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2009–2011 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Italian Soul, Built Solid
The Griso 1100 is Moto Guzzi building a naked bike entirely on its own terms. A 1064 cc air-cooled 90-degree V-twin sits transverse in the frame, good for 88 hp at 7,600 rpm and 65 lb-ft at 6,400 rpm, driving the rear wheel through a six-speed box and a shaft. Nothing in that layout chases the class norm. The 61.2-inch (1554 mm) wheelbase and low-slung mass give it a long-legged, muscular stance, and the hardware backs the look: adjustable suspension front and rear, a 12.6-inch (320 mm) front brake, and a level of finish that feels genuinely expensive.
It rewards a rider who is in no rush, and it ages the way well-built, simple machinery does. The shaft drive takes chain maintenance off your list, the finish holds up, and reliability is solid rather than a gamble. This is the bike for someone who wants a motorcycle with its own voice and enough muscle to keep a fast road interesting, not the lightest or sharpest thing in the class. The honest caveat: there is no ABS and no traction control, and the instrument cluster can let water in and start reading erratically.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 88 hp (65 kW) @ 7,600 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) @ 6,400 rpm |
| Displacement | 1064 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 61.2 in (1554 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal (17.2 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Cylinder head gasket failure under hard use
Some owners report cylinder head gasket leakage when the engine is ridden hard, particularly in high-demand situations like sustained mountain riding.
Instrument cluster susceptible to water damage
The instrument cluster can allow water ingress leading to malfunctioning speedo sensor and erratic dash readings.
Where this Moto Guzzi Griso 1100 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Griso 1100 is actually built for.
Hill Country sweepers are exactly this bike's terrain. It settles into fast open curves and makes the ride out to the barbecue stop an event in itself. Just don't expect it to shrug off tight switchbacks.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
You ride technical roads for the craft, and 500 lb on a long wheelbase works against that. Strong on Blue Ridge sweepers, hard work on the tightest stuff, with no ABS to cover a mistake.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If your canyon runs are about flow, sound and the feel of a big twin, this fits well. If they're about precision and outright pace, the weight and missing rider aids will hold you back.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2005–2007
Italian Muscle With A Soul
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Moto Guzzi Griso 1100. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
