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ADV NewsMoto Guzzi Unveils Limited-Edition “Guardia D’Onore” V85 TT

Moto Guzzi Unveils Limited-Edition “Guardia D’Onore” V85 TT

The Eagle brand commemorates 75 years of history with the Cuirassiers’ Regiment.

Published on 12.08.2021
Moto Guzzi Guardia D'Onore V85 TT

Moto Guzzi has been supplying motorcycles for Italy’s elite Cuirassiers’ Regiment, which escorts the country’s presidential convoys, for 75 years. To celebrate that proud position, the Mandello-based manufacturer has tapped its adventure touring model, the V85 TT, to represent the anniversary. 

The special edition will be called Guardia D’Onore (Honor Guard) and feature the distinctive black livery with white graphics common to the lineage of previous Cuirassiers models, and showcase a selection of Guzzi’s TT accessories, including a large touring windscreen, crash bar system, accessory LED lighting and a centerstand. Paint matched panniers will be available as well. 

Moto Guzzi Guardia D'Onore V85 TT

Production will be limited to 1946 units, as a tribute to the 75 years of partnership between Moto Guzzi and the Cuirassiers’ Regiment. To highlight the model’s exclusivity, each Guardia D’Onore V85 TT will be branded with its unique serial number in plain sight on the bike’s handlebar riser. Owners will also receive a “valuable case” that holds a commemorative booklet featuring the history of Italy’s presidential honor guard and its motorcycles, all Moto Guzzis dating to the time horse-and-carriage operations became obsolete.

Moto Guzzi Guardia D'Onore V85 TT

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Owners will also receive a special folder bearing a postmarked collector stamp, which was issued by the Italian government in 2021 to celebrate the Moto Guzzi’s centennial birthday, an occasion the country is quite proud of, as it also marks Moto Guzzi’s status as the longest established European motorcycle manufacturer in continuous production.

Guzzi’s higher spec V85 TT Travel, the base for this special edition, is certainly  up for the ceremoniously escorting Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s current president, and other dignitaries, but more importantly, it’s also up for the challenge of real world adventure riding. 

Moto Guzzi Guardia D'Onore V85 TT

We’ve seen this machine, which on the surface seems pretty low key and touring oriented, do some pretty remarkable things, most recently when Italy’s Guareschi Moto modified a V85TT and sent it into the fray of one of Europe’s most challenging enduro races, Italy’s Motorally. Not only did the famous Italian tuning shop’s  V85 TT “Rally” finish its two grueling race days, it placed a surprising 9th the first day, and 8th on the second, and this, in a field dominated by KTM 790s and Yamaha T7s.

Since its debut in 2019, Guzzi’s adventure model has enjoyed brisk sales, so much so, that according to LA Business Times, Guzzi had to double the workforce in its Mandello del Lario plant to keep up with demand for the well-received model. 

What’s to love? There that distinctive, newly-redesigned  90° transverse V-twin delivering 60 ft-lbs of torque, a medium-ish 507-pound curb weight and approachable 32.6 in seat height. A shaft drive aids reliability, while spoked wheels (though only a 19 incher up front), offer compliance off-road. Safety features such as ABS and traction control are standard. 

But most compelling is the price of ownership. For 2021 we saw the base V85 TT going for $11,990, with an Adventure version (aluminum top case and panniers and LED fog lights) selling for $12,990. To celebrate 100 years of Guzzi, a $13,190 Centenario Special Edition V85 TT with ADV-style panniers and top case was also available for 2021.

Moto Guzzi Guardia D'Onore V85 TT

The highest spec V85 TT is the Travel edition (Touring windshield, LED light package, heated grips and special side cases), currently priced at $13,390. We expect the new presidential escort edition Guardia D’Onore, arriving sometime soon for the 2022 model year, to be similarly well-priced. 

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.

Author: Jamie Elvidge
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