Thanks to the Piaggio Group, we’ve been able to get our eager hands on the famous bikes from the boys in Mondello, quality products that are delightfully original. They’re putting more and more pressure on the well-established brands in our market, thanks to a growing number of competent, well-intentioned dealers.

The most recent iteration of the Norge GT is quite a handsome devil. (Photo: Pascal Bastien/Moto123.com)

The spirit of the Piaggio Group’s banners speaks in their favour, with the likes of the Aprilia Dorsoduro, Shiver, Mana, SXV 5.5 and RSV4 as well as the Moto Guzzi Stelvio, Griso and Norge GT, a GT in the truest sense of the word.

And the most recent iteration of the Norge GT is quite a handsome devil. This is a bike that’s much more consenting than its German rivals, and one that also stands out from the entire gamut of current Japanese products. Its profile exposes the architecture of the longitudinal V-Twin derived from the V7 models of the day, a veritable Moto Guzzi icon for nearly four decades.

Talkative engine
Reworked for 2011, the engine receives Stelvio-sourced, four-valve cylinder heads. Other notable improvements include new camshaft profiles, an upgraded exhaust and revised engine mapping, boosting power to 102 hp at 7,000 rpm and torque to 76 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm, which represents a 12-hp and 5-lb-ft improvement over the old version.

The 1,151-cc V-Twin teams up with a 6-speed gearbox and a more user-friendly clutch. The final drive hasn’t been touched, so we’re still dealing with a shaft linked to a single-sided swingarm and a supporting arm. Note that the new version of Moto Guzzi’s V2 meets the strictest Euro 3 standards.

It’s got what it takes
The list of new equipment includes more precise and potent ABS brakes, a rear suspension system that’s easier to calibrate, bodywork that deflects more air away from the rider, an electric windscreen, more powerful headlamps, a better-equipped dash, new and more user-friendly centre and side kickstands and handlebars that are slightly higher and pushed forward, creating a more natural riding position.

The list of new equipment includes more precise and potent ABS brakes. (Photo: Pascal Bastien/Moto123.com)