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What does a Griso compare with...in riding position?

U

Unleaded

Just got it firing!
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
17
Location
Marshall, IL
I'm on the hunt for an 8V Griso, and feel like a bit of a lunatic. I've never in my life been on a search for a bike based solely on magazine reviews and pictures...and yet I find myself doing that very thing right now. There are no Grisos anywhere close to me that I can find to sit on, let alone test ride.

I'll continue to look for one to try on for size, but in the meantime, In order to even narrow down what I'm really looking for, anyone out there have an opinion on a bike that "feels" similar? And I don't mean engine characteristics, speed, power....I mean view from the cockpit, width, height of gauges... etc. I haven't owned a naked bike since I had a 1980 CB900 in the early 90's. I've ridden a few Sportsters, a Speed Triple, a Duc GT1000, and numerous older UJM's.

I didn't like the GT1000 (which currently belongs to my brother). It was a fun bike, but with a full-face helmet, the chin bar obscures everything in front of you but the road. My brother loves that. I know it's a bit strange, but I like to have some 'bike' in front of me. And to be able to see the clocks with a full helmet. Truthfully I'm a bit afraid of what I think is probably a bit of "dirt bike" feel to the riding position and view, and I'm trying to get my mind around whether I would be happy with that. I'm 6'2" 200#, and I'm in the tiny minority of guys who don't mind my bikes to be a little larger - even the sporty ones. I just feel more comfortable on them, and have at least the illusion that I don't look like the proverbial monkey/football.

Case in point - I just had the opportunity yesterday to ride a VFR1200. Totally different bike, full of tupperware and electronics, of course. And not a bike I'm considering, BTW, just an opportunity that arose. But the bike 'felt' more proportionally "right" to me than say, a Sportster, which is actually at least as big dimensionally as the VFR.

I'm rambling here, and t's a bit of a vague question, I realize, but I'm really just trying to get a feel for the bike in general in terms of size.

Really appreciate any thoughts.
 
Not sure how responsive I can be to your ergo questions, but you are welcome to drive over to Milan (Ill.), about 260 miles from you, and sit on and ride mine.

Weather's pretty sucky just now for any longish romp, but you can get the idea.

Bill
 
Bill Hagan said:
Not sure how responsive I can be to your ergo questions, but you are welcome to drive over to Milan (Ill.), about 260 miles from you, and sit on and ride mine.

Weather's pretty sucky just now for any longish romp, but you can get the idea.

Bill
Click to expand...

What a great offer, Bill. And at 260 miles away, you're about 400 closer than the next closest one I could find. :laugh:

I may just take you up on that, and I'll PM you if it works out.

As an aside, you have a really cool stable of bikes listed. If you could only keep one of those, which one would it be?
 
Unleaded said:
Bill Hagan said:
Not sure how responsive I can be to your ergo questions, but you are welcome to drive over to Milan (Ill.), about 260 miles from you, and sit on and ride mine.

Weather's pretty sucky just now for any longish romp, but you can get the idea.

Bill
Click to expand...

What a great offer, Bill. And at 260 miles away, you're about 400 closer than the next closest one I could find. :laugh:

I may just take you up on that, and I'll PM you if it works out.

As an aside, you have a really cool stable of bikes listed. If you could only keep one of those, which one would it be?
Click to expand...

What a difficult -- and, for me, almost impossible -- question to answer.

I am occasionally envious of the folks who can buy and sell motorcycles as if they were just another toaster. I can't. Instead, I get emotionally attached to the beasts. I pine for my sold Ballabio as if it were my first love -- FWIW, that would be Yvonne, back in 1960! As annoying as that is for my wife, Kathi, she also realizes I am not about to get a newer model of her, even if I could.

Anyway, the trick answer to the trick question is "none of the above." I'd thin my herd by selling all (but only to known Guzzisti with sufficient references) and get a Norge 8v.

My brother has one and it is one impressive machine.

As for my Griso, let me know. No hurry, of course, but Saturday weather is looking as decent as things get in this part of the world in early December.

Bill
 
From the bikes you listed, the Triumph and Duc are closest to the Griso. Triumph is a bit more aggressive/tucked position.
One thing to keep in mind - it is fairly easy to "fine tune" the riding position to better suit what makes you happy via adjustable or lowered pegs and aftermarket bars.
 
I'm a similar height at 6ft 3 and find the riding position quite like the T509 speed triple i once had,albeit with lower seat height, thinking about some knight design lower pegs at some point, but they're not high on the list of priorities. Did 1200 miles over 3 days last May with no problems other than a fecking sore arse, but you'd get that with a lot of bikes.
 
I used to own a 2004 BMW R1150R Rockster.
The Griso's ergos are kind of like that.

The Beemer had better leg room.
The Griso has better reach to the handlebar.

That's my opinion, anyway.
 
As said riding position is truely personal. I'm 5' 10" 225lbs(No weight jokes!!). I own an Aprilia Tuono as well as the Griso. Even though they both have MX style bars & high pegs they are completely different. I think you might have trouble with the height & more forward position of the gegs. I lowered the pegs about the same amount(1")but I think the Griso would be better if they were farther back. As for the bars they are lower & wider so it almost feels like low "beach" bars on a HD. I added a little height to them with blocks & I like the feel. Your arms longer, I think, so they might feel good with stock bars stock.
Sorry about the long answer.
 
I spent a few hours on a G12 yesterday, and the ergos aren't nearly as "cramped" as one might think just sitting on the bike in the showroom, as I once did.

6'-1", 32" inseam, ~240 w/gear. A very relaxing multi-hour ride.
 
It is definitely relative.
My Griso is a couch to me. It is the most comfortable Bike I own. It is not my favorite bike, but it never fails to make me smile when I ride it. And I can ride it all day, for multiple days in a row.
The seat is comfy, the peg to seat distance is fine for me (5'10'), the stock bars were okay but replacing them was an improvement. There was something about the angle the stock bars put my wrists at that was just not right. I think they were too wide. Narrower bars and the Guzzi fly screen is all I have done comfort wise.
 
They are Sunline YZ/YZF 9660 bars in flat black.
They were clearance priced, something like $40.
They work fine for me, but either dual sport bars or street bars may work better for you.
I just can't pass up a deal and they actually work well for me.
 
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