Sitemap	Forum	Features	Resources	Rides	Merchandise	Books	Guzzisti	Guzzi site	Contact

Moto Guzzi Griso, putting the joy back into riding.

After over a year of riding everything out there on two wheels, from Harley-Davidson to BMW trying to find my next motorcycle I happened across the Griso quite by accident. I found myself at Moto International here in Seattle looking for an Aprilia Tuono.

All I caught was a glimpse of this stretched out "Standard" and didn't really think much more about it, though that glimpse was enough to get me Googling Moto Guzzi and from there I became intrigued. Here was something different, something fresh, no pretense, no silly and license threatening 160+ HP, no this was a genuine Street bike. No race replica body work, no high RPM drama, just a street bike. Interesting.

After 6 years of Suzuki Hayabusa ownership I had been looking for a bike that was comfortable, fun, good looking, and capable out in the real world. The Hayabusa and it's cult like following was and is fun, it's an amazing machine, I'll miss the Hand of god acceleration, and anywhere anytime HP. However, what I've found in my Moto Guzzi Griso is the joy that I've been missing on two wheels for the last 10 years. This is a bike with real character, real capabilities, and most importantly reminds me of why I started riding as a kid. Every time I ride the Griso, I find myself grinning ear to ear... Perfect.


It wasn't love at first sight, it was more like meeting a pretty woman at a party, sharing some kind words, only to meet again a few months later and falling madly in love.

I read everything I could find about the Griso and Moto Guzzi for about 4 months before deciding "OK, yeah I'll take a test ride."

While I'd been looking for something different, that enthusiasm was tempered with the knowledge that with little presence here in the States spares and service could be an issue. However, Dave Richardson at Moto International is passionate and persuasive. It was his enthusiasm for the brand as much as the bike itself that convinced me to give it a try.

So I took a test ride on a rain soaked Wednesday afternoon and was struck by the character of the machine more than anything else.

Sure the motor is smooth and responsive, the suspension and brakes are effective, and it's comfortable but so are dozens of other bikes I'd ridden lately. This was something different, it had that... something...

I mean the BMW Rockster I had looked at had more power, heated grips, and all sorts of widgets and doo-dads that all added up to an effective ride. However the Griso, had something NONE of the bikes I'd looked at had, real character. Character, that intangible little bit of something that elevates a machine from mechanically effective tool, to something really special, something emotional and endearing. It's in the way the bike lurches to the right upon blipping the throttle, it's the rumble of the big twin motor, the slick shifting tranny, and chassis that manages to make 550lbs feel much lighter on it's feet than it has a right too. It's the attention to detail, and the style, the bold lines, the unique look that is different and strong enough that even at a distance, people out on the road know it's not just another motorcycle, but something rare and special.

After 20 minutes behind the bars of a Black Griso, out in the pouring rain and cold, I knew I had finally found what I had been looking for. I giggled like a little girl to myself cause I knew I was going to be getting one, that my search for a bike that would make riding fun and rewarding again was over. I arrived back at Moto International and asked Dave to find me a Red one, a red one brand new in the Box. About a month later this one was mine.

On the Road.

Finally got the Griso out of town and spent a day riding. Been a long time since I've just hit the road with some friends and went out exploring. Life has a way of getting complicated and on the back of a Motorcycle is a fantastic way to simplify. This wasn't an adrenaline fueled, teeth clenched, sphincter tightening kind of ride like I had been doing in years past. Not having the weight of "Worlds Fastest Production Motorcycle" weighing on your psyche is a very freeing experience. No more do I hear an Evil Angel and ONLY the Evil angel whispering sweet nothings in my ear about "faster faster, if the GPS doesn't register 180MPH then your a coward and will be scorned by your peers."

Going an entire day and not breaking 120MPH was both new and refreshing. I was able to relax just a bit, ride a true 7/10ths pace and enjoy it, No hair on fire, using Jesus as a corner marker heroics real or imagined required. Just riding with some friends, out in one of the most beautiful places I've ever lived.

The Griso is one of the most neutral handling bikes I've ever ridden, it's surprisingly agile for it's long wheel base and 550lbs. Calling it flickable might be a little bit of a stretch, but it's very responsive and faster to react transitionally than the Hayabusa while maintaining a similar Sled like stability in long high speed sweepers.

It's a true performance bike in terms of handling and brakes though you're not going to scare anyone on a GSX-R 600 with a Griso in the twisties or in a straight line. But they'll hear you back there and will likely be trying to figure out just what the hell that noise is.

The setup is confidence inspiring, only noticed the ride being a bit on the firm side when running through a rough corner or two and felt some chatter and a bit of moving around beneath me but nothing too alarming. I was a bit suspicious of that huge single sided swing arm being to heavy to be effectively controlled by one little overworked Sach's shock but I've got no complaints.

