My Griso Scares Me

[Huzo]

Um, I think that's how I described my riding - cruising between places (commuting) and pleasant weekend rides. Battling the elements and 'vast distances' aren't the V7's forte - nor mine anymore.

Me blurting out what I did actually wasn't meant necessarily to try to shoot down any particular viewpoint.
I 'spose I was offering a counter point of view to the (many) who take the view..
"My ******650/750 will do everything you could want with me and my wife or girlfriend aboard, (but never both at the same time...!)
My response was admittedly a bit generic, but I'd suggest to them that the 650/750 will show it's limitations at the most inopportune time.
However it could be argued that a 2VPC Norge is also as weak as a long glass of piss too, compared to a Kawasaki GTR 1400 or similar.
'Just out for a chat, that's all..

[pete roper]

I rarely scare myself on either of my 8V’s for the simple reason I’m not a good enough rider. Does that mean I don’t sometimes try hard? No, not a bit of it, but really the bike is far better than me.

What I really enjoy is the midrange and slightly above, I rarely hit the limiter in normal riding but if the red mist descends then rapping it out in the lower gears does produce rapid reeling in of the horizon and if you want rapid both Griso and Stelvio are eager to oblige. Generally though I find myself just sticking it in a suitable gear for the road conditions and riding it like a great, fat automatic, more so on the Stelvio than the Griso which still begs to be abused. It’s quite possible to just pobble along on it if required though. Most of the time nowadays though I’m rarely going over 130KPH, it’s too expensive if you get caught. My licence has been a cleanskin for six years. I like it like that....

Pete

[bpreynolds]

I used the words restraint and wisdom in my original post to refer to those folks who have these qualities in enough abundance to ride a fast bike safely, or any bike for that matter.  On this board I think of guys like Kev M, Pete, and others who I know, or at least from what I’ve read here, can ride a motorcycle quickly if they want but seem to do so safely and in smart measure - again, at least from what I’ve read here.  I’m 47 now and drove motocross and dirt bikes from the time I was about 8 years old to 18, not getting back on a motorcycle until I was around 33 or so.  In those days of youth, the sheer purpose of riding a bike was pure adventure, adrenaline, risk, and speed.  If we weren’t trying to literally climb a mountain in southeastern KY, we were drag racing down an abandoned strip mine road.  When I was younger I owned a Buick Grand National.  I took it through a wooden bus stop and into a ditch and sold soon after.  I guess I add all these things to say I am someone who has a demonstrated history for a love of speed and maybe the lack of these qualities, wisdom and restraint when pursuing the rush.  I’ve also noticed, as mentioned previously, if a bike is fast enough I have a tendency to pursue that instead of the other aspects of the ride that make far better and more memorable memories for me.  It probably doesn’t help that I bought the Griso mainly as a “fun” bike - due to my back issues, I can’t really ride anything except straight up and down ergo bikes for more than about 80 miles before it acts up.  In that fun role, man oh man does the G deliver but I do know it’s got the best of me on many occasions recently, or should I say the worst of me has gotten the better of me a great deal recently, ridding dangerously and with at least several or more close calls that spooked me but apparently not enough to keep me focused.  And its been my experience you need to keep that focus, it rewards that focus, when riding the Griso.

I have driven street bikes over 150k miles or more even in the last 13 or 14 years.  I like to enjoy ALL of the aspects of a ride, the total experience of it which does include spirited ride on occasion.  I don’t think I’m yet at that place with the G, or maybe I am, as I was with the former FZ1 where I just said, “Man, I gotta get rid of this bike before I get myself killed or in jail” but we’ll see.  Though they both bothered my back of equal measure, I didn’t seem to get myself in nearly as much trouble but still had fun on my former V7s and V9. 

[mjptexas]

..... I'm 47 now and drove motocross and dirt bikes from the time I was about 8 years old to 18, not getting back on a motorcycle until I was around 33 or so....

I was 47 once - last century.

[Kev m]

Let's be clear, I don't claim to be fast.

FAST is what guys with serious track experience are.

INCOMPETENT is what it seems like most of the riding public is.

I'm somewhere in between. 

Sometimes closer to the latter than the former than I'd like to be...

 

[John Croucher]

Brian, you should really bring the bike to me and let me  verify if it is fast or you are just a slow rider.  I will let you compare the Griso to the FJ1200 sitting in my garage.  Why is it sitting?  It is scary fast.  My first ride after a complete restoration had me worried the clutch was slipping.  It was not the clutch that was slipping, it was the back tire spinning at 85 mph in 3  gear. 

[stonelover]

I am 79 years old and aspire to be 80++.  That is one of the many reasons that I ride a V7.

