Motorbike

We can, and will, tell you what this motorcycle is like to ride, but it's Marabese Design's stunning work that brought this show bike into production, and it's the styling that will make it sell.The second bike in the "clean sheet" program funded by Guzzi's previous owner, Aprilia, the Griso features the engine introduced in the Breva last year, but a different frame and running gear. In fact, the Griso probably carries more Aprilia bits than leftovers from around Guzzi's Mandelo del Lario factory.The engine remains the firm's trademark 90-degree air-cooled V-twin, but the castings are all new and of much better quality.The transmission is a six speeder and the final drive is a single-sided shaftdrive set-up with progressive linkage. Called CARC, for Cardano Reattivo (after a famous Guzzi engineer) or Compact Reactive Shaft Drive (on the spec sheet), the set-up reportedly cost Moto Guzzi a small fortune in development and legal costs to get around the patents for BMW's similar Paralever system.Unlike the German set-up, the CARC driveshaft and universal joints, incorporating torsional dampers, float in the housing with a torsion bar to prevent the bike's rear end "squatting" under braking and rising under acceleration.Controlling this engineering masterpiece is a linkage-equipped, fully adjustable Sachs shock with piggyback reservoir, and the front carries 43mm upside-down Showa forks that also are fully adjustable. What looks like a fork brace is just a paint and plastic job on the front mudguard. Brembo supplies the floating disc brakes at each end.The distinctive, silver twin-tube frame is the centrepiece of the bike's styling. Wrapped over this is a polycarbonate fuel tank, and vented sidepanels cover the fuel-injection plumbing, wiring and twin horns.The detail is impressive: a minimalistic instrument panel, giant fuel filler, dark-tinted indicator lenses and beefy triple clamps.What really sets this bike apart is the "bazooka" muffler that comes complete with holes underneath and drainpipe exhaust headers.The set-up is slightly less aggressive than the show bike in that the collector ducks under the engine rather than dumping straight into the muffler, but the rest is a faithful reproduction of Marabese's design.ON THE ROADThat giant exhaust and aggressive styling reminiscent of Yamaha's MT01 suggest the Griso is one mean mother. It's not, despite Moto Guzzi calling it a "power cruiser". That must have more to do with the styling than its 64.8kW output. They're definitely on the money with the "cruiser" bit because the Griso is perfect for a weekend run.Despite the bike's fairly long wheelbase of 1554mm, the Griso is a competent corner carver. The steering is relatively quick, helped by the ultra-wide handlebars.There is plenty of cornering clearance, helped by the absence of a centrestand, and the anti-squat CARC set-up keeps the bike sitting flat in corners even if you back off.Brembo's finest do an admirable job of pulling up the beast which, at 227kg dry, is no lightweight.As fitted, the suspension feels as if it has been set up for a 90kg Italian — too stiff for lighter riders on choppy Victorian surfaces.The gearbox is a vast improvement over our previous Guzzi test bike, a California. Neutral is easy to find and changes are accompanied by a click rather than a clunk. Sixth is a serious overdrive ratio.Traditional fans can relax as well. This Guzzi hasn't become the Italian equivalent of a Japanese sewing machine. The engine does still produce moderate vibes.There's no balance shaft, so it feints to the left when you blip the throttle when stationary.One minor niggle is the left-hand switchblock, on which the horn button is easier to reach than the indicator switch (this is an Italian machine), and the trip computer control button, below the highbeam flasher, looks like an afterthought.The low-fuel light also comes on annoyingly early for a bike which, despite its limited 17-litre fuel capacity, has a range up to 300km.For extended touring you'd be better off on the Breva (see right), or the fully faired Norge 1200 due here in May, but neither of them looks as good as the Griso.

On first impressions, the BMW R 1200 GS did not disappoint.In fact, after a day of riding the 30kg or 12 per cent lighter and 18 per cent more powerful (74kW) bike on its Australian launch last week, I was trying to arrange a longer test ride with BMW – like around Australia.BMW motorcycle national marketing manager Cameron Cuthill suggested that when one of the rare press bikes became available I could fly to Sydney and ride it back to Brisbane.Great idea. Maybe I could ride it back via Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Cairns!Everything about the all-new GS makes you want to stay in the saddle longer.The riding position is more comfortable, with its narrower seat, adjustable windscreen, wide and tapered bars and perfect balance now that the 20-litre fuel tank has been pushed lower and forward.And its abilities across most terrain will make you want to explore some of those roads that purport to be no thoroughfare.The launch ride took us through some urban jungle, across some mountain tarmac, over about 30km of moderate dirt and gravel roads, and then into the famous vineyards of the Yarra Valley.Except for a tendency to want to continue straight ahead on the thick gravel, the big enduro behaved well on all surfaces.And it flicks from side to side on the switchbacks with clearance, challenging some sports bikes.Thanks to increased engine compression and fibrous chunks of torque, you just roll off and on the throttle as you approach and leave the corners.Not that gear changes are any trouble. Neutral was easy to find and the gears are now less clunky thanks to a single-plate dry clutch as on most cars.It comes with three types of enduro rubber from Michellin, Bridgestone and Metzeler, although I only tried the former which was sticky all the way to the sides on the tarmac and grippy on the wet dirt, but a little vague on the thick and loose stuff.The windscreen is now adjustable for tilt, which also makes it a little taller. It's still very narrow, so your shoulders cop a bit of a blast, but it should afford decent protection for most people.Australia has been allocated only 250 units for the remainder of 2004.BMW expects that is about 60 per cent of what is needed. If you order now, you will have to wait until October for delivery.The R 1200 GS comes in gold, blue and red with black or silver side panels which can be mixed and matched as the customer requires. However, with a lack of supply you might just have to take pot luck. I liked the red with black side panels.It comes standard with ABS and linked brakes that work off the handbrake. Thankfully for dirt riders, the foot brake is just a foot brake.Dirt riders will also appreciate the fact that you can turn off the ABS, although you must stop, switch off the ignition and re-start while holding down the ABS button. It only takes a few seconds, but it's worth it.Now, which way is north again?