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SPECS · PICS · RATING
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Review of the 2004 Moto Guzzi Griso:Rode one yesterday |
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Author: LahDdah, 2006-06-18, viewed 201 times. | ||||||
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The Griso is a fastish, fun and relaxing ride but lacks punch in standard form. | ||||||
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I rode one yesterday. Sunny day, country lanes, bit of dual carriageway..mmmm great! I had always wanted to try a modern Guzzi. I had memories of following my friend on his MK2 Le Mans on my Suzuki 850 in the mid 80s. Everytime he accelerated I could feel the blast of his exhaust, the bass pulses of the big twin and almost see it go a bit faster with every stroke of the 850 V-twin. I remember that it had big accelerator pumps on the carbs that would squirt about a pint of neat petrol in when you twisted the grip hard... I couldn´t wait to try out the improved version. The Griso actually felt a bit flat as if it was slightly strangled. I guess some open pipes and a less restrictive induction set up would liberate it a bit. Handling was fabulous and rock solid, the gearbox light and reliable (no clutch changes were amazingly slick) The dry clutch makes a mechanically unsympathetic noise when pulled in but on the move but the afore mentioned clutchless changes keep that at bay. The brakes were excellent too and there was yards of tyre footprint to handle it. I am a big guy (6ft 1´) and the bike was quite comfortable but you do have a very wide stance. Finish looked good but the speedo thingy was a bit confusing with all the trips and levels. I hated the warning triangle that flashed red when you revved the engine out. Switchgear was very good with a mode switch for the trips and lap timer things or whatever they were! The motor feels very developed and went cleanly down to 1000 rpm and way up to the redline but I felt it was most fun under 5000 revs. Thats about 80 in top. Above 5000 rpm the engine really feels like its sucking hard on its own induction system. I came off a Speed Triple to ride this bike and wasn´t sure if I liked it or not. However, I slowed down by about 20mph in every situation and it was a very relaxing de-stressing ride. You have to ride smooth and it isn´t quite the beast the S3 is but I would buy one as a second bike and it really fits the bill for someone wanting fast bike but with a bit of bling for cruising. (Everyone gawped at it as I went by) If you want to strike a pose without having to wear leather chaps or have tassles on your bike this might be the one. I just wish it didn´t feel quite so breathless as you rev it. I believe there is a shorter, louder , freer flowing exhaust for this bike. Could be wicked! HTH Lah |
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