Concept: V85 Strada vs. V85 TT—Alloy Wheels Instead of Spokes, Road Tires Instead of Enduro Rubber, Three Rather Than Five Riding Modes

Since 2024, the Moto Guzzi V85 Strada has been the third member of the V85 family alongside the TT and TT Travel. It shares its engine, frame, and basic electronics with the TT, but differs in almost everything that defines a motorcycle’s character. Instead of wire-spoke wheels, it uses lightweight cast-aluminum rims. Instead of enduro-oriented tires, it runs road rubber. Instead of a substantial skid plate and hand guards, it gets a low front fender that makes more sense in urban use. And instead of five riding modes, including Offroad and Custom, the Strada offers three: Strada, Pioggia, and Sport. This is not simply a cheaper TT. It is a deliberately road-focused version—lighter-feeling on asphalt, visually slimmer, and more urban in character.

The target rider is easy to define: someone who wants the Guzzi V-twin and shaft drive but spends most of the time on pavement and in the city rather than on gravel. Riders who occasionally venture onto light off-road terrain are better served by the TT. Riders who stay almost entirely on asphalt and use the bike as an everyday tourer should choose the Strada. Model year 2026 brings no technical changes, only the new Verde Legnano green and Rosso Monza red finishes.

Engine: Air-Cooled 853 cc V-Twin With Variable Valve Timing—80 hp, 83 Nm, Shaft Drive and a Mature Character

The 853 cc V-twin is Moto Guzzi tradition in its most modern form: longitudinally mounted, air-cooled, with a 90-degree cylinder angle, two valves per cylinder, and OHV valve gear. The major MY2024 update was variable valve timing, or VVT—a first for the V85 line and a rare feature in this motorcycle class. Together with a 52 mm Ride-by-Wire throttle body and revised engine management, VVT strengthens midrange torque and gives the engine a more mature feel.

Eighty horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 83 Nm at 5,100 rpm are solid figures for an air-cooled 853 cc engine. Compared with a Honda XL750 Transalp at 92 hp or a Yamaha Ténéré 700 at 73 hp, the Strada lands exactly where expected: not a performance benchmark, but strong through the midrange and backed by the unmistakable pulse and sound of a transverse Guzzi V-twin that no parallel twin quite reproduces. Power reaches the rear wheel through a six-speed gearbox and shaft drive.

Chassis: 170 mm USD Fork, Twin 320 mm Brembos, Alloy Wheels—Optimized for Asphalt and More Direct Road Handling

The suspension is identical to the V85 TT: a 41 mm USD fork with 170 mm of travel, adjustable for preload and damping, plus a rear monoshock with the same 170 mm of travel and similar adjustment. A steel trellis frame uses the engine as a stressed member. Braking is by Brembo, with twin floating 320 mm front discs and a 260 mm rear disc. Cornering ABS works through an IMU. In braking hardware, the Strada gives away nothing to the TT.

The biggest chassis difference is at the wheels. The Strada uses cast-aluminum rims rather than wire-spoke wheels and road-oriented tires rather than enduro rubber. Moto Guzzi says this makes the bike more agile and direct on pavement. The cast wheels also support tubeless tires, a practical advantage in everyday use.

Electronics and Cockpit: 5-Inch TFT, Three Riding Modes, Cornering ABS—Fully Modern, With No LCD Compromise

All V85 models from 2024 onward use a 5-inch color TFT, a genuine improvement over the earlier LCD instrumentation. Tests praise both readability and operation. The Strada offers three riding modes: Strada for road use, Pioggia for rain, and Sport. Each adjusts ABS intervention, traction control, power delivery, and engine braking. The Offroad mode, which allows rear ABS to be disabled, is reserved for the TT and TT Travel, appropriately so because the Strada is not designed for dirt. The Custom mode is likewise exclusive to the TT Travel. Cruise control is not listed as standard equipment on the Strada in the source. Moto Guzzi’s MIA Bluetooth connectivity is standard on the TT Travel but optional on the Strada and TT.

Ergonomics: 830 mm, 226 kg, 23-Liter Tank—Upright Everyday Riding Position and Generous Range

The 830 mm seat height is identical to the V85 TT and sits in the moderate range for a middleweight adventure-style tourer. The upright riding position, wide handlebar, and centrally positioned footpegs are designed for long distances. At 226 kg ready to ride, the Strada is acceptable for a shaft-drive retro-adventure machine, although a Honda XL750 Transalp at around 208 kg is noticeably lighter.

The 23-liter tank is a genuine strength. At roughly 4.9 L/100 km, theoretical range exceeds 450 km, allowing a proper touring rhythm without constant fuel stops. There is no tall touring windshield as standard, so highway wind protection is weaker than on the TT Travel. Riders who spend a lot of time on the Autobahn should factor that in or add an accessory screen.

