It started out as occasional uploads of stuff, usually relating to noisy things of some kind :-) I am now trying to post hopefully amusing/interesting things, initially about my bike, but also random reviews, and maybe some things about the area in which I live.
Cheers for that, it was a big help. Fitted mine yesterday, took me about an hour (I work very slowly!) and I'd add the following: I undid the 4 nuts holding the front mudguard on, I didn't remove it completely, I just sat it on the front tyre. That saved pulling and potentially breaking the cable grommet things that are pressed into either side of the mudguard. There was plenty of access to the top fasteners. Take care refitting it, the cables run in a gap on top of the mudguard and it would be easy to crush them if the nuts were just tightened up without regard to that cable run. The caphead screw on the rear left engine guard, wow.. i managed to get the thread started eventually and tightened it up using a tiny 1/4" drive ratchet. It is, as you say, quite a squeeze! Finally, blue loctite on everything. I didn't bother with my torque wrench, they aren't done up massively anyway. Oh, one more thing.. I took it out for an hour after fitting and didn't notice any vibration issues whatsoever. Great upload!
You can do all that if you are feeling really bored or you can just squirt a tiny bit of ACF 50 in both ends of the shock when you buy the bike on day one.
I recently looked at a V85tt to purchase with the OEM engine guards fitted. The bike is a 21’ model with under 5k miles and suffered a fall on the left side. I was going to buy the bike until I noticed the engine was leaking oil along the seam where the crankcase halves go together. When I called a local dealer they said they have never seen an engine leak in that area. This makes me think that perhaps the lower attachment points put a jolt of stress on the engine when it fell causing the leak. If so, this would be a design flaw. Anyone else experience this?
Checked out the new Stelvio at my dealer last week. A few Mandello were standing right beside the Stelvio.... What should i say.... Bought the white mandello right away. Looks very sleek especially in white 😍.
Thank you for this video, very helpful. Nice overtake by the way..! Any further thoughts on where to mount the front camera or have you left it on the aux light bracket? Cheers
Hi, no I still haven't moved the front camera from that original position. Not really sure where else it could go - though now I think about it the bar my sat-nav mounts on might be an option too 🤔
I think the Stelvio looks more appealing the the Mandelo.not for it's off road capabilities more because there appears to be more leg comfort and generally better riding position and i do prefer the looks and colour scheme more.
I want all the goodies the travel has but I don't care for the paint colour. I will most likely buy the bike in red and white (2024 model) and add all the travel gear from their accessories. It's an expensive way to do it. I was considering buying the travel then buying the tank, side covers and fairing in the factory colours I want but even then I'd not get the red frame that I like. I really do wish they'd offer the travel with the same colours as the standard V85TT.
Hi, I'll be honest I didn't really like the colour in pictures, but in reality it's grown on me. I got the travel as I wanted most of the accessories that came with it to be fair. I think the KFC is probably my favourite colour too. Hope you find what you're after! Cheers.
Thanks for doing. I agree 100% what a dick move. Good to see you still love the bike despite the shitty dealer support. I like the bike and am waiting patiently for the 2024 model. I'm not a fan of the paint on the Travel. It's a shame as it's better value with the options I like.
Hello - after watching your videos (and a few others) I've put the V85tt on my shortlist of bikes to potentially replace my very nice but modest performance Himalayan. Problem is there are no bikes for sale anywhere close to where I live so I am wondering if you would be happy for me to come to have a look at your and try the seating position to see if it's worth me travelling a longer distance to actually buy one. Btw like you I live in Wales. Regards Mike Downing
The oil will be very dirty at the first change because of the assembly grease used in the assembly of the engine, this is used to stop the engine starting up with dry bearings if it has been in storage between assembly and sale. Personally I change the oil after 1/2 an hour then run for the 5 hours with the recommended oil before changing again. Oil is cheap engines are not !
My V85 came with the aluminum panniers without handles. First time I took them off knew I was going to install handles. It's easy to do and makes a big difference.
That’s a great little, honest, articulate and thought provoking vlog on the V85TT; thanks for sharing. I currently have a Le Mans3 and a T3….plan being to sell the T3 and get a TT. Nothing puts me off Guzzis; they’re in the blood. But…..the real fly in the ointment, as you rightly allude to is the problem with dealers and their average/inconsistent service. I tend to do my own serving but anything major I would use Nigel Billingsley at NBS in Staffordshire - he’s well known in the world of Moto Guzzis. If I were to get a TT this summer, I’d definitely fit the front & rear mudguards and the accessories bat behind the screen. I also like Fiamm horns!
great review although pity you could not be more specific about the dealers names - I can guess the North Wales one though as there is only 1!! Been a while since I had a Guzzi (breva 1100 followed by a Griso) and I got fed up with the little niggles like sensors failing etc and finding a trusted dealer nearby. The best I dealt with was Moto Strada in Yorkshire as the owner Jason is Guzzi nut and nothing he does not know about them, But as I moved back to Wales it became harder to pop across there. I have had mixed experiences with another one who is in Worcester but thats another story..........Very tempted by the V85...
I road tested one and agree totally. Beautiful bike with a lovely engine and nice sound. A bit cramped for my 6'2" frame. Very clunky into 1st gear, it feels like the bike is idling too fast. A nice handling bike and quite addictive although I won't be changing my V85 for it, or the new Stelvio. Nice to have you back!
You missed a golden opportunity when you said "so my first impression is.. 'just like that"! Beautiful bike, I haven't seen one in the flesh yet. The new Stelvio Adventure bike looks the dogs. I wonder if you could warm a pasty on those cylinder heads.... 🤔
*groan* Yes it is a pretty bike for sure. Well the engine is water cooled - so might not be so good for food warming as an air-cooled bike. However, with the radiator and [presumably] a fan, that pretty much makes it an air fryer, doesn't it? Never used one but it sounds about the same...
Great video, mate. Stunning looking bike to my eye, I'd love to have a go on one at some point. Unforntunately, it's rather out of my budget, plus I don't even know how far I'd have to go to find a dealer. Sorry to hear about your dealership experiences, not had a lot of luck with them have you!
Cheers. Dealers must hate my face or something 😂 Maybe next time I'll go Full Karen and start shouting and demanding to see the manager. I've tried being reasonable - that doesn't seem to work. Yeah the prices are eye-watering. I do like the bike and keep thinking to have another test ride sometime to see if my opinion has changed.
Hope the pins stay put . Lubricating the non glued end might help , with silicone spray or grease , which will not affect the plastic like petroleum based lubes . WD 40 is probably not your best bet for this . I have seen some videos about using baking soda wetted out with super glue ; check them out . This causes a rock hard , super stuck on , material . It would be possible to dust the new pin's milled grooves with the soda and use capillary action to get the super glue into the hole , leaving an invisible , clean fix . But then I wonder if the super glue and soda fix might be too brittle to last . Your sticky goo , smoo , might be best here , but use some masking tape and paper to hide the evidence of the fix , please ! Thanks for your videos . Is it illegal to remove the catalyzer in the exhaust system in the UK ? If so can anyone point me to some good advise . Ta
Hi, yes there's lots of things that might work. They've stayed put so far. There's a product called Q-Bond that works basically the same as the soda/superglue. I did use it reasonably successfully to repair a broken mount on my old Ducati - but it did fail eventually. I've also seen people use charcoal like that as well. If your bike has a cat, it will be an MOT fail if you remove it (annual safety check for vehicles here). Though I suspect in reality the tester might look the other way. Personally I'd leave it on, it does reduce emissions after all...
