2015 Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V SE
Purchase Date: March 2017
Moto Guzzi, I somehow found myself with three Moto Guzzis at the same time. I am not specifically a die hard Guzzi owner, this just sort of happened. I have to admit that I am a big fan of the twin cylinder design and Guzzis just so happen to fit me well. It all works out, I'm certainly happy!
The introduction of the Griso. I haven't had a truly 100% reliable and comfortable motorcycle that I can take on long distance rides for some time. I personally find long rides relaxing and meditative, therefore not having the opportunity I've been going a bit stir crazy. The last motorcycle I owned fitting that genre was was the BMW R1100S, I sold off about three years ago. I recently sold the Harley Sportster and BMW K100RS which gave me some spending money for another motorcycle. I decided it was time to purchase something "newer" to accommodate the missing "long distance" motorcycle in the fleet.
I reviewed all different types and styles of motorcycles before finally making the Griso purchase. One bike I truly admired and would have liked to buy, although I couldn't financially swing it was the KTM SuperDuke GT. Unfortunately the sticker price of the KTM new is around $20k not including all the additional fees and taxes. The GT has only been around a few years, therefore there are not many used available in the market. I've also looked at the Indian Chief Dark Horse, Ducati Multistrada 950, MV Agusta Turismo Veloce, etc... As you can see, my decision was all over the place.
I came across the Griso at a nearby dealer and was fascinated. The bike didn't strike me immediately as "This is the bike I have to have!", it was subtle. I initially fell for the lines and physical size of the bike, the "muscle" type look is appealing to me. I felt right at home sitting on the Guzzi. I have to admit that I am not impressed with the lack of modern electronics that the comparing bikes have, although that is what also makes me feel right at home because I prefer it that way. After reviewing prices online and specs, I found a leftover 2015 in Marina del Rey for more than $3500. less than retail (it is currently early 2017). This was a motivating factor, it also helps that the 2017 and 2015 are the same inside and out without any upgrades over the years. A few hums and haws later and I decided to pull the trigger on purchasing the bike. The only concern was that Marina Del Rey is about 7 hours away and I would have to set up shipping arrangements. Michael at "Pacific Coast Powersports" worked with me and we were able to close the deal. After just under three weeks of paperwork transfers through Fed Ex and my patience being tested, the Griso is finally in my possession.
The 2015 Moto Guzzi Griso has a 90 degree, four stroke V-twin 1151cc engine. The air and oil cooled engine has a power delivery of 104.5 HP at 7,100 rpm with a torque of 107 Nm at 6.600 rpm. The six speed transmission delivers power to the ground through the single dry clutch and CARC (compact reactive shaft drive) shaft drive system. The Griso has a modest gas tank capacity of 4.49 gallons with an additional reserve of 0.92 gallons. Overall running weight of the Guzzi is 509.3 lbs. Top speed is estimated around 140 mph..
Upon initial delivery of the Griso I was a nervous wreck (honestly). I just purchased a new motorcycle sight unseen and I don't necessarily trust delivery drivers. I had taken the day off from work to be present for the 1:30pm scheduled drop off. After waiting which felt like days, it was nearing 2pm and still no motorcycle. I decided to phone the driver to find out the current status only discovering that the driver had an unfortunate mishap with a flat tire along California I5, this had put him behind schedule by about 2 hours. The driver also informed me that he has another scheduled delivery on the way which will take additional time. Coincidentally due to the time it was, this also means that he was headed into the heart of rush hour bay area commuter traffic. I was also concerned because of the incoming storm later that day, in which I asked him if the motorcycle was in a covered trailer, he said that it was not. My anxiety immediately rose and I asked him if he can possibly reorganize the priority of the deliveries. We disconnected the call, a few minutes later I receive the phone call back with good news that he will be dropping off the Griso first.
When the driver finally pulled up around 4:30pm I was ready for this long day of waiting to be over. The bike was glistening in the back of the pick-up truck patiently waiting to be back on solid ground. With my help, the driver unloaded the Griso and I was congratulated on my new purchase.
I checked the oil and gas to simply confirm the fluids were there before attempting a start. Next, I inserted / turned the key and depressed the starter button when the bike roared to life. I was initially shocked as to how deep toned the stock muffler sounded, they are notorious for being extremely quiet (I will be swapping this out soon enough anyways to get some noise). After a few minutes of steady idling, I drove off for a short test ride around the neighborhood. I was pleased to say the least.
