Written by Martin Hodgson
Nostalgia can be a powerful thing and our desire to hold onto the past, even the very recent, can have us railing against any possible change. The last of the Moto Guzzi Griso models are still yet to be sold from dealer floors before the bike is phased out entirely, but one man is already missing them. It should surprise nobody that it’s Moto Guzzi Maestro himself Filippo Barbacane of Italy?s Officine Rossopuro and he’s on a mission to send head office a message they’ve made a big mistake! He calls it Viridium, Latin for evergreen and its the factory special Griso 8v he wants to prove Guzzi should still be producing.

?It was a very successful project, but unfortunately Guzzi‘s mother did not renew it after more than 10 years, something quite inexplicable, since it could have evolved more and more, improving and improving it over time,? pleads Filippo. But the Piaggio Group which owns the brand sees the troubles posed of getting the 1200cc engine through restrictive Euro 4/5 compliance a hurdle not worth taking and has folded their hand.
But try telling that to Filippo and you’ll get a response that is pure passion and anything but the corporate speak coming from head office, ?Because I think that Griso is an “evergreen” bike. In fact, a bike that perhaps did not deserve to finish her life but that could still be renewed, refreshed and brought to a new life.? So when a client from Milan came calling he ha...