The 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally will always be remembered for Gaston Rahier’s victory in the motorcycle division. The Belgian rally racer barely stood taller than the BMW R80 G/S he was piloting; a bike that would go on to become an icon itself. But there was another story unfolding further down the order.
1985 is also the year that privateer racer Claudio Torri tackled the grueling rally aboard a factory-prepped Moto Guzzi V65 TT. Torri didn’t finish, but he got far enough to impress Moto Guzzi, who fielded a full factory team the following year. Unfortunately, the whole team (which included Torri) failed to finish, and Moto Guzzi’s Dakar Rally participation was over almost as quickly as it had begun.

It’s a real shame too, because Moto Guzzi’s rally bike was cool as heck; a severely hopped-up V75 with tall suspension, a mammoth fuel tank, and a chunky solo seat. It was so cool, that it inspired Mauro Abbadini to build a modern-day tribute 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’s been operating for 30 years. Given his experience with the brand, when the opportunity to collaborate directly with Moto Guzzi’s parent company, the Piaggio Group, sprung up, Mauro went all-in.

?The Piaggio management loved the idea we put on the table,? he tells us. ?To enhance the off-road abilities of the V85 TT and make an inspiring adventure mot...