The Kneeslider

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Ghezzi Brian Motard V-Twin Transforms the Griso

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Ghezzi Brian Motard V-Twin transforms the Moto Guzzi Griso
Ghezzi Brian Motard V-Twin transforms the Moto Guzzi Griso

Look at what the boys at Ghezzi Brian have been up to, it’s the Motard V-Twin, based on the Moto Guzzi Griso, it completely transforms the bike into an all purpose ride you can take off road, even if the “off road” you travel is navigating crumbling urban streets. The visual change is dramatic, though one feature I definitely like is the return to dual pipes on either side instead of the one side treatment Guzzi has been using. If the modern motard look is something you like, this might be worth considering.

The rear shock incorporates dynamic damping action, an electronically controlled response to riding conditions which varies according to what the rider chooses as his preferred setting.

Ghezzi Brian Motard V-Twin transforms the Moto Guzzi Griso
Ghezzi Brian Motard V-Twin transforms the Moto Guzzi Griso

It’s powered by the 1151cc, 115 horsepower, 4 valve engine mated to the Guzzi 6 speed transmission.

Everything can be ordered from Ghezzi Brian as a kit to change your Griso into an all rounder. Maybe we’ll be seeing more of this as infrastructure deteriorates and you’re never sure what you’ll encounter on your ride. Interesting.

Link: Ghezzi Brian

Comments

  1. Nice treatment, although in its intended crumbling urban environment, that lower scoop would get knocked off the first time the rider tried to blast over a curb. I appreciate the impulse to put pipes on each side — a transverse V-twin doesn’t look “right” with the pipes on one side. With 115 hp and gobs of torque (but let’s not start that argument again, though), it will be a hoot to ride and should go just about anywhere. I’m not a huge fan of the motard style, although I suppose it’s just an update of the street scramblers of the 1960s. No matter — good work; it’s a clean design that doesn’t look tacked on. The folks at Ghezzi Brian can take a bow!

    • That lower fairing or scoop probably could use a rethink in the motard configuration.

  2. I agree with what’s said regarding the functionality of that scoop, but it does look cool.

    I love the rest of the bike though. The lines are clean. The bodywork looks simple, durable, and it’s not in the way. I’m fond of Guzzis, and for a bike intended to get dirty or be rough and tumble now and again the shaft drive requires a lot less cleanup then a chain.

    Looks like fun to me.

  3. Griso is one of my favorites…

    I have not really “gotten” the dual-sport look on a street-bike, and I still don’t.

    Ipothesys was much more impressive than this… and I am still waiting for a ready-made kit to just put a V11 LeMans/Tenni bullet fairing onto a Griso, and a tapered seat cowl.

    The V11 sporty models were good looking, but Griso is also… and the V12 engine and CARC suspension are an improvement… A new Griso-based LeMans, perhaps with a Breva Sport projector headlight fitted into the fairing… would be great.

    Just not feeling the Motard treatment, especially not for a heavy bike with a long wheelbase.

    But… BMW also sells lots of R12GS bikes, and no R1200S or RS… so the industry has their ideas of what customers want, evidently.

    Frankly, if I were wanting a bike like this… I would prefer something more akin to the F800GS, with the ‘small-block’ Moto Guzzi engine, upgraded with DOHC and well tuned fuel injection, and at least 80 horsepower, in a smaller, more compact, and lighter dual-sport format.

    If Griso is roughly equivalent to R12R , then this Motard is approaching R12GS on street tires. With those tires, I doubt the chin spoiler under the engine is in much danger from off-road debris. If it had trail-ready tires, I would be more concerned about it.

  4. So refreshing after all the cafe bikes. The best news for me is of course that it actually has a seat, not a napkin like all those cafe “racers”. Really cool though, except for the scoop.

  5. A supermotard is supposed to be light and agile, which is why they mostly are mean dirtbikes setup for road use. In this case, a fairly sizeable Guzzi seems kinda out of place, no ?
    I always liked the Griso, as an original, classy, and kinda “handsome” bike on its own … while this adaptation makes it look like the product of unholy mating between a LeMans and a GS, decorated by a retired painter of the Royal Air Force aircraft … hmm …

  6. So is it ready for “off road” travel because it has a beak in place of a fender? This still looks like a 100% street bike to me. Is it really a “Motard” if you take an existing street bike and add a high front fender? I always thought a Motard starts out with a dirt bike and you add street tires/brakes/suspension.

    Interesting styling regardless.

    -todd

  7. “As infrastructure deteriorates and you’re never sure what you’ll encounter on your ride.”
    Best you have a bike that will run on a mixture of Turpentine and Diesel.

  8. This whole “motard” thing is not my cup of tea.
    I have never seen ANY motard bike that even remotely interested me.

    No knock on Ghezzi Brian. They do good work.
    I just don’t like the motard genre.

    • Kinda makes me think “road grader” ! Seriously, this reminds me visually of the KTM 950 SM I owned for awhile – amazing bull-like styling, great fun to ride – but
      not an off-roader (unlike the Adventure). Somehow the Guzzi engine does not look right to me in this setting; for me, the ultimate Guzzi is the V7 Sport. But then, I had the same take on the Boxer twin when I first saw a BMW enduro bike; and I do believe that those have been pretty successful!

      Mike

    • Quattro Valvole means 4 valve. 4 valves per cylinder as compared to their many 2 valve models.

  14. Looks more like another big fat short suspension adventure tourer to me, which most of are about as capable of offroading and hooning up the town as your grandpappy’s harley.

    Nothing about that bike has anything to do with motards, motards start out as dirtbikes, then you swap wheels, go big with the brakes, and stiffen up the suspension and you have a motard.

    And if you don’t “get” motards, ride one and report back, it’s possibly the most fun you will ever have on a bike period.