On our final day, we had another 426 kilometers ahead of us, almost entirely on the motorway. With beautiful weather, it turned into an easy and relaxing ride. Sure, we ran into a few traffic jams along the way, but nothing serious, and by early afternoon we were back home.
Looking back, we were incredibly lucky with the weather. During our time in Norway, rain was forecast almost every single day. In reality, we had less than two full days of rain over the entire trip. We really couldn’t have asked for more.
Southern Sweden surprised us in a positive way. The roads were twisty, enjoyable, and technically demanding. However, the farther north we traveled, the straighter the roads became. At some point, even the hundredth lake starts to lose its wow factor.
One small detail caught our attention: in Sweden, about 99% of the parking areas have no benches. In Norway, it’s almost the opposite. Nearly every rest area invites you to stop, sit down, and enjoy the scenery.
Finding a cabin was also much easier in Norway than in Sweden, simply because there are far more accommodation options available.
Another thing we noticed in Sweden was the incredible number of horses. It seemed as if almost every property had a few. And no matter where we rode, it was nearly impossible to go half an hour without seeing a sign pointing to a golf course. Is golf Sweden’s national sport, or is it simply a paradise for wealthy retirees? We still don’t know.
On many of the twistier roads, the asphalt was surprisingly rough—more reminiscent of some roads in Hungary than what we had expected from Sweden.
Shortly after crossing into Norway, we both agreed on one thing: Sweden probably won’t be one of our future motorcycle destinations.
For us, Norway remains the number one country for motorcycle touring.
The scenery changes almost immediately after crossing the border. Add to that the hospitality you can feel at almost every parking area, the abundance of cabins, and roads that seem as though they were designed specifically for motorcyclists.
We’ll be back.
No later than 2028.
With that, our travel report through Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany comes to an end. But one question remains: How did our two Moto Guzzis perform over more than 6,000 kilometers?
This journey also became a comparison between two completely different motorcycles: a classic 1991 Moto Guzzi California 3 and a modern Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Both carried us safely through Scandinavia—each in its own unique way.
To finish this series, we’d like to share our personal impressions. No technical test reports, no spec sheets—just two honest opinions after an unforgettable journey.
My Verdict on the Moto Guzzi California 3
Part of our journey was also about comparing our two Moto Guzzis. I’ll start with mine and describe it through a story that happened to us in Norway.
We set off after a short break. I was the first to pull onto the road and slowly rolled on the throttle. My mirrors started vibrating like a 1950s hand mixer. Suddenly, two blurry fighter planes appeared behind me.
As I looked back at the road ahead, I imagined myself sitting in a Messerschmitt Me 109 from World War II, rolling down the runway. With Allied fighters on my tail, there was only one option:
Throttle wide open!
The engine made metallic noises like the anchor chain of a battleship racing across steel as the anchor dropped. After two loud popping backfires, the exhaust roared so fiercely that it was almost unbearable beneath my leather helmet. The open carburetors snorted like a herd of panicking buffalo. The footboards—my imaginary rudder pedals—vibrated so hard I could feel it in my knees. Every instrument on the dashboard shook in every direction.
With a jolt, the aircraft lifted off, and I flew just above the road through the valley. To escape my pursuers, I skimmed over the ground, carving one corner after another while matching my altitude to the landscape.
It was pure adrenaline.
Until a friendly female voice said:
“In 500 meters, take the third exit at the roundabout.”
I was back.
Back in the real world.
The two fighter planes in my mirrors were, of course, just the distinctive daytime running lights of Matthias’ Moto Guzzi V85 TT, shaped like the Moto Guzzi eagle, doubled by the vibrations. The metallic engine noises came from my rattling valves. The thunderous exhaust note came from my open Mistral silencers. The snorting was produced by my almost-open carburetors. The rudder pedals were actually my footboards, and the shaking instruments were simply… my shaking instruments.
But I had flown!
At least in that moment—on my Moto Guzzi California 3.
The tears of joy in my eyes as I write these words are my witnesses.
This motorcycle has brought me a little closer to myself.
This is what I do. This is who I am.
Of course, it wasn’t perfect. During the trip, the California occasionally refused to start without a bit of persuasion. The clutch cable snapped, the tail light developed a loose connection, and I had a flat front tire. Apart from that, there were no other issues.
And yet, I have to be honest: Technically, the California 3 can’t compete with Matthias’ V85 TT. Not in terms of the suspension, the engine, the brakes, or modern features like ABS. Whenever Matthias was leading at a brisk pace, I had to push the California to its absolute limits just to keep up.
