Trade Ninja 1000 for Moto Guzzi Griso 8V ? Am I insane?

[HipGnosis]

Ride an R12 BMW, then ride your Griso 8V.  One accelerates nicely when you give it the berries.  

This (the bolded) is going to be incorporated into one of my many passwords!

[sprk_sprd]

Trade Ninja 1000 for Moto Guzzi Griso 8V ? Am I insane?...Shame as I've only had the N1k for 11 months. But the truth is, I find the bike absolutely boring to ride. The suspension is flabby feeling and the shock options in the aftermarket are simply different colored versions of stock with no option for fork kits at all. Even with the mods I did to bring it to 137 RWHP, I find the power delivery to be lame. I hate power deliveries that build in such a linear, predictable, wind-up-toy fashion.  There's no "stump pulling grunt" that will launch you like only a long stroke twin can...There's a reason I've owned 12 different twins over the years (4 HDs, 5 Buells, 2 BMWs and 1 Duc).

So why did you ever sell the Buells?  It sounds like they offer everything you like!  (Current owner of 2 Buells myself for those same reasons.)

[X1Glider]

So why did you ever sell the Buells?  It sounds like they offer everything you like!  (Current owner of 2 Buells myself for those same reasons.)

They do.  And I kick myself in the ass for it at least once a week.  The earliest ones the RR1200 and RSS 1200, I sold because of their rudimentary production design under the bodywork.  They weren't very sophisticated in componentry and hardware and just lacked performance.  Then I started racing in the mid 90s with the S2, then the X1 in both land speed and circuit.  Wore them out in various incarnations.  The 1125R left me cold so I was happy to sell it.  I miss the X1 the most.  But I keep my eye out for good S1 tubers to this day.

[Bama67]

Yeah, I am getting it from AF1.

 I tried to call MPH but I kept getting a line disconnected message.  

[OrangeOkie]

I'm a big Guzzi fan and would love to own an SE.  

[OrangeOkie]

Yeah, I am getting it from AF1.

 I tried to call MPH but I kept getting a line disconnected message.  

AF1 is a great dealership, but so is MPH.

MPH Cycles
16510 Park Row
Houston Texas 77084

Toll Free:- 866-746-1182


Click the photo for a nice video

[Bama67]

Are those your bikes Okie?
  Nice!

[atadaskew]

Click the photo for a nice video

that makes me want to buy another one to have a matching set!

[Dan K]

Guys,
Almost 1 year to the day ago I bought a 2011 Ninja 1000. I love the bike, it an absolute beauty and is perfect for my needs, (I don't get to ride real often, but when I do it is about 100 miles at a time) I would pretty much not change anything about it.

But for the last 3 years or so I have been obsessed with Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE, (in tenni green) I thought about getting one when I bought the Ninja, but my practical side won over, and the Ninja was a few thousand cheaper.

But got damn; I still can't stop thinking about the Griso, and everytime I get on here I just   at the Guzzi threads.
I have yet to even see one in person, but I know if I love it so much in pictures if I ever see one in person I will probably just ruin my underwear.

I know the Ninja is more practical, faster, better handling, more reliable, pretty much beats the Guzzi in everything possible except looks and character. My wife wants to kill me because it has only been a year and I only have 2k miles on the Ninja and I want a new bike already, yet I feel like the Griso SE is one of those bikes that one keeps for a long, long time.


Someone tell me that I will regret it, that the Griso 8V will kill my lower back riding or something (even though it prob won't as I am 27 and very fit) or that maybe it is overpriced, or maybe that its a bad idea as the nearest dealer is like 6 hours away.  Talk me out of it bros.

If you want the ninja but with character, pick up a Sprint ST. Trade for that and you will be practical rather than insane. Too bad I ain't selling.

[blackbuell]

My favorite bike of all time was the one in my avatar: 2000 Buell S3. I now ride mainly Guzzis, and have taken two day-long rides on an 8V Griso. The Griso motor and the general riding experience reminded me of the S3; I loved it! If I had the $ and space in my garage, I'd own a Griso.

If you liked your tuber, you would love the Griso. Buy one and show us the pic!

