Moto Guzzi V85 Strada 2025 — Specifications

Who would have bet on Moto Guzzi to shake up the mid-size adventure bike segment? With the V85, the Mandello firm had already pulled off a neat trick by offering the first neo-retro adventure motorcycle on the market. An air-cooled L-twin, a shaft drive, a vintage bird-of-prey face: the cocktail won over riders seeking originality against the usual Japanese and German suspects. For 2025, the Italians are raising the bar with the Moto Guzzi V85 Strada, a variant that fully embraces its road-going vocation and becomes the entry point into the range.

No more playing both sides. Where the V85 TT retains a semblance of off-road capability, the 2025 Moto Guzzi V85 Strada plays it straight. Cast aluminum wheels, 110/80-19 and 150/70-17 road-only tires, no skid plate or handguards. This machine knows nothing but tarmac and owns it. Guzzi also removed the luggage rack and passenger grab handles to cut costs and offer a price of €12,499. Recommended retail prices including VAT are €12,089 for the Moto Guzzi V85 Strada, €13,059 for the Moto Guzzi V85 TT, and €14,509 for the Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel. The positioning is crystal clear. The weight savings on the wheels — four kilograms less than the TT in unsprung mass — transform the handling: the steering becomes sharper, transitions through sequences of bends feel more natural. On paper, it's the recipe for a pleasant road-biased adventure bike for the urban rider or the weekend tourer who never ventures further than the shoulder of a mountain pass.

The real surprise lies in the cylinder heads. The 853 cc twin inherits variable valve timing, a centrifugal ball-bearing system comparable to the one Suzuki used on the GSX-R 1000. In practice, the camshaft adjusts its timing above 6,500 rpm to optimize cylinder filling according to engine speed. The result: 80 hp at 7,750 rpm and, more importantly, 83.4 Nm of torque at 5,100 rpm, with 90% available from as low as 3,500 rpm. The 90-degree L-twin retains its rough-hewn character and unapologetic vibrations but gains smoothness across the entire rev range. The most surprising part is that this technology, usually reserved for heavyweights like the BMW R 1250 GS or the Ducati Multistrada V2, finds its way here into a two-valve-per-cylinder, air-cooled engine. With shaft drive thrown in for good measure, the V85 Strada simply has no direct competitor offering this technical combination.

On the chassis side, the steel trellis frame, 41 mm inverted fork, and laterally mounted monoshock provide 170 mm of travel at each end. Both suspension elements are adjustable for preload and rebound. The Brembo braking system, with radially mounted four-piston monoblock calipers on 320 mm discs, inspires confidence. At 226 kg wet, the machine sits squarely in the segment average, neck and neck with a Suzuki V-Strom 800 or a previous-generation BMW F 800 GS. The 830 mm seat height and 23-liter tank allow for generous riding stints. The electronics package includes three riding modes, cruise control, and a 5-inch TFT display. The only notable drawback: the IMU remains optional on the Strada, while it comes standard on the TT and Travel. For a motorcycle at this price point, that's a questionable choice.

How does the Moto Guzzi V85 Strada stack up against the competition on price? At €12,499, it lines up against the Yamaha Ténéré 700 or the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, but with a radically different temperament. Reviews of the 2025 Moto Guzzi V85 Strada agree on one point: this is a machine with character, not a versatile tool. It will appeal to those who want to ride differently, who accept a few compromises on standard equipment in exchange for a singular powertrain and a personality that sanitized adventure bikes simply cannot offer. Those looking for a used Moto Guzzi V85 Strada will have to be patient, as the model is still too recent. But if you're torn between reason and passion, Mandello has already made the choice for you.