I've decided to add a few accessories / modifications to personalize and fill the need of making this Guzzi a light touring motorcycle for myself to enjoy. Below is a loose list of accessories and parts that I've updated / added to the Griso along with the story of my ownership.
April 2017
Luggage: I opted for the Hepco and Becker C-Bow system with Krauser soft bags. I really like both the bags and attachment, sturdy and simple to use. They hold my gear and look sharp while doing it.
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Windscreen/Flyscreen: I installed the Dart Marlin "Dark" flyscreen. The windscreen is easy to install, with a small exception that I had to file one of the holes on both left/right brackets by about 2 millimeters to fit the headlight ear attachments. The flyscreen works well and looks good doing so. It does not cut the air away from my face or even my upper chest, but it helps with blocking the wind from the core of my body.
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May 2017
Exhaust System: I've decided to go with an Agostini Mandello stainless steel conical slip on can. This "slip-on" is CE certified and is safe to use without adjustment to the Griso's fuel mapping, of course a re-flash would help with the bike's lean stock condition although not necessary as long the baffle is still in place. I don't believe this will void the warranty either because of the long time partnership that Agostini has had over the years with Guzzi, although do your own research at your dealer and use at your own risk. The muffler was easy to install, although it was a tight fit over the stock connecting pipe. It sounds great and gives me just the right amount of bark that I like without being too loud to disturb the neighbors.
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Tankbag: I went with a Cortech Super 2.0 10L tank bag with straps. There are not many options for the Griso as far as tank bags. I chose Cortech for the economical factor, along with plain out function. It has a small main compartment big enough to fit everything I'd like to normally fit into my pockets. The bag also has a map compartment which I find useful every now and then. I actually cut a circle into the base of the strap (and hemmed the edge) in the location of my gas cap for ease of fueling.
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November 2017
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Fuzeblock: I added the FZ-1 Fuzeblock to wire my GPS unit, heated hand grips and heated vest. The wiring is straight forward with some patience and a good line to splice into for the switched positive. I used a posi-tap to power the Fuzeblock from the OEM Tom Tom gps connector lead under the right engine cover. I located the Fuzeblock under the rubber air intake - under the seat.
Hand grips: I installed Oxford Heaterz hand grips, adventure style. When I removed the OEM grips, the throttle sleeve has raised surfaces to accommodate "Moto Guzzi" grips; I tediously removed them with a Dremel tool and file. The new grips were a bit long, I cut them down to size for fitment. They work perfectly; I am happy with the fit, form and function. The overall diameter of the adventure style grips fit my hands perfectly. When wiring, I routed wire the leads to a relay system and not directly to the battery.
GPS Mount: I sourced and added a ball mount attachment for my old Garmin Nuvi. I wired the power plug to the Fuzeblock under the seat. The mount is installed on the right side of the handlebars. It works just as I need, supplying turn by turn directions for the long trips.
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January 2018
Paint: The Griso has undergone a slight facelift. I got a little creative with some satin black wrap and covered the bike. I think it looks great. It is not perfect and some corners may lift, the good thing is I can just add another piece of wrap over top as a band-aid.
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May 2018
Cruising Speeds: I wanted to put an Atlas throttle lock on the bike although I just couldn't bring myself to spend the $135.. I opted for a more economical version by going with a NEP CC-3. It's the version for dual cables which just means that the tab will fit between the cables. I believe this contraption would fit almost perfectly if I didn't have the heated grips, I do - so it required me to get a little creative making a small bracket along with some filing down parts of the unit. Installed, the plastic throttle lock works really well.
Extra Gas: The Griso's low fuel light comes on way too soon. I'm only getting about 30-32 miles per gallon which means the light come on as soon as 110 miles. I added a small, portable fuel container that I keep in a nylon map carrier the underside of the luggage mounts. It doesn't hold much but I'm hoping it will get me out of a pinch if needed. A bonus is that -it is easy to access in assisting a stranded biker needing gas.
-- Update: This nylon map carrier is no longer used to hold a gas container, a 1 gallon Rotopax container replaced this. The existing container now holds my extra tools, etc...
-- Update: This nylon map carrier is no longer used to hold a gas container, a 1 gallon Rotopax container replaced this. The existing container now holds my extra tools, etc...
