Paris-Dakar 1985 The rally will always be remembered for Gaston Rayer's victory in the motorcycle division. The Belgian rally driver was hardly taller than the BMW R80 G/S he piloted, a bike that became an icon in its own right. But from there on out, it was a different story.
1985 is also the year that privateer Claudio Torri took part in the gruelling rally aboard a factory-prepared Moto Guzzi V65 TT. Torri did not finish, but he did go far enough to impress Moto Guzzi, who fielded a full factory team the following year. Unfortunately, the entire team (including Torri) failed to finish, and Moto Guzzi Dakar Rally participation ended almost as quickly as it began.
It’s a real shame, because Moto Guzzi’s rally bike was pretty damn cool; a heavily modified V75 with high suspension, a giant fuel tank and a massive solo seat. It was so cool that it inspired Mauro Abbadini to build a modern homage to it, using the new Moto Guzzi V85 TT as a platform.
Mauro runs Classic Co., a custom shop and official Moto Guzzi service center in Madrid that has been in business for 30 years. Given his experience with the brand, when the opportunity arose to work directly with Moto Guzzi’s parent company, the Piaggio Group, Mauro went all in.
“Piaggio management liked the idea we came up with,” he says. “To improve the off-road capabilities of the V85 TT and create an inspiring adventure bike, while maintaining the distinctive design of the bike.”
The Moto Guzzi V85 TT is a beautiful adventure bike with some off-road capabilities, but it’s not an off-road weapon. Mauro’s idea was to beef up the V85’s suspension, shed some weight, and give it the spirit of the bike that inspired it.
Classic Co.’s first port of call was to order a massive new fuel tank from Spanish metalworking specialists Valtoron. Handcrafted from aluminum, it mimics the shape of the OEM V85 tank, but has a lot more presence. A massive rally-style seat upholstered in Prudencio sits just behind it.
The “TTc” motif on the saddle is a nod to the designation Moto Guzzi gave its rally bikes in ’86, while the embroidered Guzzi eagle and Italian colors add a factory feel. The rear is finished off with a bespoke luggage rack fitted with Classic Co. leather bags and a custom carbon fiber fender. Classic Co. reworked the V85 TT’s slim LED turn signals, but swapped out the taillight for an Rtech unit.
Below, there’s more custom carbon fiber work in the form of new side panels and injector covers. There’s also a carbon fiber air intake — fitted with a DNA filter and connected via a pair of Mistral velocity stacks. Mistral also supplied the ECU and a gorgeous custom exhaust system.
Moving on to the chassis, Classic Co. swapped out the front forks for adjustable Ohlins inverted forks, adding 100mm of extra travel. A custom-tuned shock from DMX Performance adds extra travel at the rear. The V85 TT’s 19F/17R wheels were swapped out for 21F/18R rims from DID, wrapped in Continental TKC80 rubber and stopped by ISR brake calipers.
Up top, Classic Co. has relocated the V85 TT’s unique dual headlights to a custom cage that also serves as a mounting point for the bike’s new GPS and road books. The rider looks down at a set of 35mm Easton bars and risers, which are outfitted with ISR controls, carbon fiber hand guards, and a single folding mirror. The original Moto Guzzi speedometer is still in play.
Finishing touches include Pivot Pegz footpegs on custom mounting plates, a hand-fabricated aluminum skid plate, and an extended sidestand to compensate for the bike's increased ground clearance.
Classic Co.'s Moto Guzzi V85 TT rally bike sheds 20kg [44 lbs]increased seat height by 105 mm [4 inches]and increased its wheelbase by a hair or two. Better yet, it looks damn loud.
Big bikes don't compete in the Dakar Rally anymore… but if they did, we'd pay good money to see Moto Guzzi try again.
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