But that’s not what this motorcycle is about.
The California isn’t built to win comparison tests or impress with specifications. It lives through its character, its sounds, its vibrations, and the emotions it creates. It doesn’t simply take you from one place to another.
It tells a story.
That was my verdict on the Moto Guzzi California 3.
You’ll find technical specifications and professional reviews elsewhere on the internet.
Matthias’ Verdict on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT
After all the kilometers we covered together through Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, I’d like to share a few thoughts about my Moto Guzzi V85 TT.
One goal of this trip was also to compare our two Moto Guzzis. After just over a year of ownership and more than 10,000 kilometers—first on a trip to Lake Garda and now fully loaded through Scandinavia—I can honestly say that the V85 TT has lived up to every expectation I had after months of research.
It’s an uncomplicated touring bike with plenty of riding fun and unmistakable Italian character.
What makes the V85 TT so special to me is the combination of classic engineering and modern technology. At its heart is an air-cooled 853 cc transverse V-twin with just two valves per cylinder, paired with modern features like ABS, traction control, different riding modes, and cruise control. The cruise control was especially useful on the few long, straight sections of road. I was also grateful for the heated grips, which earned their keep in 9°C rain near Trondheim.
The menu system is simple to use via the handlebar controls, and thanks to the shaft drive, there was no chain maintenance to worry about during the trip.
The heart of the bike is, of course, that 853 cc V-twin. It doesn’t run with the smoothness of a modern parallel twin—and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. It vibrates, its sound changes noticeably throughout the rev range, and it has a rhythm all its own. Coming from Yamaha’s refined CP2 engine, it definitely took some getting used to. Around 3,500 rpm, it rattles quite enthusiastically—but that’s simply part of its personality.
The variable valve timing has largely eliminated the torque dip that earlier models were known for. Even so, the engine still feels a little restrained when accelerating hard from low revs. That never bothered me. On Norway’s winding roads, we spent most of the time riding smoothly through corners with plenty of torque at lower engine speeds. When the road became steeper or tighter, the engine happily revved beyond 5,000 rpm, sounded fantastic, and delivered more than enough power.
The standard exhaust has a deep, pleasant growl under load without ever becoming too loud. One of my favorite details is the slightly metallic “rump-pum-pum” on the overrun, especially in second gear. It has become part of the bike’s personality.
What impressed me most was the handling. Even with full luggage, the bike remained light, agile, and confidence-inspiring. I had expected the extra weight to affect the riding experience much more than it actually did.
My Hepco & Becker Explorer panniers are identical in size, but the left one sticks out farther because it has to clear the exhaust. That took a little getting used to, but after a while, it wasn’t an issue at all. The footpeg touches down long before the pannier ever would.
My windscreen is smaller than the one fitted to the Travel version and, of course, nothing like Joe’s enormous windshield on the California. In the rain, I raised it to its highest position. The rest of the time, I was perfectly happy leaving it in the lowest setting.
One small criticism is the foot position. Anyone with shoe size 41 or larger will probably need a little time to find a comfortable position. If you ride on the balls of your feet, your heel touches the exhaust or other components. If you place your feet flat on the pegs, it’s easy to drag the rear brake without noticing. Fortunately, the dashboard lets you know.
As mentioned earlier in the blog, I initially had some concerns about the Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires because of a slight hopping sensation at certain speeds. Once I knew it wasn’t a mechanical issue, I simply accepted it. With the Michelin Anakee Road, this behavior didn’t exist.
The rear brake could be a little stronger, but it works well enough for balance and control. The Brembo front brake, on the other hand, is excellent.
Another major advantage is the range. More than 400 kilometers on a tank is a real luxury on a trip like this. Readers of our previous travel blogs may remember that on the Transalpina Highway in Romania, our smaller fuel tanks and a little overconfidence forced us to dip into the reserve.
My Final Thoughts
I fell in love with the V85 TT during the test ride. After this journey, I can confidently say that it delivered on every promise.
It combines classic Moto Guzzi character with modern technology, handles beautifully, feels equally at home on long touring days and twisty mountain roads, and has exactly the personality I was looking for in a motorcycle.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The hopping sensation from the Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires took some getting used to, and the ergonomics could be improved for riders with larger feet. But throughout our entire journey, the V85 TT never suffered a single mechanical failure or breakdown.
Even so, I’m happy that my Yamaha XSR with its refined parallel twin is still waiting for me at home. Both motorcycles have completely different personalities—and that’s exactly why I enjoy owning both.
That was my verdict on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT.
Total time: 05:50:57
