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Norge Handling vs. Griso

ginkgo

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
41
Location
Southeast
Good morning. I had a Griso and loved the engine, but found it's low speed handling to be difficult. I'm thinking about a Norge now, but wonder if it would also be hard to handle in low speed situations. Anyone have experience with both? Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Hi Todd, thanks for your personal reply. I really appreciate it. I went from the Griso to a Monster 821. Good bike for sure, but my wife didn't care for the ride. Then I went for a California 1400 Touring. That was a bridge too far for me. Way too much weight, and I just don't ride it. It only has 1,500 miles on it. I do like Guzzis however, and that's why I was thinking about the Norge. My wife likes the new V85 but I don't really see it for me. I just ride recreationally. I'm leaning towards a Triumph Bonneville T120. I just want a good handler, not too heavy, and something that doesn't look like an alien. Norm
 
My wife likes the new V85 but I don't really see it for me. I just ride recreationally. I'm leaning towards a Triumph Bonneville T120. I just want a good handler, not too heavy, and something that doesn't look like an alien. Norm
Welcome Norm. Very good, and you just described what I'm building; https://gtmotocycles.com/pages/builds-collection -- we are taking deposits on commissioned builds right now. Send an email direct for more; Info at GuzziTech.com
 
Hi Todd, thanks for your personal reply. I really appreciate it. I went from the Griso to a Monster 821. Good bike for sure, but my wife didn't care for the ride. Then I went for a California 1400 Touring. That was a bridge too far for me. Way too much weight, and I just don't ride it. It only has 1,500 miles on it. I do like Guzzis however, and that's why I was thinking about the Norge. My wife likes the new V85 but I don't really see it for me. I just ride recreationally. I'm leaning towards a Triumph Bonneville T120. I just want a good handler, not too heavy, and something that doesn't look like an alien. Norm

I strongly recommend that you RIDE a V85 before you knock it. It is an amazing machine with beautiful easy handling and lighter weight. I was actually blown away with how well it performed and handled. The instrumentation is spectacular.

It's my next bike for sure.

The riding posture of the V85 simply cannot be beat. It is supremely comfortable.
 
I find my Breva better at low speeds than a Griso, although I've only been on a Griso pretty briefly.

the high, wide bars do it I think.
 
Where as I found the opposite, I prefer the Griso, especially in low speed riding. The Breva felt too tall to me. The Griso is a lower bike with decent balance. I only test rode a Breva, to be fair. But when I test rode it I was new to the Griso as well. And I ended up with the Griso (although I pretty well already knew how that was going to go).
But things like this are so subjective.
 
My first impression of the Norge was that it was clunky and unstable at low speed. I'm pushing 200 pounds and making adjustments to the stock suspension didn't help much. It wasn't until I put in a Matris fork spring kit and rear shock that handling improved significantly. It now handles great and even feels a bit like a "little" bike in a parking lot.

With the fork kit, I initially used Redline medium weight but the rebound was inadequate. I then switched to their heavy oil and it's pretty close to ideal.
 
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