[Testarossa]

It's STILL more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

[bpreynolds]

Brian, you should really bring the bike to me and let me  verify if it is fast or you are just a slow rider. 

  As with my previous bikes, John, you are welcome to take it for a spin any time.  This one is a great deal more animalistic, however, than the GT1000 

Let's be clear, I don't claim to be fast.

FAST is what guys with serious track experience are.

INCOMPETENT is what it seems like most of the riding public is.

I'm somewhere in between. 

Sometimes closer to the latter than the former than I'd like to be...

 

Certainly not!    I just meant it's been said on the board here in years past by others who have ridden with you; that is, you can certainly ride at a quickened pace when you so choose.  I don't think any of those mentioned anything about wreckless behavior, just spirited riding. 

[Rough Edge racing]

Brian, you should really bring the bike to me and let me  verify if it is fast or you are just a slow rider.  I will let you compare the Griso to the FJ1200 sitting in my garage.  Why is it sitting?  It is scary fast.  My first ride after a complete restoration had me worried the clutch was slipping.  It was not the clutch that was slipping, it was the back tire spinning at 85 mph in 3  gear.

 It was clean pavement, I don't believe it...

[Huzo]

Brian, you should really bring the bike to me and let me  verify if it is fast or you are just a slow rider.  I will let you compare the Griso to the FJ1200 sitting in my garage.  Why is it sitting?  It is scary fast.  My first ride after a complete restoration had me worried the clutch was slipping.  It was not the clutch that was slipping, it was the back tire spinning at 85 mph in 3  gear.

That's very funny....
Do you need to re think it...?

[bpreynolds]

I am 79 years old and aspire to be 80++.  That is one of the many reasons that I ride a V7.

I was 47 once - last century.

You fellows are inspiration.  Hope I’m’ still around and riding then. 

[SmithSwede]

May we all ride wrecklessly

[Huzo]

May we all ride wrecklessly

Very witty SS.

[AH Fan]

If it�s still got that stupid �Kick� at 5.3k it must still have the GRS8V-01 map in it. An easy way to overcome that deficiency is to remap it. That will give you smooth, linear power delivery from the get-go which means you�ll probably stop winding it out so much.

Having said that there are people who seem to enjoy their bike running like crap in the closed loop portion of the map and then think it�s fantastic when it goes rich in the open loop portion. I have no explanation for that.

Stick one of Mark�s maps in. It�ll make it a much more enjoyable bike to ride and you won�t feel the need to spend all your time above 5k. It�ll still pull as hard, if not harder, above that point, it just won�t feel weak and blubbery below it.

Yup .............. true fact I have one........ works 

[Pizza Guzzi]

I am 79 years old and aspire to be 80++.  That is one of the many reasons that I ride a V7.

Endorse those sentiments completely stonelover although at "only" 65 years old I've got aways to go before I catch up to you !
I'm hoping the new V7 when I pick it up will put a smile on my face and let me keep on riding for many years to come.
Glenn.

[Huzo]

Endorse those sentiments completely stonelover although at "only" 65 years old I've got aways to go before I catch up to you !
I'm hoping the new V7 when I pick it up will put a smile on my face and let me keep on riding for many years to come.
Glenn.

Hi Pizza Guzzi..!
Where are you in Oz..?

[Pizza Guzzi]

Hi Huzo I’m in Portland NSW

[Huzo]

Hi Huzo I�m in Portland NSW

noice.."!

[twowheeladdict]

My 2012 Concours 1400 provided no perception of speed.  I would find myself doing 100 when I thought I was doing 55.  I have crossed parts of Texas maintaining triple digits.  At 30,000 miles I decided it was time to trade for something with cruise control to help me maintain a proper speed.

[PJPR01]

Griso - name referring to The Grey One named after a gray-bearded character in the famous Italian literature saga The Betrothed.

OR perhaps also appropriate (reference to perhaps the best Clint Eastwood film)

Josey Wales: You be Ten Bears?
Ten Bears: I am Ten Bears.
Josey Wales: I’m Josey Wales.
Ten Bears: I have heard. You are the grey rider. You would not make peace with the Bluecoats. You may go in peace.
Josey Wales: I reckon not. I got no place else to go.
Ten Bears: Then you will die.
Josey Wales: I came here to die with you. Or to live with you.

Be wary...riding the Griso is not for the faint of heart! 

:)

[stonelover]

Endorse those sentiments completely stonelover although at "only" 65 years old I've got aways to go before I catch up to you !
I'm hoping the new V7 when I pick it up will put a smile on my face and let me keep on riding for many years to come.
Glenn.

