Motor Guzzi’s Griso 1100 picks up rave reviews
By Yvonne M. Darling

The Motor Guzzi Griso 1100 has a fast-growing fan base. Two consumer magazines recently gave the bike “two thumbs up” for performance, versatility and style.

“Without a doubt, I love the Griso,” says Don Williams, of MotorCycling magazine. He says that “more often than not” he finds himself naming the Griso as a favorite when comparing the bike to others on the market. That includes the Yamaha GYT-R WR250F, Aprilia Tuono 1000 R Factory and Harley-Davidson CVO Road King.

So what does the Griso have over the rest?

For starters, the Griso, according to Williams, has the sought-after versatility that other bikes lack. “If I’m on a Ducati SportClassic 1000, I’m not likely to cruise Sunset Boulevard from start to finish, unless I have a couple of wrist aches in mind,” says Williams. “By the same token, if I’m at the bars of a Ness Signature Victory Vegas, canyon carving suddenly doesn’t seem like a good idea. Aboard the Griso, I don’t have to make that decision. I can do either, both or neither of those rides on the Griso.”

Moto Guzzi introduced the Griso 1100 in the U.S. market in 2006. Named after a famous character in the Italian novel I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed, in English), the bike sells for about $14,000. Its features include a wheelbase of over 61 inches (about 10 inches longer than its “naked” competitors), an air-cooled 1064cc transverse V-twin motor and a Weber-Marelli electronic fuel injection with stepper motor control.

In addition, the bike includes an updated oiling system that, according to Dave Searle of Motorcycle Consumer News, makes for a quiet, smooth-running motor.

As for style, the bike is “continental muscle, Armani style,” says Searle. “‘Nice bike, what’s that?’ we’d hear over and over again—coming from guys you’d guess would favor Harley-Davidsons over Japanese product—pretty much confirms that Moto Guzzi hit the demographic bulls-eye with this one,” he concludes while likening the Griso’s suspension to Heisman Trophy-grade legs.