The Underrated BMW GS Alternative More Riders Should Consider
More often than not, if a bikemaker has a winning recipe, others try to replicate and beat it at its game. So with BMW’s GS lineup leading ADV sales figures worldwide for years, rival brands from across the world tried to take it on. Add to that the overall rise in popularity of ADVs, and it inevitably urged all kinds of brands to whip up a GS rival. Among these, the usual suspects make headlines and grab eyeballs, leaving some capable GS alternatives begging for attention. We’re talking about one such bike here, hailing from the land of the pizza.
The GS Lineup Has No Shortage Of Rivals From Across The World
The flagship R 1300 GS is the most popular in BMW’s ADV lineup. It leads the sales chart for the brand, and with recent improvements, this is better than ever as an overall package for us riders. So this is the one that particularly has its hands full with competition. Ducati’s Multistrada V4, Triumph’s Tiger 1200, Harley’s Pan America, and KTM’s 1390 Super Adventure all directly aim at it.
The story is worse for the F 900 GS duo. They compete in the highly popular middleweight segment where new brands keep entering the scene. So the F 900s have to deal with the usual heavyweights like KTM, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Triumph, while also competing with new names such as CFMoto and Kove.
But An Underrated Brand Takes A Dig At BMW’s Most Accessible Midweight GS
Between all of that, there’s now an underrated Italian brand trying to attack BMW’s most affordable midweight ADV. Its weapon of choice beats the BMW ADV in terms of value and offers more usable performance, while promising extra ruggedness for adventure shenanigans. All this while, better features and road presence improve its case.
The Moto Guzzi V85 TT Is An Underrated Kryptonite To The F 800 GS
We’re talking about the Moto Guzzi V85 TT—a lesser-known adventure bike in the 700-900cc midweight segment. It remains overlooked due to the somewhat exotic image of Moto Guzzi and partly because of its unique appeal. We all know that breaking the norm usually doesn’t go to plan, particularly in a segment where most customers want to play it safe. Despite that, if you delve into the details, you’ll notice it goes squarely against the cheapest midweight BMW ADV–the F 800 GS–and beats it in certain aspects.
The V85 TT Charges You More But Also Gets You More
What makes matters sweeter is the value proposition. You see, the V85 TT sells for $12,790, making this a sizable $1,795 more expensive than the base F 800 GS. But in typical BMW fashion, bits like a tall windscreen, cruise control, hand protection, and saddlebag mounts all cost around $2,000 more.
So you’ll end up paying for the GS in reality, while still missing out on cross-spoke wheels and a skid plate (they’re not even available as accessories). This is just the tip of the iceberg, too, as the Moto Guzzi has some notable other advantages as you dive into the details. Here’s the lowdown.
Powered By A Tractable Transversal V-Twin
We start with the engine, and it’s a unique one. In a sea of parallel-twin setups, the V85 employs a transversal V-twin powerhouse so the cylinders protrude outward from the chassis for a distinct aesthetic. Layout aside, this is an air-cooled 853cc engine, running a chill tune to produce 80 horsepower and 61 pound-feet via a six-speed transmission with a final shaft drive. The shaft drive is a particularly nice touch considering it needs way less maintenance than a chain.
Circling to the performance, both numbers are slightly lower than the F 800 GS, but the party trick here is the V85’s variable valve timing. That helps it put out its peak torque at just 5,100 RPM–a sizable 1,650 RPM earlier in the rev range. The GS’s powerhouse, being a liquid-cooled, does promise slightly better fuel efficiency.
Trellis Chassis Works In Tandem With Adjustable Suspension
Housing the engine is Moto-Guzzi’s steel trellis chassis, joined by long-travel suspension. The latter comprises 41 mm USD forks and a laterally mounted monoshock, both of which are adjustable (rear has a remote preload adjuster) and have 6.7 inches of travel. That makes this a more premium setup than the F 800 GS’ telescopic forks and monoshock, where the front has no adjustability and no remote option at the rear.
Sweetening the deal are the wheels. You get 19/17-inch cross-spoke wheels that justify the ADV tag better than the GS’ alloy wheels. These hoops house dual 320 mm front discs with Brembo monobloc four-piston calipers and a 260 mm rear disc with a two-piston caliper.
Massive Fuel Tank And Low Saddle Height Boost Accessibility
Peak at the dimensions, and the V85 TT again boasts an edge over its German rival. The fuel tank capacity is six gallons–two up from the GS–, and despite that, the TT weighs just seven pounds more than the GS fully fueled. Considering you also get extra equipment on the Guzzi, the weight is even more impressive. As for the saddle height, Moto Guzzi claims 32.6 inches, which is slightly higher than the BMW.
A Six-Axis IMU And Ride-By-Wire Bring A Handful Of Usable Tech
Moto Guzzi falls under Piaggio, and we all know Piaggio is a key player in boosting motorcycle technologies. So there’s a handful of likable stuff here. It starts with the TFT instrument cluster armed with a variety of information and smartphone connectivity. This also lets you toggle through the rider aids, which comprise cornering ABS, traction control, and ride modes. A notable addition is cruise control that should make highway rides effortless during your adventures. LED lights, adjustable windscreen, aluminum skid plate, and handguards are also part of the stock package.
Source: Moto Guzzi
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments