docc

So, here's a 430 lb/ 100 hp bike meant to look like something (Indian Street Tracker) and a 420 lb/ 105 hp bike meant to look like nothing.

Thanks! I'm gonna start pitching this with the local scrum. The transit sections are a bit much for us (The Mississippi River Basin), but I would love to do it! Thanks for putting it on!

What city is that in? Somewhere in north Arkansas? East? West?

So, you ended up two "competing" bikes? That is no surprise . . . shows good taste and sound judgement! Certainly, there were no V11 in yellow. Some of the last of the 1100 Sport-i (Corsa) were yellow. And there were yellow and black Centauro. Maybe when Swooshdave gets all those pesky real life distractions under control, he Pho-shop us a yellow V11 Sport . . .

Apparently, the latest V7 tilts the engine more "level." Wittner is quoted (Moto Guzzi Big Twins, Greg Field) as saying this was applied to the V11, and one of the primary reasons the 6speeder was introduced. His purpose was to "align the polar moments of inertia" [of the driveline and lean axis] to enhance handling characteristics.

Look out , lads! PT! Avert yer eyes!

I think you should pay a couple extra bucks and get a red one . . .

Which "previous model" do you mean? Perhaps the "EagleCross" posted on ADVrider?

Right? While I find the show bike exhilarating, in a carnival sort of way, I probably couldn't live with it twenty years. Greenie-guys oughtta dig it, though.

I figure if we wait long enough, Guzzi will offer us the subdued version. I really liked the Stelvio NTX in satin green. Otherwise, this is not the full-lipped and shapely model I had in mind . . .

In the market for a wife? I never thought of picking one up at an auction . . .

See? That's what I'm thinking. Something to take down the rough, dusty backroad shortcuts that I don't want to subject my Sport to. As pretty as the show bike is (to me), I would still likely opt for a satin Tenni green and all else matte black. How 'bout it, Swooshdave, wanna do a visual mock-up?

The size of the valve cover on this new Guzzi motor certainly doesn’t look enough bigger for a cam; perhaps not even so many valves. Without any reference for size, I can’t imagine the V85 to be very light either. Lighter than a Stelvio, perhaps.

Agreed. I broke it up.

It keeps being repeated that the V85 is a completely new motor . . . I think it's pretty cool that they introduced the new engine mounted in a Sawz-All (which I like), but we all know where this is going: applying the *new* driveline to other platforms leading to the next Moto Guzzi Sport/LeMans . . .

It is going to be really interesting to learn what this "new" engine actually is. Is it just another iteration of the small block? Don't get me wrong, I think this is a compelling platform and I hope the world continues to embrace it:

Looks like Piaggio hired a couple palm trees instead of those 'spensive models for perspective . . . . . . . brought in some sand . . .

Still no pictures of the V85 with a model astride to put it in, er *perspective* . . . ? Like this, right?

Yeah, I keep passing on the "full-on adventure" bikes because they're too tall, too heavy (for me), and I'm not in striking distance of any real adventure territory ("way out west" here in the US). So many times, I've seen pictures of a Moto Guzzi that let me down in person, so we shall see how it pans out. If it truly goes production, might be the 2019 model year, at the earliest, with other models getting the new driveline over a couple years. That puts us on track for a 100th Anniversary V85 LeMans!

A 100 hp, 425 pound, Indian Scout with a normal (not cruiser) fork rake? That will be quite something!

Mine broke within s few mm of scud's shown on page one.

I’ve was hoping for a cutaway engine on a stand.

Waiting anxiously to see if its size dwarfs a svelte Italian EICMA model (like the Stelvio) . . .