Mozzo 1 and Mozzo 2 ...and James

Montanarolo Posts : 21 Join date : 2014-11-19

I'm on my second GRiSO

1. 1100 in Bright Orange bought 2009. Crashed after three glorious summers and 9000 miles.

2. 1200 in Black Bought in 2012. 6000 miles and counting.

Experience: started at 19 as a Motorcycle messenger in Central London for two years on a Kawasaki AR125. Quit that because someone said it was dangerous after telling them 'stuff'. I took the test and failed. (as you would) I rode to my second test and a gear selector connection rod failed. £2.63. It failed on the way to the test centre after 28,000 miles of messengering. Banned for a year under UK law that says you have to pass within two years of applying for a Provisional licence. Get that. Bought a Suzuki RG250 mk3 after my test. That bike quit on me by throwing a big end through the bottom of the engine casing. Ticked off, I did not bother until four years later.

Then, four years later I wanted a bike again at University. Took a day course five years after that to see if I really wanted one. Of course I did. Walked past a shop window with a new Orange 1100. It had been there for a long time. Test ridden a GRiSO, Buell X12, Aprilia Futura and Yamaha MT01. The MT01 was great and would have bought one but the dealer in Nottingham couldn't be straight with me. Then, the Guzzi was the most fun out of the rest and an equal of the Yamaha. Three summers of good riding. One commuter. One crash.

Months passed. Looking for another bike I tested Ducatis and asked my dealer what the new GRiSO 1200 was like. He said: 'like the old one'. Bought a new Black 1200 at the beginning of summer 2012. My favourite route is only down the road in Leicestershire - 18 miles there and back with corners, curves, bends and straights. It has the occasional tractor but little poo. I have a GoPro. Just to scare myself in front of the monitor screen reviewing rides to improve. Of course I can't improve. I'm much better than I thought. Hey, I'm perfect. I like to get up at 4am and be out at 5am in the summer. 6.30am the riding's over as commuters take to the road. Some people really should consider working from home. That's Road Safety writ large. On a lighter note, there isn't one. It's cold, damp and even foggy for the last two days. Damp for weeks. That's who I is.

GRiSO Posts : 1163 Join date : 2013-11-26 Age : 61

Hmmmmm, interesting.
You have owned both the 11 and the 12.
Do you like the 12 better?
I have an 1100 and I will refuse any opportunity to ride a 12 so I don't mess myself up.
Just in case.

DM

Godfather Posts : 3154 Join date : 2013-05-28 Age : 59

Welcome to the ghetto James!

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2012 MOTO GUZZI GRiSO 1200SE

2013 MOTO GUZZI STELVIO 1200NTX - Orange Blossom Special

Sfregiato Posts : 467 Join date : 2014-06-13 Age : 74

Quite a fun story! Welcome to da Getto!

Nibbio Posts : 569 Join date : 2014-06-21

scatterist wrote:: Of course I can't improve. I'm much better than I thought. Hey, I'm perfect.

Welcome!

GRiSO Posts : 1406 Join date : 2014-01-02

My Nephew that lives in the South of France has a Yam MT01 and he loves it (we can't get those here in the US) but he hasn't put his ass on a GRiSO yet. bounce

I currently own both GRiSO: a 07 1100 and a 13 1200SE. I also used to own a whit 09 8V.
While the old 4V is the typical proven Guzzi mill, the 8V is a welcome improvement and it got better lately with soft action clutch and roller tappet.
The early flat tappet 8V engine is more intoxicating to me though...

Montanarolo Posts : 21 Join date : 2014-11-19

Dungeonmaster I was happy with the 1100. There's no need to pursue the 1200 as an alternative especially-look at what Grisonut says.

MT01 is a very heavy bike but will give any rider a huge grin. There were parallel imports but Yamaha in the UK changed it to make it their range topping bike. The price went from £9000 to £16000 - new. This was out of my reach. Now it isn't available at all. There were expensive official tuning kits-stages 1 to 3. It turns it into a more powerful bike. Youtube vids of these bikes are available and are fun to watch in their own right. The bike I'd have gone for is BMW HP2 Sport. It was £15500 and 400 were available in the UK. You can't prevaricate buying that type of bike. I had my opportunity and in modern parlance 'blew it'. They ran out and are more expensive than that second hand. Thanks for the welcome, guys.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1657 Join date : 2014-09-22

Hey welcome to the Ghetto, where is that road in Leicestershire, its only an hour from me :-)

Montanarolo Posts : 21 Join date : 2014-11-19

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Ashby De La Zouch-Melton Mowbray

I can't say. This route is longer. This will cover much of the route and is excellent. Hope this helps. Failing that, come and see me-when it stops raining. I swear I must have done something in another life to deserve this.