Cost and Positioning: Around EUR 12,499—the Least Expensive V85 With Full Brembo and Shaft Drive

The Strada is the entry model in the V85 range: EUR 12,499 versus EUR 13,499 for the TT and EUR 14,999 for the TT Travel. The small gap to the TT is explained by the reduced equipment level: no skid plate, no hand guards, and no Offroad mode. In this price class, the Strada competes with machines such as the Honda XL750 Transalp at around EUR 11,500 with 92 hp and no shaft drive, the Triumph Tiger Sport 800 at around EUR 11,500, and the BMW F850GS at around EUR 11,000 in the source comparison. All are stronger and/or lighter, but none combines shaft drive with the unmistakable Guzzi V-twin character.

Over the long term, shaft drive means less maintenance than a chain or belt: no lubrication, no adjustment, and no chain replacement. Add variable valve timing, a feature rarely found at this price, and the value proposition becomes clearer. As a pure city motorcycle, the V85 Strada is more expensive than necessary. As a day-trip and weekend tourer that also handles urban duty, it is a characterful package at a fair price.

Verdict

The V85 Strada is the leanest and most urban member of the V85 family: alloy wheels, road tires, a low front fender, and no off-road accessories. It shares the TT’s chassis, engine, and electronics foundation but is deliberately optimized for pavement. Riders who want shaft drive, V-twin character, and a 5-inch TFT but never ride gravel should buy the Strada. Riders who occasionally seek farm roads or loose surfaces should go straight to the TT.

Quick Check

+ Shaft drive standard: unique among middleweight adventure-style tourers in this class; no chain servicing.

+ Variable valve timing from MY2024: rare at this price and improves midrange torque delivery and engine character.

+ Twin floating 320 mm Brembo front discs plus IMU-based cornering ABS: same full braking specification as the V85 TT.

+ 5-inch color TFT: standard across all 2024+ V85 models, with good readability and operation.

+ Cast-aluminum wheels with road tires: more agile and direct on asphalt than spoke wheels; tubeless construction is practical.

+ 80 hp, 83 Nm, and unmistakable V-twin character.

+ 23-liter tank: theoretical range above 450 km, allowing long touring stages without frequent fuel stops.

+ 830 mm seat height: moderate for the segment; upright riding position works well over distance.

+ 170 mm USD fork + 170 mm monoshock: adjustable and well suited to agile road handling.

+ Low front fender: practical in urban use and a clear visual distinction from the TT.

+ Three riding modes—Strada, Pioggia, Sport—form a useful, road-focused selection.

+ Retro-adventure design with eagle DRL, iconic Guzzi silhouette, and full LED lighting.

 

– No Offroad mode: deliberate, but riders who occasionally want gravel should buy the TT.

– 226 kg: heavier than Honda XL750 Transalp and Yamaha Ténéré 700 figures cited in the source; shaft drive and V-twin architecture explain part of the difference.

– 80 hp: less than the Honda XL750 Transalp and below the performance average of some class rivals.

– No substantial standard wind protection: highway comfort is lower than the TT Travel; accessory windshield recommended for frequent Autobahn use.

– MIA Bluetooth/smartphone connectivity is optional.

– MY2026 brings only new colors and no technical improvements; a discounted MY2024/2025 bike is mechanically the same.

 

Technical Specifications: Moto Guzzi V85 Strada (2026)

Brand / Production: Moto Guzzi, Piaggio Group; Mandello del Lario plant, Lake Como, Italy; V85 Strada introduced in 2024

Engine: Longitudinal air-cooled 90-degree V-twin, 853 cc, two valves per cylinder, OHV; variable valve timing, VVT; Ride-by-Wire with 52 mm throttle body; Euro 5+; six-speed transmission; shaft drive; single-plate dry clutch

Power: 80 hp / 59 kW at 7,750 rpm

Torque: 83 Nm at 5,100 rpm

Difference vs. TT: Strada: cast-alloy wheels, road tires, three riding modes, no Offroad mode, no skid plate, no hand guards, low front fender. TT: spoke wheels, enduro tires, five riding modes including Offroad, skid plate, hand guards

Frame: Steel trellis frame; engine as stressed member; double-sided swingarm

Fork: 41 mm USD; adjustable preload and damping; 170 mm travel

Rear Shock: Monoshock; adjustable preload and damping; 170 mm travel

Front Brake: Brembo; twin floating 320 mm discs; IMU-based cornering ABS

Rear Brake: 260 mm disc; ABS

Wheels: Cast aluminum; 19-inch front / 17-inch rear; tubeless

Tires: 110/80-19 front / 150/70-17 rear; road-oriented tread

Electronics: Cornering ABS; traction control; three riding modes: Strada / Pioggia / Sport; no Offroad or Custom mode

Cockpit: 5-inch color TFT; full LED lighting; eagle daytime-running light; MIA connectivity optional

Ergonomics: Upright; wide handlebar; centrally positioned footpegs; no substantial touring windshield standard; low front fender

Weight: 226 kg fully fueled

Seat Height: 830 mm

Fuel Tank: 23 liters; approx. 400–450 km range

Fuel Consumption: Approx. 4.9 L/100 km

2026 Colors: Verde Legnano, new; Rosso Monza, new

German Price: Approx. EUR 12,499