Moto Guzzi V85 TT Centenario Edition

From a press release issued By Moto Guzzi:

A SPECIAL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATORY LIVERY IS UNVEILED, PRODUCED IN AN EXCLUSIVE EDITION ONLY IN 2021 AND INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY OTTO CILINDRI, AVAILABLE ON ALL MODELS
A century of history, one hundred years of spectacular motorcycles, victories, adventures and iconic characters who have built the legend of the Eagle Brand.

Moto Guzzi celebrates this extraordinary birthday with a 2021 full of initiatives that will culminate in the GMG - Giornate Mondiali Moto Guzzi, scheduled to be held in Mandello del Lario from 9 through 12 September.

The GMG - Giornate Mondiali Moto Guzzi are always a must-attend event for any enthusiast and, eagerly anticipated, they are back ten years after the last edition. Tens of thousands of enthusiasts will flock from all over the world to experience a unique and unforgettable event, made possible by the collaboration between Moto Guzzi, Motoraduno Internazionale Committee and the municipality of Mandello del Lario.

For such a special occasion, Moto Guzzi will produce a limited series of their models in a special Centennial Livery, which will be available on V7, V9 and V85 TT only throughout 2021.

An exclusive, elegant and attractive colour scheme, evocative of a unique heritage, drawing its origins from the aesthetics of legendary bikes which made motorcycling history, first and foremost, the Otto Cilindri of 1955. A mad and visionary idea, an extraordinary bike created to compete in the World Championship 500 class, a project so bold that it was ten years ahead of all global motorcycle production.

This milestone in motorbike history has an extremely elegant colour scheme in its purely racing essence, combining the satin-finished metal of the fuel tank with the green of the fairing and the leather on the seat. Colours that also characterised the 350 Bialbero, one of the most victorious bikes in history, the unbeatable dominator of the 350 class in World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing, with the amazing record of 9 consecutive world titles (5 Rider and 4 Manufacturer) from 1953 to 1957.

Green was also the first colour “worn” by a Moto Guzzi with the Normale, the first model, and probably the most iconic of the Eagle’s colours. The Style Centre reinterpreted it in a modern approach with a matt finish and associated with metallic colours the express the solidity and authenticity of the Larian brand. The body colours are matched with a saddle covered with a natural coloured material, like that of leather, to highlight the typically Italian attention to detail.

Other distinguishing details are the eagle in a gold finish and the dedicated logo that graphically celebrates Moto Guzzi’s 100 years.

100 YEARS OF HISTORY FOR THE MOST AUTHENTIC BRAND OF GLOBAL MOTORCYCLING

More specifically, it was 15 March 1921 when the "Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" was established with the goal of "Manufacturing and sales of motorcycles and any other activity pertinent or connected to the metal mechanical industry". And it was precisely in that moment, in memory of one of the founders’ brothers in arms, that the eagle with spread wings was chosen as the new company’s symbol. Since then, the eagle, which quickly gained notoriety all over the world, has been Moto Guzzi’s symbol.

And so, the operational headquarters were opened in Mandello del Lario – in the same plant where Moto Guzzi are still produced to this day – an industrial enterprise that had marked the history of global motorcycling through bikes that have become a part of the collective imagination such as the GT 500 Norge (1928) ridden to the Arctic Circle by Giuseppe Guzzi, brother of founder Carlo, the Airone 250 (1939), the Galletto (1950) which contributed to mass motorisation in the postwar period.

In those years, the wind tunnel was opened – the first in the world in the motorcycling segment, which can still be visited in the Mandello plant – greatly desired by a close-knit team that included extraordinary engineers the likes of Umberto Todero, Enrico Cantoni and a designer who would soon become a legend: Milan native Giulio Cesare Carcano, father of the incredible 285 km/hour Otto Cilindri (in 1955) and the prototypes which, between 1935 and 1957, won no fewer than 15 world speed titles and 11 Tourist Trophies.

In the ’60s, after the Stornello and Dingo light motorcycles, Moto Guzzi breathed life into the 700cc 90° V-twin with cardan shaft final drive, destined to become the very symbol of the Manufacturer from Mandello through legendary models like the V7 Special, V7 Sport, California and Le Mans. This engine has been consistently evolved on this architecture, all the way to driving, supported by the most advanced electronic control features, the most popular modern Moto Guzzis such as the V7 and V9 range in the Roamer and Bobber versions and the V85 TT traveller, the first ever classic enduro in the world.

BIG NEWS IN 2021 FOR THE TWO VERSIONS OF THE CLASSIC TRAVEL BIKE FROM MANDELLO

ENGINES WITH MORE LOW-END AND MEDIUM-RANGE TORQUE, FIVE RIDING MODES, NEW WHEEL RIMS FOR TUBELESS TYRES AND NEW GRAPHICS

2021 is an important time for Moto Guzzi as it celebrates its 100th birthday. A century of tradition, passion, great commercial and sporting success; one hundred years of magnificent motorcycles that have always been built in Mandello del Lario, combining the best technologies and the most valuable Italian manufacturing. Since 1921, these have been Moto Guzzi values.

Therefore, in observance of such a strong tradition, the V85 TT was born, dedicated to adventurous trips, which have always been part of Moto Guzzi heritage, in their purest and most original conception, bringing to mind the strong image of desert competitions like the Paris–Dakar, the famous African race which experienced its glory days in the early ‘80s.

The fundamental concepts at the base of the V85 TT are minimalism, ease and practicality, typical of enduro bikes from that decade that could be used to do anything, from daily commuting to adventurous travel, values that are being lost in an increasingly commercial market where the products proposed favour significant sizes and weights. Moto Guzzi V85 TT has achieved the ambitious goal of combining a style based on bringing back those values with the equipment of a modern touring enduro. For this reason, it has earned the title of the first and only classic enduro on the market.

After the success achieved by the V85 TT from critics and the general public since its début, for 2021, Moto Guzzi presents an updated version of its best seller, based on the requests of its fans. The improvements involve primarily the engine. The construction layout is still the exclusive one of all Moto Guzzi bikes currently in production: a 90° transversal, air-cooled V-twin with a pushrod and rockers timing system and two valves per cylinder (intake cylinders in titanium), the pride and tradition of the Mandello Eagle.

The unit now has greater torque at low and medium rpm thanks to optimised lifting of the pushrod and rockers timing cams and a consequent adapting of the engine control electronics. The new spoked wheel rims now mount tubeless tyres: together, they guarantee about 1.5 kg lower weight, reducing the unsprung masses which benefits the already outstanding riding dynamic.

As for the riding assist electronics systems, two new Riding Modes (Sport, suitable for more sporty riding and Custom, customisable) join the existing three (Strada - Street, Pioggia - Rain, Off-road) to manage traction control, ABS and the response of the Ride-by-Wire throttle. Cruise control and the colour TFT instrument panel also come standard. Using Moto Guzzi MIA, the Moto Guzzi multimedia platform optionally available in the vast range of accessories in the dedicated catalogue, you can connect your smart phone to the vehicle, extending the instrument panel’s functions.

The three versions of graphics available for the V85 TT are also new: Nero Etna, Giallo Mojave and Rosso Uluru.

V85 TT Travel receives all the technical upgrades of the V85 TT; as in the past, its complete equipment package makes it stand out, preparing it for any trip and including a Touring windscreen, side panniers from the Urban series with high cargo capacity and reduced lateral bulk, the pair of supplementary LED lights and the set of adjustable heated hand grips, as well as the Moto Guzzi MIA multimedia platform.