Griso 8V v Stelvio

[Guzzirider]

I've borrowed a Griso 8V for the day while my Stelvio is being serviced. Motor is louder than the Stelvio- more of a growl- I wonder if the Griso has a bigger airbox? Brakes are slightly better too, probably helped by the front forks which compress less than the longer travel Stelvio Marzocchis. Although it has a smaller front wheel, the Griso steers slower than the Stelvio, and has a less sporty feel to the handling. To be fair, the rear pre-load seems too low for my 15 stone so increasing it may help the bike feel sharper but I am not going to fiddle with a loan bike. Gearbox and motors seem very similar- maybe the Griso is ever so slightly quicker but you can't tell a big difference- in a drag race rider skill would count more than the power outputs. Comfort is where the Stelvio wins hands down, comfier seat, much more leg room and less weight on the bars than the Griso. Wind protection is obviously better too. I much preferred the Griso 8V riding position to the old 1100 for some reason- maybe it is the narrower bars.

 

Both are good bikes- depends on what you want from them as to which one is best!

[Skeeve]

I've borrowed a Griso 8V for the day while my Stelvio is being serviced. Motor is louder than the Stelvio- more of a growl- I wonder if the Griso has a bigger airbox? Brakes are slightly better too, probably helped by the front forks which compress less than the longer travel Stelvio Marzocchis. Although it has a smaller front wheel, the Griso steers slower than the Stelvio, and has a less sporty feel to the handling. To be fair, the rear pre-load seems too low for my 15 stone so increasing it may help the bike feel sharper but I am not going to fiddle with a loan bike. Gearbox and motors seem very similar- maybe the Griso is ever so slightly quicker but you can't tell a big difference- in a drag race rider skill would count more than the power outputs. Comfort is where the Stelvio wins hands down, comfier seat, much more leg room and less weight on the bars than the Griso. Wind protection is obviously better too. I much preferred the Griso 8V riding position to the old 1100 for some reason- maybe it is the narrower bars.

 

Both are good bikes- depends on what you want from them as to which one is best!

 

Thanks for the 1st hand testimony! That sort of info is priceless.

[DeBenGuzzi]

yeah, makes me want the stelvio even more

[Guest frankdugo]

Thanks for the 1st hand testimony! That sort of info is priceless.

ditto

[Tom M]

Another Stelvio review: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/200...view-79976.html

 

Not that there's anything wrong with the Stelvio or Griso, but Guzzi needs to put this motor in a sporty bike! With top shelf suspension!

[Guzzirider]

That is probably the most realistic test I have read so far- with the main difference being the guy has obviously had the bike for some time rather than just a short hop down the road.

 

I had fun riding my V11 last weekend to Scotland but it seemed very sloooooow compared to the Stelvio!

[belfastguzzi]

Not that there's anything wrong with the Stelvio or Griso, but Guzzi needs to put this motor in a sporty bike! With top shelf suspension!

The trip to Scotland provided an interesting test with the Griso. It turned the 1,000 miles mark and had fresh oil, so I was happy to wind it on more, though I'm still not running it at or over the redline.

 

There's no doubt that this is a revy motor. It wants to be at the top end.

The thing is that MG haven't got the right bike package for it yet. The Griso is a bit of a bizarre bike. Having discounted the 1100, I took a look at it again when the 1200 8V came out: because it was publicised as being a sportier model, with a sportier riding position. I really think that's more hype than anything sunstantial. It's still an odd mix of butch cruiser with sporting inclinations. Despite what the publicity intimated, the footpegs seem to me to be in exactly the same position as the 1100 and the bars, while narrower, are still very much sit up, sit back, arms out wide, head up. What's it all about? The bike wants to run, but the seating position means that the rider is constantly pushed back and sliding back.

 

For a start, some sort of fairing / screen should be a big improvement.

Why, with a motor like this, didn't they give it one as standard?

 

Even so, the seat could do with a re-shape and, for me, I want to do something different with the bars. I don't know what yet, because although it's relatively easy to put on straights or clip ons, I'm pretty much stuck with the foot peg / lever position. And it's a heavy, bulky lump.

 

Three of us, the G and 2 V.11s, went for a fast run over fairly empty and very twisty Scottish hill roads. To be honest, I found it hard work (very enjoyable work, mind) not because of the engine, nor because of the frame / running gear – they're all great – but because of the wind-blasted, upright and rearwards seating position.

The Stelvio review talks about maintaining speeds of 100mph: "sit-bolt-upright 100-mph nirvana ".

The stock Griso won't let you do that for any amount of time. It's a shame. Just what are these new models meant to be?

 

Of course I very much like the bike – and its potential. Enough to buy one. I'm just commenting on an unfortunate core deficiency in the design concept(?), which if addressed, would have made for a bike that was more coherent, made much more sense.

