Author Topic: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Read 3753 times)

CBJoe · « **on:** March 22, 2015, 07:18:10 PM »

This will be an ongoing ride report as I put miles on the bike...but for now all I can say is that I'm very pleased with the California. I have never owned a cruiser and this is my introduction to a Guzzi. I have always owned standards and was pretty close to purchasing a new CB1100 when it was mentioned that every bike I have in my garage is essentially the same style. Also, this bike is not just mine...it's a 10 Year wedding present to my wife and myself and we're going to ride it to Maine and back this June (from Indianapolis).

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,143676.25.html

I've never been into crusiers, but this bike is simply very pretty to me and has appeal that I don't get from Harleys and other V-Twin Cruisers. I'm sure that some with consider it a cookie cutter cruiser, but meh.....dont care...it works for me

It's a standard California 1400 Custom...but I added the saddlebags, Hepco Becker Luggage Rack and Windshield. I have a touring seat on order to try out and will be testing out some tail and tank bags over the next two months in preparation for our trip.

Anyway

I picked it up from a great dealership in Robinson, IL called C&D Motorsports. Craig (one of the owners) is a big Guzzi guy and has been great to work with.

It's fitting that my first ride of the year was test riding and then picking this bike up and riding it back home on a 3 hour country road journey!

First impressions are very positive.....bike is very nimble for a 750+lb bike and was super comfortable right off the bat. The engine vibrates like hell at idle, but smooths out dramatically at anything over 10mph. However you do feel it when you pull the clutch in for quick stopping. The first few times it was very noticeable when braking quickly as the vibrations would suddenly appear when you pull in the clutch. But I got over it very quickly.

The dealer has a new idle engine map direct from Guzzi that he's going to try on his bikes and then let me know. Then we'll discuss implementing it on the first service.

Anyhow...it's going to be a bit cold for the next week or so here, but I'll post impressions and such as I get some miles on the bike.

Cheers, Joe

CBJoe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2015, 07:21:36 PM »

Whoops...I meant to put this in Other Bikes....Mods please feel free to move

brooze72 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2015, 07:31:50 PM »

Joe, that's a great looking bike, I was admiring one at the bike show here today, along with the Griso. How do you like riding with the floorboards? That's the only thing that gives me pause, but I haven't ridden one yet...

CBJoe · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2015, 07:37:59 PM »

Floorboards were a first for me as well....I'm almost sad to say how comfortable they were. Also the heal to toe shifter was great...only screwed up with it once right after starting out....ended up in 6th as opposed to 1st at a stoplight

I think what makes it comfortable is the fact that my feet are placed in front of me enough that I don't seem to "perch" on them as much as I settle onto them.

Cheers, Joe

Stev-o · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:03:29 PM »

+1 great looking bike. Wow, 750 lbs.....

CBJoe · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:16:54 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on March 22, 2015, 08:03:29 PM

+1 great looking bike. Wow, 750 lbs.....

Don't remind me...may actually be a few lbs shy of that...but as I was pushing all the bikes back into the garage after a major rearrange/cleaning today, I realized there was no way I was getting this up the incline by myself.

That reminds me of the other downside. I had full knowledge of this before purchasing...but the fuel economy is lower than you would expect. Reports range from 30 - 40mpg...for sure no better. So well see over the next few weeks what city riding produces.

Joe

MickB · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2015, 02:35:01 AM »

CB Joe did you try the new Indian Chief?

CBJoe · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2015, 04:28:34 AM »

Hey Mick, I did not test ride the chief, but my wife and I went to dealer here in Indy and sat on it and considered.

Contemplated it, but the Guzzi won out in the end. Also the Chief when decked out with hard bags was out of my price range.

Cheers, Joe

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MickB · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2015, 02:38:18 PM »

Understood, It looks great but not cheap.

bert96 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2015, 03:10:20 PM »

I really love Moto Guzzi but i'm wondering if these bikes are reliable?
You're bike looks very cool!
Bert

CBJoe · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2015, 03:37:50 PM »

Hey Bert...I did a lot of reading prior to making the purchase decision and couldn't find anything negative about reliability outside of some exhaust heat shield screws that have a tendency to loosen up from factory. However, there aren't exactly hordes of these things rolling around in the US, so I'm not sure how much it's been put to test since this models inception.

Comes with a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty.....I'll be taking this thing to Maine and back in June (3k miles in 3 weeks) so we'll break it in nice

and hopefully it will be problem free.

Cheers, Joe

bert96 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2015, 03:42:26 PM »

I saw your bike at the motorcycles show in Montréal and it looks very impressive.I really like the V7 from moto guzzi also.
Bert

Old Moe Toe · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2015, 04:20:13 AM »

Congratulations Joe!
Daresay you will just love your bike.
Guzzi's are very reliable and made to last.
Bought this one back in 84 secondhand. Still have it. Riden it round Australia 2 up. Crashed it drunk many a time. Frame still straight. Done close to 200,000klms on it.
It's in better condition now than it's ever been.
Regards "Old Moe Toe"...Guzzi

CBJoe · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2015, 03:30:50 PM »

Heh...thanks for the input. Good to hear about reliability

That 850 of yours looks great!