Everything remains composed and stable regardless of what I threw at it the rear end felt planted and well damped. No drive shaft Jacking, and although some lash is evident with a smooth hand in the first few millimeters of throttle it's pretty negligible. I've read in reviews that the front suspension is a bit on the firm side and I'd have to agree, harsh is the right word for it though it starts working better when you're out playing in the twisties this is something I've yet to fiddle with, though I intend to get it sorted soon.

Attention By The Way… or “Are you looking at me?”

There’s one aspect to Moto Guzzi Ownership I hadn’t counted on nor expected. It’s something that is entertaining, but it wasn’t planned for, and that’s the attention. I’d swear I was riding around with a Poo Slinging Purple Monkey on my shoulder.The looks and attention the Griso garners is a bit disconcerting. Well disconcerting to the introvert on the back of her, the Griso seems to not be bothered by it at all.

Part of this attention has to be due to the sounds coming out of the pipe. The Termignoni for Moto Guzzi gives the Griso a wonderful voice. The Fine folks at Moto International saw fit (God Bless Em’) to remove the baffle from the Termi before I took delivery and it sounds awesome. It’s got a unique and unusual rumble down low that opens to wonderful roar up top, then finishes when down shifting with the pop and grumble of a carbureted small block American V8.

Having been around bikes all my life and indeed for a living, my version of “loud” is quite a bit different than most however. I tend to forget that while loud pipes may not in fact save lives, they do attract attention and the lovely noises coming out of that large Stainless Canister do just that.

Combine the horn section of the pipe, with the Hi-Hat of the dry clutch and the manic sewing machine clatter of the Tappets and you have quite the delightful racket. Indoors that pipe will rattle pictures off of walls, it’s a beautiful thing.

Everywhere I go, folks look and in many cases approach and start asking questions. I never got this kind of response while riding either the Suzuki Hayabusa, or a Harley- Davidson. Now it’s not that I am all worldly and jaded, but I tend to see the Griso as a
beautiful bike certainly, but nothing to really get overly excited about, it’s just a bright red Standard after all. Good looking sure, but it never struck me as traffic stopping. Yet without fail folks approach with questions or give a hearty thumbs up out of the window of their car. They will actually roll down their windows and start asking questions at traffic lights… Cool, but something I am not used to and it makes me a bit uncomfortable, mirrored visor is a must and is in place.

OK Enough foreplay, so how about them looks? Well, I love the lines of the Griso. The Bright Red plastic bits do their job of looking pretty and they contrast nicely with the strong to the point of being a bit over done mechanicals. None of a BMW Boxers junk closet of exposed wires and crap, everything is tucked away, detailed and thought out. There is a fair bit of parts-bin engineering here, but if it keeps costs down and works, why not? I have yet to find a bad angle on the Griso really, I prefer the rear ¾ view however. Interesting how often that holds true in life… But the rear ¾ view accentuates the clean elegant tail while downplaying the slightly overpowering cylinders of the 1100 engine. I suppose if you cannot actually be overpowering, it’s nice to at least look the part. Muscular and sexy, techy and well detailed, overall lovely to look at, and it gets better the longer you look.



All isn’t sunshine and roses though… NOPE, there are some bits that need addressed.

First, I’d have to tackle the mismatched two-tone engine/tranny-swingarm. What the hell? How hard is it to go ahead and spray/powder coat/bake the engine/tranny/swingarm all the same color black? They’ve got it right in the 8Vs, but alas it would seem that this large detail wasn’t considered important enough in the 2007s.

OK, next up, maybe I am picky, but there is one thing I just cannot stand… Chromed plastic… I Know, it’s inexpensive and lightweight that's terrific, but leave it on the kids pedal bike, not on my freaking Moto Guzzi. There’s a few places where damn the weight, you go ahead and make the thing out of actual metal or leave it looking like the plastic it is.

The Turn signals and the Instrument housing’s chromed plastic is horrible. Finally, the "Pseudo Bracket" painted silver on the front fender... Who lost this bet? Is it that hard to go ahead and stamp it out of aluminum, or even better... Just paint the freaking thing the same color as the bike, or at least execute this sort of two tone effect better.

I’ve got Rizoma signals front and rear coming as well as the Carbon fiber housing for the gauges. Simple enough fix, but my objection to the chromed plastic stands…. Eww. I already took care of the Rear Mudflap, I know this isn’t a design element so much as a DOT requirement though. The Steelhorse Classics “Tail Tidy” works like a champ, took 30 minutes to install, and cleaned up the rear end nicely. I’ve also got a Pro-Taper Evo “Windham” bend handlebar and some new grips waiting for installation as soon as the LSL Stainless Bar ends arrive. One thing I’ve learned is that if you want trick stuff, you’ve got to be willing to wait.


More to Come...


Words and pics by Revlis June '08

Further reading

1200cc 8v Griso review / Grisoholics / 1200 8v Griso test ride / Griso 1100 Brochure