Guzzi marketing strategies

[Tkelly]

It has been a mystery to me over the years why Guzzi used names like jackal,stone ,Griso,and colors like brown and the famous hot dog and mustard.I assumed that these moves were attributed to quirks in the Italian tastes that were lost in translation.Recentl yI was given an obscure 200 year old Italian novel that shed light on Griso,The Betrothed by Menoni,the story of young lovers living near Lake Como 400 years ago.Moto lent me the 720 page book with a medieval portrait of a young couple on the cover,with the explanation that it is the favorite novel of Pope Francis,without any hint of the Guzzi connection.I must admit that I doubted I would ever read it but was searching for an excuse to return it without giving offense.One day I finished my current read and spotted Motos book on the table and decided to  attempt it so I could at least claim that I tried before returning it.Wow!,what an amazing read.I do a lot of reading and this book is the most amazing andentertaining,I have ever read.Griso was a bravo or henchman of the villain Don Rodrigo who menaced the young couple.The book is the most famous novel written in Italian and 2 movies have been made from it.T he unanswered question is why Guzzi name a bike after a character like Griso?I read a book called Gamorrah about the Cammora crime organization in Naples where the author states the members like big motorcycles,maybe the marketing strategy is similar to Harley Davidsons outlaw image?As for the other names and color choices,I have no clue.

[Tom H]

The way I understand the bike named Griso. It's a "bad boy", ready to get it on. Not a timid little bike.

Just my 2 cents,
Tom

[cliffrod]

after so many years of companies using every common and rational moniker, companies now have to find any name or word that has not been used and has no copyright/trademark issues to avoid litigation.  Whatever they choose, it cannot be offensive to anyone anywhere for any reason.  It also needs to not be too duplicative or redundant in comparison to what the company has already used.   So companies must find any obscure or made-up word to move forward without handing all their profits to someone else who upon which upon been was infringed….


That makes it tough to be “original”.

[bigbikerrick]

Thats interesting, where the name Griso came from. I was erroneously under the impression that it meant "bodyguard" or "thug".
Rick.

[Tkelly]

You are correct Rick,Bravoes were made men or wise guys back then.

[rocker59]

HD&M California paint of 1998 was an homage to a 1940s paint scheme of the same color.

[Motormike]

"Griso" is a character in a famous Italian novel called "The Betrothed" by Alessandro Manzoni.   He is an unsavory thug and killer-for-hire for the antagonist Don Rodrigo.  Set in the 1600's around Milan and Lake Como, at 700+ pages, the book is a very good, if challenging read. 

[Perazzimx14]

IDK about you but names like "Stone" make me think LSR machine.

[rocker59]

IDK about you but names like "Stone" make me think LSR machine.

Makes me think "Sharon", but then I love them womerns.

[Perazzimx14]

Makes me think "Sharon", but then I love them womerns.

Given the choice I prefer Emma:




     

[kingoffleece]

Zombie Land.  She was great.  Wichita!

[Kev m]

I thought "Stone" was an Italian attempt at strong like Chevy's old "like a rock" campaign.

[slowmover]

They should take a cue from the pharmaceutical industry and just scramble letters. I look forward to the new 850 Skyrizi and the big block Ozempic

[Perazzimx14]

Zombie Land.  She was great.  Wichita!

A-greed

[Daniel Kalal]

"Griso" is a character in a famous Italian novel called "The Betrothed" by Alessandro Manzoni

That well-known statue of Carlo Guzzi in Mandello del Lario?  It is next to and faces Via Manzoni.

There is a large statue of Manzoni in nearby Lecco, which also features "Griso" on one of the panels.

[Offcamber1]

Often, with things Italian, it is best to simply revel in the mystery.

[moto]

It's a great pleasure to hear Tom's reaction to The Betrothed. I lent him the book expecting he might enjoy it deeply, you know, like the Pope and me.

I've been sitting here trying to think of a better novel, but can't. Tom can make a pretty clear case for the merits of the book in a few short sentences. But if you know Tom's personal qualities his recommendation says it all. You know, like "Budweiser."

Moto

[12SCraig]

That well-known statue of Carlo Guzzi in Mandello del Lario?  It is next to and faces Via Manzoni.

There is a large statue of Manzoni in nearby Lecco, which also features "Griso" on one of the panels.

Thanks Daniel, I'll look more closely at the holiday snaps,
I took several of the Manzoni statue.

[geoff in almonte]

Often, with things Italian, it is best to simply revel in the mystery.

Or simply say "Of course!" and carry on.

G