Jon

[NotDeadYet]

I got the itch for a new (to me) bike this spring as well.  I have owned many makes and models over the years but never a Moto Guzzi.  I landed on an almost new red 2003 Moto Guzzi V11 Lemans (a true garage queen with 2200 original miles).  I bought it sight unseen after having a riding buddy of mine check it out for me.  I picked it up and promptly put almost 2000 miles on it riding home.  I also have a Ninja, mine's a ZX14 that I won't be selling any time soon as I'm sure that bike and I were made for one another.  Having said that I am enjoying the Guzzi immensely.  I have a different mind set when I get on the Guzzi, it's a much more relaxed enjoy the ride head space.  I am very happy to have it in the garage keeping my ninja company.  The ninja and the Guzzi seem to be getting along just fine.  Now if I could just find a deal on a set of conical stainless steel mistrals and a stainless mistral crossover.  

[dietDrThunder]

I disagree.
The stock pipe on the 8V Griso sounds really good.  Once over 5K rpms it sounds fantastic.  Guzzi did their work on this one, it flows great and makes excellent powah.

Put some miles on the bike before you start swapping things out.  The only thing I recommend immediately doing is using a hairdryer to remove all those warning stickers, and to set the preload on the suspension.

The stock pipe might sound ok, but what do you do about those times where you accidentally, you know...see it? Are you able to overcome the revulsion to still be able to ride, or do yo have to give up and try in a week or two?

[falconati]

Hey now, it looks nice.  Not as nice as the guzzitech unit that relocates the exhaust to the other side, but I think it looks nice.  I also agree that the stock exhaust sounds nice - again, I'd prefer the aftermarket solution; however I don't agree with the assertions that the stock exhaust doesn't sound nice.

[atadaskew]

The stock pipe might sound ok, but what do you do about those times where you accidentally, you know...see it? Are you able to overcome the revulsion to still be able to ride, or do yo have to give up and try in a week or two?

I love the way it looks.  Tamburini mentioned it was designed to look like the number 8 in cross section in order to signify the new 8V motor.
I think it's a fantastic piece of industrial art design.  The fact that it also flows really well, and sounds great w/o being loud is just a bonus.

[Bama67]

Im finally back in the good ol' USA. I pick up the Griso on Saturday   .

I have to head out tomorrow because I have to make a detour to central Mississippi to sell a guy my Polaris Ranger, and I am also picking up a mint 2008 CBR600RR with only 1k miles for a song from a buddy of mine.
Probably gonn flip the CBR as I will be to busy riding the Guzzi.

[Spanky]

Congrats! I am looking forward to seeing some pictures, that is a pretty Guzzi for sure.

[Pete Roper]

I'm sure the guys at AF-1 know their stuff. The Havens at MPH are also the only people I've ever countenanced allowing loose on a bike of mine. I sent my A5 engined 2008 Griso 1200 to them for the cam recall and proper set up even though there were numerous dealers closer to where I bought it, (It's a long story.).

Set-up and PD are critical on the new Guzzis, unlike a Japanese bike it isn't just a case of 'Fling the battery and half a tank of gas in.' and push it out the door.

DON'T be tempted to put a 'Loud' pipe on it, it will rob it of about 8 brake horsepower at the top end and give you a flat spot in the midrange. Even if you re-map them what causes them to loose out is the way they are cammed. They simply won't take 'Conventional' mods without cam changes.

FWIW my A5 engined 2008 model with no mods other than the #68 map, (Not easily installed on a post 2010 bike unfortunately but the '03 map is good too, I havent Dyno' an '03 mapped bike yet.) and the factory Termi pipe with dB killer and catalyser in made 104.8 RWHP on a dry, 28 degree Celsius day at 800 meters altitude on a Dynojet Dyno run by a mate in the trade.

Fitting open air boxes and loud pipes will rob you of an immediate 8 HP, give you a midrange flat spot and radically increase your fuel consumption. As I said, it's due to the way the engine is cammed.

Pete

[Dan K]

What bike is that? It's purdy.

[Bama67]

Well, I got the bike home and long story short, I love it.  

It has been raining here the last couple days, and is supposed to do so for another few days  

But I was able to take it out for about 3 hours yesterday morning between the rains and put on 150 miles. It was perfect, and as soon as I get on a real computer and not on a phone I will post a more in depth review.

I am going to spend todays rain pulling of the warning decals, accidently removing the evap canister, and sort out that fugly rear fender.

[Dan K]

Pics please, and congrats.