Head to head | Moto Guzzi V85 TT vs Yamaha Tracer 700
In our latest head to head we pitch the retro adventure touring bike from Moto Guzzi against the Yamaha Tracer 700
THE mid-weight adventure and sports touring categories are both burgeoning markets in the global motorcycle sales charts right now. With everything from V-twins, parallel twins and even Honda looking to step into the frame with the CB 4 X concept – the choice of engine size and configuration is wide-ranging and varied.
Yamaha Tracer 700 vs Moto Guzzi V85 TT
Two bikes that stand out in this category are the Moto Guzzi V85 TT and the new 2020 Yamaha Tracer 700. Both have their own design briefs and go about taking the on the mid-weight battle in their own way – the Moto Guzzi with an on-brand transversely mounted V-twin and the Yamaha Tracer 700 with the parallel CP2 that also powers the MT-07.
It’s not just the engine configuration that sets the two apart though, the styling to is distinctly different from anything else in the class. The ‘Guzzi goes at it with a retro-styled adventure vibe, a look that wouldn’t look out of place at the latest hipster venue thanks to its lashings of tubular steel headlight carrier and period-correct paint scheme. The Yamaha with it’s more modern and contemporary R1-a-like styling.
The two bikes may differ in the price and styling points, with the Moto Guzzi coming in as the more expensive and retro-styled machine, the spec sheet for the rest of the bike is actually remarkably close. But which one makes the best all-rounder for a little bit of every type of riding?
Here’s our definitive verdict.
To check out the full review of the Moto Guzzi V85 TT, click here.
To check out the full review of the Yamaha Tracer 700, click here.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
