro” dedicated to tourism and it ensures “total comfort for the driver and the passenger”. Featuring hand-guards, a high windscreen, and a generous seat, it seems to be true.
The V85 comes with a two-cylinder transverse air-cooled 850cc engine which has 80 horsepower and a new steel-tube frame.
Among the other features mentioned by Moto Guzzi is the LCD dashed – which seems to be borrowed fro Aprilia, DRL LED lights and… a name which might be “Freedom, Adventure, Libera, Thunder, Dolomiti, Eagle, Raid, Gipeto, Albatros, Storm, Nordkapp, Gavia, Stelvio, Quota, Aventura…” and other similar proposals to be found on the website.
There's nothing about the weight and the suspension travel. Still, by looking at the patents published by bennetts, we can spot some differences compared to the concept bike (the one in black and yellow): budget suspension (compared to the Ohlins on the concept) and a smaller fuel tank which alters the muscular shape of the bike.
Being an 80 hp air-cooled V-Twin it has a tough job when it comes to fighting the rivals in the middleweight adventure class – BMW F850GS or the Triumph Tiger 800 – but it looks more stylish. We're also curios if the Moto Guzzi V85 will make it in an off-road test, or it’s just a cafe/stylish touring machine with an adventure ethos.
