Motorcycle specifications Moto-GuzziGRISO 8V 1200 SPECIAL EDITION 2011 Four valves for collectors

moto Guzzi launched its four-valve engine at the end of 2006. In doing so, Guzzi joined BMW, Harley Davidson and Buell in the exclusive club of manufacturers producing air-cooled twin-cylinder engines developing over 110 hp. The same manufacturers Moto-Guzzi likes to identify with.
the Griso 8V is the most elegant of the Italian Harley killers.

the name "Griso" comes from Italian literature, where Griso plays a violent mafioso in Alessandro Manzoni's novel "Les Fiancés" (1825). We're talking about big arms here, and the Moto Guzzi 8V is indeed not short of muscle. To make a quick comparison with the tenors of this category, the BMW HP2 Sport is the undisputed queen of this machine segment, but its "haute-gamme" makes it expensive. Then come the light and powerful Buell, the Bimota DB5 and the big Harley-Davidson XR1200 in last place if we consider all performance criteria (horsepower, weight, etc.). Let me reiterate that we're talking about air-cooled twin-cylinder machines only. Moto Guzzi also has its own 4V Sport, now equipped with the latest four-valve engine.

so here I am in Rome, riding my favorite Moto Guzzi. The Griso 8V Special Edition is a fairly long machine, halfway between a high-performance cruiser and a naked sports bike, even if it leans a little more towards the latter category; its design being Guzzi's answer to the Harley V-rod and other Yamaha MT-01s.

the Special Edition features a hand-crafted brown leather seat, a "Tenni" deco (in homage to the house rider of the '30s and '40s) on the tank and a satin green paint finish. The frame, engine, suspension and dashboard are all in black. The wheels are spoked for a retro feel, but the racing footpegs, radial calipers and 43mm forks add a modern touch. Sitting on the luxurious leather saddle at a good distance from the handlebars, the rider has an upright riding position.
starting up the 1151cm3 engine, the griso 8V vibrates a little more than a BMW twin, but less than a Harley. When I hit the throttle, there's no doubt that a powerful engine is waiting for my signal. In first gear, the Griso 8V easily lifts the front end under hard acceleration, like the most powerful models in Moto Guzzi's current range. The 110 Italian stallions are transmitted via shaft and universal joint to the 180 rear tire. While maximum power arrives at 7,500rpm, maximum torque of 108Nm arrives a little earlier, at a speed of 6,400rpm easily found on the road. As a result, getting off to a flying start at red lights is the easiest thing in the world.

to handle all this power, the Griso 8V is equipped with a very solid chassis, and the double tubular steel cradle is essential to its rigidity. This is combined with a single-arm swingarm, while a high-quality suspension system takes care of the rest. The sturdy 43mm forks are fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping.
the result is surprisingly sporty handling. I say surprising because the wheelbase is still 1,554mm, but I was able to leap in and out of traffic, between cars and scooters with real ease. It's also a lot of fun to turn corners energetically! The solid, powerful front end and brakes gave me more thrills than I expected. In the past, I've often ridden on a Griso, and I can confirm that they always perform better. With the Griso 8V you'll find a truly high-performance machine, but also a virile, slightly macho style ideal for display in front of a café terrace.
the 222 kg dry weight may seem a little too much for some, but it's still pretty light for this segment. The 800mm seat height may also be a little low, but the Griso 8V is well-balanced and civilized enough to be ridden at very low speeds when necessary.

conclusion:

only 500 units of this Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE will be produced, which is why I wrote "vintage four-valve". Driving pleasure is similar to that of the standard version, but it's at a standstill that the difference is most obvious. Of all current Moto Guzzi models, the Griso 8V remains my favorite. The racing parts (footrests, radial calipers) invite sporty riding, and while the handling may not be perfect, its "rough" Italian feel definitely makes it my favorite.

the griso 8V is simply a great bike.