Griso?s power no myth

At $22,990 plus ORC, it's not only one of the most expensive naked bikes but also one of the most exclusive.

You won't see one on every street corner and pedestrians and other road users will crane their necks to catch a glimpse.

It is named after a mythical evil baron, who lived near Moto Guzzi's factory at Lake Como. Most people would think griso means monster in Italian and it's true that the original Ducati Monster naked bike paved the way for the Griso.

This V-twin-powered creation is a strange but compelling mixture of old and new. It has the latest radial-mounted brakes and lightweight wheels and an engine that started out powering a small army troop carrier in the 1940s.

The Griso's styling includes a petrol tank cover that looks like it melted over the engine.

Since the 1970s, Moto Guzzi V-twins have been a 200km/h proposition. This performance is taken to a new level with four-valve heads and a “high” camshaft that operates tiny pushrods similar to the system employed on BMW's Boxer twins.

An indication of the flow work wrought on the heads are enormous, 50mm diameter throttle bodies and drain-pipe-sized exhaust headers.

Displacement is 1152cc, claimed peak power is 81kW at 7500rpm with peak torque a massive 107Nn at 6400rpm. It also runs a six-speed gearbox. Fire up the big Guzzi and blip the throttle at standstill. It rocks from side to side, hinting at a beast that wants to be unleashed.

But this is a modern Guzzi, with Aprilia's ownership of the company giving it reliability and ease of use.

The rear shaft-drive on an old Guzzi used to rock the bike back and forward under braking and acceleration. By contrast, the Griso remains poised and balanced. Once you've taught yourself to push the bike down hard into corners, it turns quite quickly.

A comfortable seat and upright riding position help mask the bike's 222kg dry weight.

One of the joys of the Griso is its sweet engine, which pulls cleanly and relentlessly as its eight valves breathe heavily at the top end.

Aggressive looking from some angles, classic from others, the Griso is a unique motorcycle.