Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Griso is a motorcycle produced from 2005 to 2016 by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi in three different engine sizes: the 1100 presented in August 2005, the 850, presented in April 2006 and the "1200" 8V, presented in November 2006 and marketed since September 2007. The prototype of the Griso, called Tecnocustom, was presented for the first time at the Intermot in Munich in 2002. The design of the Griso is the work of Rodolfo Frascoli, of Marabese Design. It is a naked type motorcycle, i.e. without protective fairings. On 30 August 2005 Moto Guzzi announced the sale of the Griso 1100 for the first time and on 8 September officially presented it to the press. The public instead had its first contact with it on 16-17-18 September, during the 2005 Guzzi World Days in Mandello del Lario. The next step is the presentation at the official Moto Guzzi dealers, which takes place during the 2005 "Open Doors", on 22-23 October; event followed by the first advertising campaign, which bears the signature of Antonio Maccario (executive creative director), Dario Mondonico (creative manager of the brand) and Federico Ghiso (copy). The photography is by Maurizio Cigognetti. On 5 April 2006, Moto Guzzi presented the Griso 850. In addition to its displacement, the new model also stands out from its bigger sister for some refined aesthetic details, such as the black color of the frame and the gray painting of the wheels and transmission. A few days later, Moto Guzzi presents the new clothing line linked to the Griso and on 14 November, still of the same year, a new version of the motorbike is presented at the Milan Motor Show, namely the Griso 1200 8v, which will be marketed starting from September 2007. It features the brand new transverse 90° V-twin, 1200 cm³, with single overhead camshaft distribution, equipped with four valves per cylinder; always air-cooled, for a power of 110 HP at 8000 rpm and a torque of 11 kgm. In addition to the engine, the model is updated with a more comfortable saddle for the passenger, more tapered side panels, a new Brembo braking system, made up of precious P4/34 radial calipers that act on Ø 320mm wave floating discs, and a new exhaust made according to the two-in-one scheme and connected to a silencer with a double offset end cap, which maintains the strong personality of the original one. At the 2007 Guzzi World Days, the first produced example of the Griso 1200 8V was awarded by drawing among the participants and was won by Denise Martin from Cannes (France). The versions equipped with the 2-valve 850 and 1100 engine remained in production until 2008, the year in which they were completely replaced by the 1200 8V range. Since June 2009, after being presented in March of the same year, a special version is also available, called Griso 1200 8V Special Edition "Tenni", which stands out for its satin green color in honor of Omobono Tenni; furthermore, unlike the basic version, it is equipped with spoked tubeless rims, brown leather saddle and black frame. This livery went out of production at the end of 2011, replaced by the Special Edition with the "Black Devil" livery. Since March 2012 it has been possible to purchase the special series called "Black Devil", presented at the Milan International Show in November 2011. This version of the Griso 8V SE has a matt black livery, with silver decorations on the tank and tail. Like its sister SE "Tenni", the "Black Devil" is equipped with tubeless spoked rims (on which there is a red "Moto Guzzi" sticker) and has a black frame. In the same month, Moto Guzzi also presented the new livery of the Griso 8V at the "Motodays" fair in Rome, still available in lunar white or Guzzi black, but with a black frame and matt black detail. For 2015 the "Black Devil" color is accompanied by the "Rosso Trophy", with a matt black base and red decorations on the tank and side panels. There are no particular technical updates, other than the adoption of a new oil sump, borrowed from from California 1400. In the official Moto Guzzi brochure you can read the following: "...its power was magnified, in fact and in opinion". This definition, borrowed from "The Betrothed", the most famous novel in Italian literature, refers to Manzoni's character Griso, an overbearing and bold personality at the head of the Bravi, "on whom the riskiest undertakings were imposed".
The Griso is a motorcycle produced from 2005 to 2016 by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi in three different engine sizes: the 1100 presented in August 2005, the 850, presented in April 2006 and the "1200" 8V, presented in November 2006 and marketed since September 2007. The prototype of the Griso, called Tecnocustom, was presented for the first time at the Intermot in Munich in 2002. The design of the Griso is the work of Rodolfo Frascoli, of Marabese Design. It is a naked type motorcycle, i.e. without protective fairings. On 30 August 2005 Moto Guzzi announced the sale of the Griso 1100 for the first time and on 8 September officially presented it to the press. The public instead had its first contact with it on 16-17-18 September, during the 2005 Guzzi World Days in Mandello del Lario. The next step is the presentation at the official Moto Guzzi dealers, which takes place during the 2005 "Open Doors", on 22-23 October; event followed by the first advertising campaign, which bears the signature of Antonio Maccario (executive creative director), Dario Mondonico (creative manager of the brand) and Federico Ghiso (copy). The photography is by Maurizio Cigognetti. On 5 April 2006, Moto Guzzi presented the Griso 850. In addition to its displacement, the new model also stands out from its bigger sister for some refined aesthetic details, such as the black color of the frame and the gray painting of the wheels and transmission. A few days later, Moto Guzzi presents the new clothing line linked to the Griso and on 14 November, still of the same year, a new version of the motorbike is presented at the Milan Motor Show, namely the Griso 1200 8v, which will be marketed starting from September 2007. It features the brand new transverse 90° V-twin, 1200 cm³, with single overhead camshaft distribution, equipped with four valves per cylinder; always air-cooled, for a power of 110 HP at 8000 rpm and a torque of 11 kgm. In addition to the engine, the model is updated with a more comfortable saddle for the passenger, more tapered side panels, a new Brembo braking system, made up of precious P4/34 radial calipers that act on Ø 320mm wave floating discs, and a new exhaust made according to the two-in-one scheme and connected to a silencer with a double offset end cap, which maintains the strong personality of the original one. At the 2007 Guzzi World Days, the first produced example of the Griso 1200 8V was awarded by drawing among the participants and was won by Denise Martin from Cannes (France). The versions equipped with the 2-valve 850 and 1100 engine remained in production until 2008, the year in which they were completely replaced by the 1200 8V range. Since June 2009, after being presented in March of the same year, a special version is also available, called Griso 1200 8V Special Edition "Tenni", which stands out for its satin green color in honor of Omobono Tenni; furthermore, unlike the basic version, it is equipped with spoked tubeless rims, brown leather saddle and black frame. This livery went out of production at the end of 2011, replaced by the Special Edition with the "Black Devil" livery. Since March 2012 it has been possible to purchase the special series called "Black Devil", presented at the Milan International Show in November 2011. This version of the Griso 8V SE has a matt black livery, with silver decorations on the tank and tail. Like its sister SE "Tenni", the "Black Devil" is equipped with tubeless spoked rims (on which there is a red "Moto Guzzi" sticker) and has a black frame. In the same month, Moto Guzzi also presented the new livery of the Griso 8V at the "Motodays" fair in Rome, still available in lunar white or Guzzi black, but with a black frame and matt black detail. For 2015 the "Black Devil" color is accompanied by the "Rosso Trophy", with a matt black base and red decorations on the tank and side panels. There are no particular technical updates, other than the adoption of a new oil sump, borrowed from from California 1400. In the official Moto Guzzi brochure you can read the following: "...its power was magnified, in fact and in opinion". This definition, borrowed from "The Betrothed", the most famous novel in Italian literature, refers to Manzoni's character Griso, an overbearing and bold personality at the head of the Bravi, "on whom the riskiest undertakings were imposed".
