Moto Guzzi V85 TT MOT pass rate and common failures

Moto Guzzi V85 TT motorcycles pass the MOT 95.22% of the time, measured across 481 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.87% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 95.22% 458 of 481
Fixed at the station 1.87% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 12,264 miles
Average age at test 4.94 years old
Engine 853cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with has a serious fluid leak - it accounts for 21.4% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and significantly and obviously worn, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (3.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 12,264 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test Pass rate   Tests
3-5 years 95.09% 407
6-10 years 95.95% 74

Why the Moto Guzzi V85 TT fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

# Item Of failures   Tests
1 Has a serious fluid leak 21.4% 3
2 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 21.4% 3
3 Significantly and obviously worn 21.4% 3
4 Too low 21.4% 3
5 Contaminated 14.3% 2
6 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 14.3% 2
7 Insecure 14.3% 2
8 Not working 14.3% 2
9 Does not conform to the specified requirements 7.1% 1
10 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 7.1% 1

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

# Item Of all tests   Tests
1 Less than 1.0 mm thick 3.3% 16
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 2.3% 11
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.9% 9
4 Excessively stiff or notchy 1% 5
5 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 0.8% 4
6 Significantly and obviously worn 0.8% 4
7 Excessively binding 0.4% 2
8 Has excessive wear or free play 0.4% 2
9 Inscription illegible 0.4% 2
10 Tread not clearly visible 0.4% 2

Moto Guzzi V85 TT for sale

No Moto Guzzi V85 TT in stock at the moment - 173 other Moto Guzzi bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc 16,144 91.27% 22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc 12,456 90.8% 12,824
BMW S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc 6,022 88.01% 23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc 5,720 90.98% 16,130
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Moto Guzzi V85 TT MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Moto Guzzi V85 TT?+
95.22% of Moto Guzzi V85 TT MOT tests end in a pass, based on 481 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Moto Guzzi V85 TT?+
Has a serious fluid leak, which appears in 21.4% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Moto Guzzi V85 TT get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 95.95%, against 95.09% for examples 3-5 years old.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
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