Moto Guzzi Griso 1100

muz61
Reviewed: 19 January 2010

Great style that grows on you. This is the bike I choose to own for everyday sports and cruising. I love it.

Overall lines are aggressive
Attention to detail beautiful
Gobs of torque through to redline
Slick shifting box with perfect ratios
Great lean-forward riding position
Lovely comfortable seat
That 90 degree deep-finned transverse V-twin
Magic music
Fantastic quality cycle parts - suspension, brakes, wheels

Over the top exhaust can had to go
Awkward side stand position
Ugly (from off the bike) instrument pod
So visually appealing you get stopped by strangers wanting to know about it

When you tire of the stress of superbike riding with the constant need to go illegally fast, is there a cruiser bike which also satisfies the need to use the whole width of the sports tyres? The Griso is such a bike. On paper it looks like an Italian HD Sportster, in fact it is something as far as I can see is unique in the nearly 40 years I have been riding.

I am in the honeymoon period with my Griso 1100 but the Aprilia RSV1000R remains parked in the back of my garage and I have rediscovered the joy of riding most every day. If you are looking for something different which is user friendly but not bland or unexciting, take one of these (or the Griso 8V 1200) for a decent test ride. Then if you are still not sure, leave it for a week and ride it again - this bike is so different to any other bike, even other Guzzis, that it needs to be explored. If you are under 30 then maybe a Yamaha R1 or Ducati 1198 is for you but the long term bike these machines aren't. Guzzis tend to be ridden many miles by their owners and now I can see why.

simonwilldh
Reviewed: 30 September 2009

Moto Guzzi Griso is more fun on british roads than any sports bike. Plus Keeps your licence Safer

Top quality components (fully adjustable Showa/sachs suspension, Brembo Brakes with braided hoses, Brembo wheels) without having to have a 160 horsepower missile.
Usable grunt where you want it (anything over 2000rpm)
Great handling (though side stand will start to touch down when on the extreme right hand edge of the tyre)
Ducati 916 soundalike sound track with the termignoni exhaust.

Clocks mist up in the rain.
Keep it cleaned and polised as some materials are not as good as others at keeping up their appearance.
Buy a Hugger before your rear tyre shot blasts the shock and swing arm.

After a good few years of riding sports bikes (still have a zx6r track bike) I had become less and less interested in riding on the road. That was until I bought my griso. For once in my life I bought something with my heart instead of my head. Normally I would be looking at spec sheets and reviews looking for the best bike on paper but not this time. Its fantastic and far more rewarding to ride on the road as you can use all its performace and handling and all at less than three figures. Longer wheelbase means that you will be leaning more for a given speed on corner than for a sports bike. Sounds good to me as you still feel like a riding god for nailing a set of corners, but you're probably going 15-20mph slower, which can come in handy when you come across that tractor bimbling along on the exit of a bend.

5thtimelucky
Reviewed: 14 October 2008

A GREAT ALL-ROUNDER WITH A CUTTING EDGE.

The engine gives great initial acceleration and has a powerful mid-range,ideal for overtaking. The noise is awesome especially when a sports pipe is fitted and always draws admiring glances from other bikers.
The gearbox is slick by Italian standards and the riding position all day comfortable.
Most impressive and unique are the asthetics as the bike is really eye catching, original and quite stunning.

The Guzzi panniers are a bit small for touring purposes but provide an ideal platform for a roll bag.
The brakes could probably be slightly stronger but then i'm used to a Honda Blackbird's stronger set up.

A really exciting, fast(ish) and original looking bike that simply makes you want to get on it and ride.

affy
Reviewed: 01 October 2008

UNIQUE AND EXTREMELY CAPABLE IN REAL WORLD BIKING,GREAT BIKE

In real world motorcycling the bike is a true classic in the making and nothing like it on the market!!!