The Moto Guzzi Griso is a naked motorcycle produced from 2005 to 2016 in three engine sizes: the 1100 presented in August 2005, the 850 presented in April 2006, and the 1200 8V presented in November 2006 and sold from September 2007.
Moto Guzzi Griso at a glance
| Maker | Moto Guzzi, Mandello del Lario |
|---|---|
| Production | 2005–2016 |
| Designer | Rodolfo Frascoli, Marabese Design |
| Prototype | Tecnocustom, shown at Intermot Munich in 2002 |
| Griso 1100 | 1,064 cc, from August 2005 to January 2008 |
| Griso 850 | 877 cc, from April 2006 to January 2008 |
| Griso 1200 8V | 1,151 cc, from September 2007 to November 2016 |
| 8V engine | 90° V-twin, single overhead cam, four valves per cylinder, air cooled |
| 8V power | 110 hp at 8,000 rpm and 11 kgm |
| 8V brakes | Brembo radial P4/34 calipers on 320 mm wave discs |
| Special editions | Tenni from 2009, Black Devil from 2012, Rosso Trophy for 2015 |
The English Wikipedia has no article on the Griso of its own; the model is described in the list of Moto Guzzi motorcycles there and in the Italian article used for most of this page.
History of the Moto Guzzi Griso
The Griso is a naked motorcycle without protective bodywork, designed by Rodolfo Frascoli of Marabese Design. Its prototype, called Tecnocustom, was shown for the first time at the Intermot show in Munich in 2002. Moto Guzzi announced the sale of the Griso 1100 on 30 August 2005 and presented it officially to the press on 8 September, with the first public contact on 16 to 18 September during the 2005 Guzzi World Days at Mandello del Lario, followed by the dealer presentation during the 2005 open days on 22 and 23 October.
On 5 April 2006 Moto Guzzi presented the Griso 850. Besides the engine size, the new model differed from its bigger sister in refined details such as the black frame and grey paint on the wheels and transmission. A few days later the company presented a clothing line linked to the Griso and, on 14 November of the same year, at the Milan show, a new version, the Griso 1200 8v, which went on sale from September 2007.
The 8V engine
The Griso 1200 8v had a new 90° transverse V-twin of 1,200 cc with a single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder, still air cooled, giving 110 hp at 8,000 rpm and 11 kgm of torque. Along with the engine, the model was updated with a more comfortable seat for the passenger, narrower side panels, a new Brembo braking system with radial P4/34 calipers on 320 mm wave floating discs, and a new exhaust in a two-into-one layout with a twin-outlet silencer. The versions with the two-valve 850 and 1100 engines remained in production until 2008, when they were completely replaced by the 1200 8V range.
Name and special editions
The name comes from The Betrothed, the best-known Italian novel: the official Moto Guzzi brochure quotes the line about the character Griso, the arrogant and boastful head of the Bravi, whose power was enlarged in fact and in opinion. From June 2009 a special edition called Griso 1200 8V Special Edition Tenni was available, in satin green in honour of Omobono Tenni, with tubeless spoked wheels, a brown leather seat and a black frame; it went out of production at the end of 2011. From March 2012 came the Black Devil special series, with matt black paint and silver details, presented at the Milan show in November 2011. For 2015 the Rosso Trophy colour joined the Black Devil, with a matt black base and red details, and no mechanical updates other than a new sump taken from the California 1400.
Design and features
- Techno-custom styling: designed by Rodolfo Frascoli, with an oversized oil radiator in plain view on the right of the engine.
- Three engine sizes: 1,064, 877 and 1,151 cc, the last with four valves per cylinder.
- 8V performance: 110 hp at 8,000 rpm, with reported potential of 140 mph.
- Brembo radial brakes: P4/34 calipers on 320 mm wave discs on the 8V.
- Special editions: Tenni in satin green, Black Devil in matt black, Rosso Trophy for 2015.
Moto Guzzi Griso versions
- Griso 1100 (1,064 cc, 2005–2008): the first model, silver frame, five colours.
- Griso 850 (877 cc, 2006–2008): black frame and grey wheels and transmission.
- Griso 1200 8V (1,151 cc, 2007–2016): four-valve engine, 110 hp.
- Griso 1200 8V SE Tenni (2009–2011): satin green, spoked wheels, leather seat.
- Griso 1200 8V SE Black Devil (2012 onwards): matt black with silver details.
- Rosso Trophy (2015): black base with red details and the California 1400 sump.
The Griso shared the Piaggio-era range with the Breva and Bellagio, and its four-valve engine followed the racing Daytona. More machines are in the Moto Guzzi collection.
Video: Motobike, das Motorradmagazin auf DSF mit Kaufberatung Moto Guzzi Griso von Uli Höppel
Video by Uli Höppel on YouTube.
Sources
- Moto Guzzi Griso, Italian Wikipedia: presentation, engines, versions, special editions, technical data
- List of Moto Guzzi motorcycles, English Wikipedia: model overview and position in the range
.jpg){kind=link}
