| | | | Road test: Moto Guzzi Norge 1200-Guzzi back with new Grand Tourer |  Written: 22/05/2006 : 12:58. Read 14650 times (21/day). | | The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members. | Norge is Norwegian for Norway and how appropriate it was that Moto Guzzi launched the bike at just Norway’s national day, May 17th. Moto Guzzi literally invented the Grand Turismo for long journeys on two wheels with the 1928 Norge GT 500. Guiseppe Guzzi invented swing arm mounted rear suspension just for that GT. After making a 4000 mile journey from the home of Moto Guzzi in Mandello del Lario to the arctic circle in Norway, he was so happy with his new suspension system that he called the GT Norge. In 2006 Norge is back in the shape of a fully faired 1200cc tourer. The world launch took place in Mandello del Lario at the foot of the Italian alps, but the launch did not last long enough for us to reach the arctic circle this time.
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In 1928 Moto Guzzi had been in business for only six years and Norway as we see it today for thirteen years-Both young at the time and both very successful today. Moto Guzzi has more than doubled production since the Breva 1100 launch in 2005 after the Piaggio take-over in December 2004. For this reason Moto Guzzi is turning into Piaggio’s gem stone and investment in future Guzzi models are just as important for the two-wheel juggernaut as the investments made in Aprilia. The money is not quite the same as Moto Guzzi is not racing at world level with high technology and expensive racing machines, however let’s put it this way; Moto Guzzi can launch whatever and how many new models as it likes in the coming years.
Norge 1200 is the first really big effort since the Breva/Griso launches and the sector of touring machines is one that Guzzi really wants to do a comeback to. The new model has been developed at record speed and was first going to be called Breva GT. This was not really going to reflect what the Norge 1200 is all about as it is a brand new motorcycle with a brand new 1151cc engine and the first full fairing from Moto Guzzi in yonks. So the story goes that the product development manager and head designer took a stroll through the Guzzi museum and stumbled across the old Norge GT 500. There and then it was decided that the comeback to the full blooded tourer segment would be named Norge 1200 after the first Norge.
Armed with the Norwegian flag, helmet and leathers I entered the seat of Norge 1200 for the first time. The seat is on the soft side and comfortable at first sight. I activated the Tom Tom Rider navigation system and since we are in Italy everything is in Italiano, also the GPS. But by using my logical sense I managed to at least type in Mandello del Lario which did not help me until I was heading back. If the system had only had an easy way of finding the English setting I would have played more with it. We headed into the Italian Alps on a 160km trip and on my way back I fell in love with GPS. Not just the Tom Tom fitted to the Norge, but all GPS systems on touring bikes. All touring bikes ...
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