Suspension: The Griso's suspension came to me a bit soft, with the rear under-sprung. I am not a lightweight and I had to make some adjustments to the preload both front and rear to get the right shock sag for my riding preference. Once the sag was set, I made adjustments to the compression and rebound damping dialing the bike in. I found that the front was right on at the street setting, turning the rear compression 1/4 turn CW (stiffening) and 1 click CCW to the rebound (softening) works best for me. The settings were set to stock "street" while taking the sag measurements, and as a baseline for my personal settings. After setting the suspension, the bike feels lighter and somehow smaller. The Guzzi tracks well into the corners without any wallowing; it feels like a different bike. I highly recommend anyone with a Griso to take the time and have the suspension set correctly.
March 2019
Tires: The Metzelers were due to be replaced. I opted for a pair of Pirelli Scorpian Trail II tires. They are great! They handle much better than the Metzelers that came with the bike. They take fire roads much better, less slipping.. Cornering handles better; surprisingly for an on/off road tire. So far they appear to be taking the mileage well too.
July 2019
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Camera: I installed a basic camera, no frills.. Sykik CR1 camera that loop records onto a MicroSD. The install took me about 3 hours to hide and splice all the wires. Overall, the camera works well for my use. I don't use the footage for anything other than emergency. My commute to work in the California Bay Area can have it's "moments".
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January 2020
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Handle Bars: I've been taking longer trips on the Griso, the forward lean has been a bit of a back buster for me. After researching handle bar options I purchased and installed a set of Pro-Taper "Contour Rapter" bars. They have a rise and pull back about an inch more than stock in both directions. The installation was frustrating as expected. I first cut the bars to the smallest width marks on both ends, the initial size is too wide for me and I want to make sure I can use the stock cables. Stock brake lines are tight; to gain some slack in the lines, I swiveled the connection on the right front brake and pulled the lines a bit through the grommets on the forks. The controls require the nibs to be shaved down for transfer, or the new bars drilled (I shaved); then a small piece of rubber from an old inner tube is used as a shim on the new bars. Then the clutch line needs to be pulled through the right side bodywork just a bit for some slack. Everything else just needed a little tug here and there with zip ties for securing. The bars are the perfect height and setback for the highway riding I do with the Griso.
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Barkbusters: I purchased and installed a set of single point Storm Barkbusters to the new handlebars. Being a single point bar-end style, they are stiffer and more secure than I thought they would be. They do the job and keep the cold morning air off the top of my hands.
Gas/Water: Having enough gas has always been an issue traveling on the Guzzi. I am a fan of the Rotopax locking gas and water system therefore I utilized the Hepco-Becker C-Bow system left side as my base for the new Rotopax mount. It is an easy setup and I'm happy with how secure the doubled up 1 gallon cans are, plus the look great and are 100% functional.
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DRL - Daytime Running Light: Lanesplitting on congested California highways can be a dangerous task although necessary to get around during heavy commute hours. Most mornings I drive on Interstate 80 near San Francisco, splitting my way through traffic to the office. Cars don't always see, or recognize the vehicle coming up behind them as a motorcycle. I installed a small LED DRL light to help people see me coming, for the motorcycle recognition. A small light such as this may help my being seen, keeping other vehicles from cutting me off - or inadvertently running me off the road.
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March 2020
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Windscreen: Cold morning commuting with the Griso and long traveling days pushed me to get a larger windscreen. I replaced the Dart windscreen with a Puig Ranger. The Ranger has a four point mounting system, completely adjustable and it is secure enough to withstand high speed winds. The bike lost some of it's sporty-ness although I am a comfortable and warm.
Tripping Sensors: A service light for the oil pressure sensor recently tripped with an error code displaying a faulty sensor. Upon removing the oil pressure sensor (under the gas tank between the "V") I discovered the spade connection was loose from the factory and it was missing a crush washer. I replaced the sensor with a new one (from MGCycle) just in case the problem was more than the loose connection - along with a crush washer. I did not remove the gas tank, but I did lift it about 3 inches in order to secure the electrical connection. Codes were cleared and I am back in business.
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April 2020
More Tires: The Pirelli Scorpion Trail II were a good tire for about 6k miles, then they started to wear and get kind of squirrel-ly cornering. Now that I'm doing more long distance with the Griso I opted for a pair of Metzeler Roadtec 01 tires. They were reasonably priced and I should get at least 10k miles out of them (according to research). They are a good tire, handle well so far and take pretty much any road condition I've thrown at them.
Valves, Plugs: It's that time again for a valve adjustment! Easy does it with the Griso. - Valves adjusted and new plugs installed.
