Griso vs. HD XR1200

[Dave Swanson]

Any forum members have seat time on both the Griso, and HD XR1200?  If yes, please comment. 

I have never ridden a Griso, but have a pretty good idea I would like it.   During my early Sunday morning Craigslist Guzzi forays I keep seeing low mile 2013/14/15 Griso's for sale in the $7000 to 9 range, and am becoming very tempted. 

If I was to take the plunge and get a Griso my XR1200 would become redundant, and would need to be sold, a bike that I have really grown to like.   

The XR is much more fun than any Harley was meant to be.  It is an excellent back road burner, surprisingly quick, and has a fantastic sound with the Vance and Hines header setup.  I would be willing to sell the XR if I knew the Griso would tick more boxes than the XR.   The only gripe I have with the XR is the heat from the V&H header.  It's tolerable, but gets toasty in traffic.  Other than that "issue" I haven't be able to fault the XR over the past few years. 

I have read through the internet comparo's.  The prevailing preferences have been for the Griso, but the XR was not shamed and was left still holding it's head up.

[Darren Williams]

Have a Griso and have ridden a couple XR's. The biggest different to me in feel between the two is the heavy steering on the XR compared to the Griso. And the Guzzi motor is in a different class compared to the XR's.

Honestly the XR is really really good for a sporty Harley, but it's still a Harley. IMHO.

[yogidozer]

OK, here comes trouble 
Keep the XR, get some heat shields if the heat bothers you.
They are a LOT of fun, no did to a Griso. JMO

[Dave Swanson]

Keep the XR, get some heat shields if the heat bothers you.

I haven't been bothered enough to do anything about it.  It's just a minor annoyance that I can easily live with.

[yogidozer]

FYI, I have a "spot" 1100, I can feel the heat off the cylinders in traffic. Luckily it's not a "traffic" kinda bike.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Well, if you want to burn up the backroads, you can buy an older tube frame Buell, a nice one is less than 4 grand...They are 100 pounds lighter than the XR with about 80 HP and they are quick handling...A tuned Sportster engine is not the agricultural lump many think it is...

[EldoMike]

What year is that XR?

[Lcarlson]

Well, if you want to burn up the backroads, you can buy an older tube frame Buell, a nice one is less than 4 grand...They are 100 pounds lighter than the XR with about 80 HP and they are quick handling...A tuned Sportster engine is not the agricultural lump many think it is...

Sorry I sold this one:

[LowRyter]

you'd probably hate the Griso.   The Guzzi engine revs to 8k rpms.  Totally different character than the Harley that goes to 5-6k.  Also, the Griso likes to dip to the right when you gas it when in neutral, something that many riders unfamiliar with a longitudinal engine layout also hate.  Styling is subjective but the two bikes looks very different. 

So a Griso is a different riding bike vs and XR.

[Dave Swanson]

What year is that XR?

Mike,  it's a 2009 that has had the XR1200X upgrades (front fork, rear shocks, full floating rotors).

[Dave Swanson]

you'd probably hate the Griso.   

I am sure I would like a Griso quite a bit, but the XR has been a fun bike.

[yogidozer]

I am sure I would like a Griso quite a bit, but the XR has been a fun bike.

nope, it's junk, Dave. give it to me, I'll make sure to let it live out it's days peacefully.

[Motormike]

One thing they both have in common is a plastic fuel tank that does not like ethanol fuels.  Since the XR was another of Harley Davidson's many "flops" in the market place, that almost guarantees it will have some collectable value in the years ahead.  Have you seen what a clean XLCR is going for these days?

[bad Chad]

The whole dips to right is mostly hyperbole imop.  People like to bring it, that don't ride Guzzi, gives them something negative to say no matter how trivial.

[kingoffleece]

I'd keep the XR.  Really fun bike and good looking to boot.  ADD the Griso if you want to.

[Sheepdog]

There are precious few Harley's that I like, but that XR is one of them. It demonstrates that the Motor Company can build a true road burner if they care to. I cautiously assert that the new Milwaukee-Eight engine may change a great deal for the storied marque...if the faithful will accept water cooling. Anyhow, I also would hold on to the XR.

[Warren Rhen]

I've ridden them both and liked them both. I also owned a S3T Buell which was a fantastic bike but I had to trailer it to the dealer 4 times in 20k miles. I guess the one I like the most would be the one that's between my legs at the time. You know..If ya can't be with the one you love etc etc

[molly]

Both the 1100 and 1200 Grisos will run rings around the XR in both engine and handling terms. If you are changing to get a better bike there is no contest. The downside to the Guzzi is not the actual bike but the dealer network and rarity compared to the Harley back up and availability of parts.

[Dilliw]

I am sure I would like a Griso quite a bit, but the XR has been a fun bike.