MCRider · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2015, 04:29:31 PM »

Joe: too cool, man, have fun!

MickB · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2015, 08:54:29 PM »

Guzzi's always been known for long life engine, V twin very little ring or cylinder wear.

CBJoe · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2015, 11:06:32 AM »

Rose and I went for our first test run with camping gear on the Guzzi and gave it a nice shake down on two-up riding with luggage. Did pretty good and it looks like once we get our waterproof duffel bag this week we'll have plenty of storage.

All loaded up the Guzzi Handles very well. The handle bar position combined with the windscreen and floorboard placement makes for an extremely comfortable riding position without feeling like you are laying back on a lazy-boy chair. Plenty of room in the saddle for two people with ample rumps

The power on this bike is fantastic...I'm sure some would want MORE power, but it's plenty for me on the open road, in city, and hauling uphill in the country. Delivery is very smooth and I've got no complaints. I will say that the engine is clackity at idle. Not overly so, but let's just say it isn't a quiet purring noise at idle. It's a tappet type valve train and looks extremely easy to check and adjust. All the reviews aren't lying about the vibration at idle. It's very apparent with handle bar shaking until you start moving and then it smooths out to a quiet purr.

Braking and suspension seem to be very good for the stock setup. Much better than any of my other bikes at least

Even fully loaded with a passenger does not dramatically affect the handling. Handles well in the twisties and in tight cornering, but I'm still getting used to slinging around a 700+ lb bike.

Anyway....we went out and had a beautiful night to ourselves at Morgan Monroe State Forest in mid/southern Indiana and had a blast. Got to try out my new Solo Stove biomass (sticks and twigs) setup and it was awesome. We're gonna us this thing as our space saver / ultra-light go to for cooking. Was very nice to not need to carry any fuel. Took a little longer to boil water, but with no Jet-Engine rocket stove running it was more enjoyable

Anyway...some pics.... Cheers, Joe

MCRider · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2015, 09:23:09 AM »

You are now, officially, the MAN!

CBJoe · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2015, 07:44:12 PM »

Heh....thanks Ron

looking forward to seeing you down at the Rockers Reunion in May....Rose hasn't seen Phaedrus in person yet

MCRider · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2015, 12:05:54 PM »

Quote from: CBJoe on April 07, 2015, 07:44:12 PM

Heh....thanks Ron looking forward to seeing you down at the Rockers Reunion in May....Rose hasn't seen Phaedrus in person yet

It is the "most beautiful motorcycle in the world" after all.

socal1200r · « **Reply #20 on:** April 08, 2015, 03:45:43 PM »

I had an older model Guzzi cruiser, can't remember the name, but it was an 1100i of some kind (not a California though). It had footboards, linked brakes, and some other cruiser-ish stuff. I kept the floorboards, but delinked the brakes with some Galfer rotors and s/s brake lines. Replaced the handlebars with a set of Superbike bars, GP mirrors, LaFranconi "whizzer" mufflers, and got a bunch of parts powder-coated gloss black (valve covers, crash bars, foot controls, steering head covers, etc). Bike was fun to ride, and I remember having my youngest daughter on the back, going down this mountain road that I drove every day, with a Harley in front of me just plodding along with his female significant other on the back. Since I knew this road like the back of my hand, I waited for the right spot to pass him, and just twisted the throttle and motored on by him. Probably surprised the heck out of him to get passed going downhill, but hey, if you're too stupid to get out of the way, then I'll pass your slow ass, lol!

Good to see you're doing your part to keep Guzzis alive and well! Be an ambassador for the eagles from Maranello, and remind folks that next to Harley, Moto Guzzi has been making bikes continuously the longest.

CBJoe · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2015, 06:36:42 PM »

Quote from: MCRider on April 08, 2015, 12:05:54 PM

Quote from: CBJoe on April 07, 2015, 07:44:12 PM
Heh....thanks Ron looking forward to seeing you down at the Rockers Reunion in May....Rose hasn't seen Phaedrus in person yet

It is the "most beautiful motorcycle in the world" after all.

Totally...I'm going to make you start it this time though. I haven't heard those pipes in person yet!

MCRider · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2015, 01:02:56 PM »

Quote from: CBJoe on April 08, 2015, 06:36:42 PM

Quote from: MCRider on April 08, 2015, 12:05:54 PM
Quote from: CBJoe on April 07, 2015, 07:44:12 PM
Heh....thanks Ron looking forward to seeing you down at the Rockers Reunion in May....Rose hasn't seen Phaedrus in person yet

It is the "most beautiful motorcycle in the world" after all.

Totally...I'm going to make you start it this time though. I haven't heard those pipes in person yet!

Be happy too. Might be a bit of a disappointment though. they are pretty quiet, which would have been fine for its initial purpose, a street/tourer as it had always been. But as a show bike, the rumm, rumm exhaust note doesn't thrill the crowd.

I may get some 2-1 peashooters from Cycle-X.

News:

Author Topic: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Read 3753 times)