Griso 850

GRISO 850

Mandello middleweight

Moto Guzzi is celebrating its 85th birthday this year, having extricated itself from the life support that kept it going through the financially stricken de Tomaso years-and beyond.

Production is on an upward swing, with more than 7000 units built last year. But a much more meaningful sign of recovery is the current model range. Build quality has reached levels not seen decades, and in addition to the new Norge 1200 sport-tourer introduced at the Milan Show, a destroked 877cc version of the 1064cc V-Twin is available in the new Griso 850.

Visually identical to the bigger engine minus the oil-cooler, the fuel-injected powerplant mea92 x 66mm.

To keep the cylinders even with those of the 1100 despite the shorter stroke, engineer Roberto Restelli increased the rods’ center-to-center length by 7mm (half stroke reduction), from 144 to 151mm. As a result, stroke-to-rodlength ratio went from 1.8:1 to 2.28:1, which reduced secondary imbalance, making for an even smoother-running engine.

Thanks to its freer-flowing 2-into-1 exhaust, the Griso 850 has a tad more engine performance than the Breva 850:76 horsepower at 7800 rpm and 57 foot-pounds of torque at 6800 rpm versus 72 hp at 7600 rpm and 49 ft.-lbs. at 6000 rpm.

Rolling gear-43mm inverted Showa fork, four-piston Brembo front brake calipers pinching 320mm rotors, and 120/70-17 and

180/55-17 tires—is unchanged. Frames are black, and body color is limited to black or red.

Though only a few pounds lighter than its bigger brother, the 850 Griso feels even more nimble.

The new engine is lively, willing to rev well past 8000 rpm, and accelerates from as low as 2500 rpm without a hint of shudder. Smart, very smart.

Bruno de Prato