I've ridden the XR and I own the Griso.  No doubt which one I prefer but they are both really similar "roadsters."  The C-Bow setup makes the Griso a little more practical.

[kingoffleece]

"Better" bike is subjective at best.  One man's ceiling is another man's floor and all that.  Griso's are really great.  The Tenni was the pinnacal for looks-just perfect in every way, or so I think.  But I wouldn't sell a good XR I already own to buy one.  What the heck, you asked, we answered.  It matters not.  What do YOU want?

[arveno]

YOU have to ride a Griso and then decide...

otherwise this is like an oil thread... everyone has his own opinion...

[Kev m]

Both the 1100 and 1200 Grisos will run rings around the XR in both engine and handling terms. If you are changing to get a better bike there is no contest.

I've ridden them both and I dislike this vastly overstated hyperbole.

I can see loving either bike and they're more similar than dis-similar.

But I do think the Buell ST3 is an even closer comparison to the Griso. I miss mine sometimes.




Other than that I got no answer for the OP - it's too subjective.

[lucian]

I have never ridden an xr but it sure looks like a fun machine. Just  as pretty to look at IMO.  I agree that it will hold it"s value over time more than the niche Griso.  I think your splitting hairs  between the two, very similar roadsters.  I bet that XR sounds sweet too. I think you would regret selling it. Best looking HD to date. Thanks for sharing the pic's .  If your ever in southern Maine you can test ride my 09 griso  and see what you think your missing.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've ridden them both and I dislike this vastly overstated hyperbole.

I can see loving either bike and they're more similar than dis-similar.

But I do think the Buell ST3 is an even closer comparison to the Griso. I miss mine sometimes.




Other than that I got no answer for the OP - it's too subjective.

Niece Valerie had an ST3 and I loved that bike.
But.
It had serious vibration related issues. The header pipe breaking off at the head?? Seriously?? That was the worst of it, but there were more. Oh, "Not covered under warranty, you've been riding it too hard." Valerie? Give me a break. It soured me on HD and Buell.

[Kev m]

Niece Valerie had an ST3 and I loved that bike.
But.
It had serious vibration related issues. The header pipe breaking off at the head?? Seriously?? That was the worst of it, but there were more. Oh, "Not covered under warranty, you've been riding it too hard." Valerie? Give me a break. It soured me on HD and Buell.

I hear you and it would have done the same to me no question.

But I bought mine used, for a song, and it was well sorted at that point so much so that I never had a problem, other than trying to quiet down the too loud Buell branded supertrap exhaust.

[BrotherJim]

Decisions, decisions.  They are both fantastic machines!

[Warren Rhen]

I've ridden them both and I dislike this vastly overstated hyperbole.

I can see loving either bike and they're more similar than dis-similar.

But I do think the Buell ST3 is an even closer comparison to the Griso. I miss mine sometimes.

I've ridden them both and I dislike this vastly overstated hyperbole.

I can see loving either bike and they're more similar than dis-similar.

But I do think the Buell ST3 is an even closer comparison to the Griso. I miss mine sometimes.

Well I couldn't find the +1 emoji but I agree 100% I even miss my S3T sometimes even though I cursed it every time I got the trailer to haul it to the dealer. But I've had some Guzzi's I've cursed too, I just didn't have a dealer to haul them to.

[twowheeladdict]

Both the 1100 and 1200 Grisos will run rings around the XR in both engine and handling terms. If you are changing to get a better bike there is no contest. The downside to the Guzzi is not the actual bike but the dealer network and rarity compared to the Harley back up and availability of parts.

But the grips always comes in last when compared with what the motojournalists consider its direct competition.

[bpreynolds]

you'd probably hate the Griso.   The Guzzi engine revs to 8k rpms.  Totally different character than the Harley that goes to 5-6k.  Also, the Griso likes to dip to the right when you gas it when in neutral, something that many riders unfamiliar with a longitudinal engine layout also hate.  Styling is subjective but the two bikes looks very different. 

So a Griso is a different riding bike vs and XR.

Agree.  I've owned two 8V Grisos and driven the XR twice.  To me they are very different engines and machines, both appealing.  I'd take a Griso for absolute sure.  Come on, it's one of the most gorgeous bikes ever produced.  I guess what might be best is really if you keep the XR and buy like a super cheap 8V Griso to park beside it.  I hear there is a low mile '09 beauty in the swap shop now 

[bigbikerrick]

The Griso is refined, where the XR is rough, and beastly. My son has one, that is parked in my garage, and I ride every couple of weeks. The XR is the only bike I have ridden that will bounce off the rev limiter in 5th gear, exactly at 122 mph. Its kinda weird...that thing just wants to GO,  it  sorta feels like a muscle car with 4:11 gears. 
I would keep the XR, and since its in a similar niche as the Griso, get a different Guzzi instead.
Rick