Welcome and may the new wheels serve you well!

[Huzo]

I have not ridden an 8V Griso, but I have ridden an 8V Stelvio.
Recently in England I had a decent go on a very nice 2VPC Griso identical to this one

and the impression was the same engine feel as my 2VPC Norge but rough as guts in the suspension and steered like the Exxon Valdez.
(Tyres may have been shagged or under inflated)
Now given that I know what an 8V donk feels like and what a Griso chassis feels like, does it not follow that an 8V Griso is gunna' feel like the thing I rode in England, with the feel of the Stelvio engine..?
I'm happy to admit that it's a nice enough jigger if you like that sort of thing, but why is it not for the "faint hearted"?
Why are they perceived as "scary"?
Is it because they are a bit like my ex wife, really inviting initially, but once you get to know them they frighten the tripe out of you..?
Just asking..

[molly]

I have not ridden an 8V Griso, but I have ridden an 8V Stelvio.
Recently in England I had a decent go on a very nice 2VPC Griso identical to this one

and the impression was the same engine feel as my 2VPC Norge but rough as guts in the suspension and steered like the Exxon Valdez.
(Tyres may have been shagged or under inflated)
Now given that I know what an 8V donk feels like and what a Griso chassis feels like, does it not follow that an 8V Griso is gunna' feel like the thing I rode in England, with the feel of the Stelvio engine..?
I'm happy to admit that it's a nice enough jigger if you like that sort of thing, but why is it not for the "faint hearted"?
Why are they perceived as "scary"?
Is it because they are a bit like my ex wife, really inviting initially, but once you get to know them they frighten the tripe out of you..?
Just asking..

For all it's fancy suspension the Griso handles no better than any other CARC bike unless you fit a Stelvio shock then it comes to life.
I have ridden most of the CARC range both 2v and 8v and it really is horses for courses. Just choose the model that best suits your riding habits.
The Griso is not a scary bike even in 8v form, there just isn't enough power available, but enough for the discerning rider (me).

[Huzo]

For all it's fancy suspension the Griso handles no better than any other CARC bike unless you fit a Stelvio shock then it comes to life.
I have ridden most of the CARC range both 2v and 8v and it really is horses for courses. Just choose the model that best suits your riding habits.
The Griso is not a scary bike even in 8v form, there just isn't enough power available, but just enough for the discerning rider (me).

Well that sounds more realistic.
Just another big old V twin slug isn't it...! Surely there's no need to get carried away.

[molly]

Well that sounds more realistic.
Just another big old V twin slug isn't it...! Surely there's no need to get carried away.

Well it's a bit more than a slug, try most Harleys of a similar size and it feels light years better.  I got rid of a Triumph Tiger Sport (not available in US) to buy my 2v 1100 Griso and to be honest for day to day riding on medium distance trips the Griso is easily as good as the Tiger. In contrast a 1200 Sportster feels like a combined harvester.

[Huzo]

Well it's a bit more than a slug, try most Harleys of a similar size and it feels light years better.  I got rid of a Triumph Tiger Sport (not available in US) to buy my 2v 1100 Griso and to be honest for day to day riding on medium distance trips the Griso is easily as good as the Tiger. In contrast a 1200 Sportster feels like a combined harvester.

That sounds like the truth...!

[twowheeladdict]

Well it's a bit more than a slug, try most Harleys of a similar size and it feels light years better.  I got rid of a Triumph Tiger Sport (not available in US) to buy my 2v 1100 Griso and to be honest for day to day riding on medium distance trips the Griso is easily as good as the Tiger. In contrast a 1200 Sportster feels like a combined harvester.

What year and model Sportster are you comparing to?  The XR1200X would be the Sportster to compare with the Griso. 

[molly]

What year and model Sportster are you comparing to?  The XR1200X would be the Sportster to compare with the Griso.

I had a 2011 XL1200L for three months and it was possibly the worst bike I have owned in 40 years. The handling was atrocious, the engine vibrated horribly and it was built to agriculture standards. In comparison the Griso is a masterpiece in engineering.
 I can't see the XR1200X being that much better.

[twowheeladdict]

I had a 2011 XL1200L for three months and it was possibly the worst bike I have owned in 40 years. The handling was atrocious, the engine vibrated horribly and it was built to agriculture standards. In comparison the Griso is a masterpiece in engineering.
 I can't see the XR1200X being that much better.

It is that much better. 

https://www.cycleworld.com/2010/06/28/2011-harley-davidson-xr1200x-first-ride#page-14

This article is from 2009 before the improved 'X' model came out. 

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2009/04/article/2009-sportster-xr1200-vs-2009-griso-8v-conclusion/