[Dan M]

Another Stelvio review: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/200...view-79976.html

 

Not that there's anything wrong with the Stelvio or Griso, but Guzzi needs to put this motor in a sporty bike! With top shelf suspension!

 

 

We can only hope. I know we've covered this ground before but at least a slight evolution of the V11 is in order. It is a 9 year old model after all. Doesn't seem too unreasonable to want 10% more power and 10% less weight. Does it?

[Greg Field]

Belfastguzzi: A GIVI A760 makes a big difference, looks goos, and is easy to mount to a Greaser.

[belfastguzzi]

Belfastguzzi: A GIVI A760 makes a big difference, looks goos, and is easy to mount to a Greaser.

Thanks, Greg. I'd like to try something similar to the one on the Scura – so that looks equivalent.

Guzzi's own flyscreen looks very small. Any experience of it?

On the bars: any experience of bars that give a lower and more forward riding position?

[Tom M]

On the bars: any experience of bars that give a lower and more forward riding position?

 

I did a lot of digging around while looking for handlebars for my LeMans, and saved some of the information. Does the 8v Griso have the same bars a the Ballabio? If not tell me what the clamp diameter is ( normal bars are 22mm, Ballabio/Tuono use 28mm "fat bars") and maybe I can suggest a lower and/or narrower replacement. If they are fat bars they won't be cheap.

[belfastguzzi]

I did a lot of digging around while looking for handlebars for my LeMans, and saved some of the information. Does the 8v Griso have the same bars a the Ballabio? If not tell me what the clamp diameter is ( normal bars are 22mm, Ballabio/Tuono use 28mm "fat bars") and maybe I can suggest a lower and/or narrower replacement. If they are fat bars they won't be cheap.

Cheers, Tom. I don't know what's available. The last time that I bought bars, they were Norton Straights and it must have been 30 years ago. (Along with Goldtop boots – and that shop is gone, long ago.)

 

I'll measure accurately tonight, but yes, they look like 28mm.

[pete roper]

Cheers, Tom. I don't know what's available. The last time that I bought bars, they were Norton Straights and it must have been 30 years ago. (Along with Goldtop boots – and that shop is gone, long ago.)

 

I'll measure accurately tonight, but yes, they look like 28mm.

 

On the screen and bars issue.

 

I Have the *big* screen the factory made for the 'G'. On the 1100 it was brilliant, for me. I am 5' 10" and have a horrid body with tiny, stubby little legs, a long back and arms and no neck. With the 1100's wider bars the screen was brilliant for ME. I honestly believe that the 1100 Griso couldn't of been more custom made for me and my comfort, it was brilliant!

 

The narrower bars of the 1200 mean I sit up slightly straighter and while I haven't finished fiddling yet I feel I'll need to get a screen about 1 inch taller for it to work as well. My mate Mark in Sydney took a 1200 for a demo ride and said that he felt that the bike needed risers with another 3 inches of pull-back! This from a man with a Daytona Racing! I hate to think what he'd been smoking before he said that!!!!

 

At the end of the day there are SO many aftermarket bits available either direct or by small modification that I'm sure that even all you flamingo-necked, mole-footed, hunched-backed retards could find *something* to make them, (The bikes!) work for you! If I can, anybody can!

 

Pete

[Tom M]

Here's a review on the 8v Griso by the same guy who did the Stelvio review above. I think Yossef likes Guzzis

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/200...o-8v-68608.html

 

BFG,

Here's a pic from that review that shows the handlebars:

 

I can't tell if those are fat bars but if they are I doubt you'll find some with a lower rise. I think lower risers (bar mounts) would be the way to go. Here's a link to a source for Rizoma fat bars and risers on your side of the pond. The risers are at the bottom of the page.

http://www.carpimoto.com/product/Lang_EN/C.../Prod_27725.htm

 

Cheers!

[belfastguzzi]

Here's a review on the 8v Griso by the same guy who did the Stelvio review above. I think Yossef likes Guzzis

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/200...o-8v-68608.html

 

BFG,

Here's a pic from that review that shows the handlebars:

 

I can't tell if those are fat bars but if they are I doubt you'll find some with a lower rise. I think lower risers (bar mounts) would be the way to go. Here's a link to a source for Rizoma fat bars and risers on your side of the pond. The risers are at the bottom of the page.

http://www.carpimoto.com/product/Lang_EN/C.../Prod_27725.htm

 

Cheers!

Good article. I agree with all** he said, including the lightish front end at speed, which I'm hoping a better seating position with different bars will help address.

 

**For me though, I like the lower seat height. I'm not tall like him.

 

Thanks for the link. That's very helpful.

 

Fat bars and riser: