By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V (MY2007) vs Griso 850 (MY2007)
Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V vs Griso 850: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Off the smaller bike and into a tight bend, the Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V won't turn without a deliberate push, though its big twin shoves you out. The Moto Guzzi Griso 850 tips in on a light nudge at the bars. Mid-corner, it's settled and holds its line.
So which one do you buy?
The Griso 850 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Griso 850
The Griso 850 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Just a touch.
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Griso 850
The Griso 850 makes slightly more sense as a commuter. Most of that is simpler maintenance. Don't read much into a gap this small.
What makes each one tick
Griso 1200 8V
There's brutal pull from low revs in the Griso 1200 8V's four-valve engine, and it still finds a rush near the top. Through the fast sweepers of Texas Hill Country, the long wheelbase doesn't budge at speed. Corner entry takes planning, since the top-heavy chassis wants its input firm and early. Then the frame carves its arc.
Griso 850
The Griso 850's front end answers a steering input quickly, and the chassis stays planted. Its air-cooled pushrod engine doesn't chase peak power; it pulls with usable torque on everyday roads. A bump barely registers. The chassis soaks it up without a twitch.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Griso 1200 8V has the lower wet weight: 500 lb (227 kg) vs 529 lb (240 kg).
- The Griso 1200 8V makes more peak power: 110 hp (81 kW) vs 75 hp (55 kW).
- The Griso 1200 8V makes more peak torque: 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) vs 52 lb-ft (71 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not suited: Griso 1200 8V
Leave the Griso 1200 8V for your second or third bike. It's too much to learn on.
Traveling with luggage
Look elsewhere
Neither is a natural luggage carrier, so a trip with bags means a compromise either way.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Griso 1200 8V
What owners say
Strengths
- Torque-laden, characterful V-twin
- Premium fit and finish
Trade-offs
- Slow steering, not a corner-carver
Griso 850
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile handling with planted feel
Known problems to check before you buy
Griso 1200 8V
- Early valvetrain wear (flat tappet failure) Pre-2012 1200 8V engines suffer from premature camshaft and lifter wear due to inadequate hardening. Recommended upgrade to roller tappets.
- Electrical gremlins and CKP sensor failure Poor connector quality, oxidation, and crankshaft sensor (CKP) failures can cause occasional misfires, stalling, or rough running.
Griso 850
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 31.5 in (800 mm)
- Engine
- 90° V-twin
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Shaft
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Griso 1200 8V | Griso 850 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 500 lb (227 kg) | 529 lb (240 kg) |
| Dry weight | 489 lb (222 kg) | 500 lb (227 kg) |
| Griso 1200 8V | Griso 850 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1151 cc | 877 cc |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 110 hp (81 kW) | 75 hp (55 kW) |
| Torque | 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) | 52 lb-ft (71 Nm) |
| Griso 1200 8V | Griso 850 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 US gal (16.5 L) | 4.5 US gal (17.2 L) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