February 2021
A few things added this month:
Crash Bars and Highway Pegs: I have been taking long trips on the Griso and needed a method to stretch my legs once and a while. The cramped position on the Guzzi can get to me on rides that last hours on end. I ended up buying Hepco Becker engine guards and a set of knock off highway pegs (modified) a bit to fit the guards. This works very well and these additions help on the long stretches of freeway.
Crash Bars and Highway Pegs: I have been taking long trips on the Griso and needed a method to stretch my legs once and a while. The cramped position on the Guzzi can get to me on rides that last hours on end. I ended up buying Hepco Becker engine guards and a set of knock off highway pegs (modified) a bit to fit the guards. This works very well and these additions help on the long stretches of freeway.
December 2021
I removed all of the black wrap and panniers and added the Dart windscreen, removing the Givi. Also removed the highway pegs. I've brought the bike back to a presentable state in preparation for sale. Yes, I have my eye on something else and I'm planning on selling the Griso soon after the new bike arrives, this could take some time.
LOL, I change my mind often - I may end up keeping this for a bit longer!
LOL, I change my mind often - I may end up keeping this for a bit longer!
January 2022
Okay... So I am keeping the Griso for a bit longer. How could I get rid of such a beauty. The Givi windscreen went back on along with the Hepco-Becker c-bow panniers. Getting ready for another trip soon!
April 2022
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Shocking: More shock stories. It seems like I am always adjusting shocks somewhere. This time the Griso got a new sexy Racetech 30% increase spring on the rear shock. I installed this one without even taking the shock off the bike! What a maneuver that was. The shock outperforms the OEM significantly. I should've done this a long time ago. The OEM shock recently bottomed out on me on a long trip when I had a ton of weight on the back. It scared me enough to make the purchase. I knew the Griso shock (spring) was undersprung, but I didn't realize how bad it actually was until the new spring was on. What a difference, that's all I need to say on this one. If you have a Griso and you're thinking of upgrading the rear shock, do it - if it's just the spring, or the whole shock, doesn't matter.. It needs it.
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May 2022
Fresh tires and Battery: Yes, exactly that. The battery was on it's last leg so I refreshed it with a new Yuasa. I also installed a new set of tires, this time I'm trying the Michelin Road 6 GT's. They're expensive! but the I want them to hold up longer then the Metzeler Roadtec 01's, it's also a safety thing with the long trips I've been doing with this. The Metzelers only got me about 4500 miles, I was expecting way more then that. So far I have 1300 miles on the new Michelin's and they're holding up well. They did fantastic doing high speeds in the rain along I5 outside of Portland.
Rear Brakes: Upon installing the rear tire, I discovered the rear brakes were on their last leg. New pads ordered and installed, done.
June 2022
A Few Gadgets: I recently bought myself a Garmin Zumo XT for the Norden. I'm also using it on the Griso. Looks and works great with the bike. I already had a Garmin plug, power installed for an older unit so it was a no-brainer adding the mount to cockpit.
If you look to the right of the Garmin in the pic, there's a small square screen. That is a Sykik tire pressure monitor, perfect addition for safety on those long trips. So far it works great!
I also added a different tank bag, trying out a Viking bag. The jury is still out on that one, so far so good but one of the straps ripped off without much pull and the zipper gets stuck.
If you look to the right of the Garmin in the pic, there's a small square screen. That is a Sykik tire pressure monitor, perfect addition for safety on those long trips. So far it works great!
I also added a different tank bag, trying out a Viking bag. The jury is still out on that one, so far so good but one of the straps ripped off without much pull and the zipper gets stuck.
October 2022
Seating: I've been grumbling about the OEM seat since I bought the Griso. I finally pulled the trigger on a new seat, Russell day-long touring seat. After making an appointment, I drove to Lake Shasta and had the custom made to my desires. What a great seat.. Why didn't I do this sooner? - Oh, because it is a bit pricey and I didn't want to spend the cash. But yes, well worth it in the long run.
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December 2022
Maintenance: Another round of throttle body synchronization and TPS (throttle position sensor) reset. I highly recommend the "guzzi-diag" route. If you can figure out the details with the plug situation and correct drivers for the plug setup this is the way to go. I had to grind down the pins in one of the plugs and had some computer problems while I was doing this but I got it all squared away and at the end it was simple just following the instructions. I use the Morgan Carbtune sync tool for my carb syncs. I've used the motion pro tool in the past - too many problems with the liquid bubbling up, that unit went in the trash after a frustrating bout.
Photos and details of the Griso will be added as the project matures.