New California 1400

[crispiegee1]

It's too bad that the modern interpretation of a classic touring bike means that your ass drags on the ground. The old 1200 cc Harley Electra Glides did not sit terribly low and neither did the original Ambassador/Eldorado/California.  I actually stand on the balls of my feet on my Eldo, but that's mostly because the previous owner shimmed the forks and put jacked up springs on it. That, and the police seat (which I intend to replace with a reproduction two-up saddle) spreads my legs too far apart. But I'm definitely not bunched up when I have my feet on the pegs.

[WitchCityBallabio]

One more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorcycle_manufacturers/moto-guzzi/9692716/Moto-Guzzi-California-Touring-review.html

Some excerpts:



The headline change is to the engine, the biggest ever Guzzi at 1,380cc, although only the top end has changed significantly.

The chassis is all new, including the frame, the first for many years, and it’s distinguished by an ingenious rubber-mounting system designed to isolate the vibrations inevitable with the increased capacity.


it’s pretty quick, too, even though the power falls away as the rev counter needle nears the red line, certainly pulling harder than a Harley, while the fuelling is smooth and dependable. There are three engine maps, Veloce for sport, Turismo for gentler stuff and Pioggia ostensibly for wet weather, when the torque is cut by 25 per cent. But this also makes the bike smoother around town, and it’s very easy to select while on the move. And how refreshing to have the map names in the bike’s native Italian instead of universal English. You also get traction control and ABS, so it’s well equipped

Comfort is very good but the screen is not adjustable, so shorter riders will require one of the lower, accessory screens. Also the intake tract on the left side pushes against the inside of your leg and can start to irritate .

I’m a little concerned about the fuel economy, too. Guzzi says it’s very good, and quotes 42mpg in normal riding, but I was getting figures as low as 30mpg while trickling around in traffic, and at higher speeds the consumption was about the same. With 4.5 gallons in the tank that’s a range of only 160 miles, which isn’t enough for a bike with touring pretensions, and even if the 42mpg does prove accurate, 190 miles is adequate at best.

 Price/on sale: £15,770/now

Power/torque: 95bhp @ 6,500rpm/88lb ft @ 2,750rpm

Top speed: 125mph (est)

Fuel tank/range: 4.5 gallons/170 miles (est)

I'd bet that like most Guzzi's, once the big girl loosens up after 10,000 miles or so, she'll see 45mpg.

[Biking Sailor]

In a weird sense, I really want to like this type of bike, but I can't make myself do it.  I've had a floor boarded low seat heavy cruiser/touring bike that I kept for about a month.  I quickly realized I hate the foot position and low seat as I can't make the bike respond like I can a standard with pegs under the seat.

The 2010 Calvin I rode had similar ergos and completely turned me off.  I'm stuck with my 1200 Sport as it still ticks all the boxes for me, torquey twin, shaft drive, long range, standard ergos, and decent suspension.  I guess I'll never be right for this kind of bike. YMMV.

[rocker59]

This just in:




courtesy MPH Cycles - Houston

[WitchCityBallabio]

Price is pretty much where I thought they'd put it. I think at that price, they'll do well with it.

[sagerat]

The Cali Touring is gorgeous; the Cali Custom got beat with the fugly baton.

[Croak]

The Cali Touring is gorgeous; the Cali Custom got beat with the fugly baton.

Funny how tastes differ.  I was thinking it was the other way around, much to make my eyes bleed on the Touring, while I find the Custom rather soothing.

I find it amusing (and somewhat unfortunate) that the headlight on both bikes looks an awful lot like the "bar and shield" from a certain Wisconsin manufacturer.

[atadaskew]

742 lbs for a Guzzi.

Italian bikes are meant to be nimble.

742 lbs...

Apparently it also lost a whole bunch of cornering clearance.  The old Cali had plenty.  A shame.

[Hambonee]

742 lbs for a Guzzi.

Italian bikes are meant to be nimble.

742 lbs...

Apparently it also lost a whole bunch of cornering clearance.  The old Cali had plenty.  A shame.

My Norge pushes the limits of what an Italian bike should weigh..

Damn it..whenever they cater to Amuricans it always seems to be with a cheese burger diet...

[atadaskew]

One thing I noticed is the old Cali Vintage had leg/wind blockers mounted on the crash bars.  Those worked great, it really was a smooth, wind free ride at 80mph,

The new one seems to be missing those.  It that is the case, it will be like every other cruiser bike with big shield and no lower protection. It will buffet really badly. (that is caused by turbulence from air coming under the windshield)

p.s. $3K difference between the Cali Custom and Cali Touring for two saddlebags and a windshield? Dang.

[falconati]

It will buffet really badly. (that is caused by turbulence from air coming under the windshield)

I find that most cruisers are pretty good with buffets  

[atadaskew]

 

I find that most cruisers are pretty good with buffets  

[ToadRide]

Is it just me or does the rear drive look a little skimpy? After liking the beefy look and bulletproof performance of the CARC  I gotta wonder.
I know, I know. Retro. But will it last?

[Croak]

It's not single-sided, so it doesn't need as much structural strength on the shaft side.  

Gotta remember, the actual shaft spinning around inside that housing isn't very big at all, but this one is likely a bit beefier than what's on your 1200.

[Pete Roper]

New bevelbox is a 'Stand Alone' design for the Cali. Its crown wheel and pinion appear just as massive, if not more so, than those in the CARC bevelbox. Oil change interval has been extended to 50,000km! I think that it will be anything but flimsy!

It is not a reactive drive but the length of the swingarm means that torque reaction will be minimal.

Pete

[WitchCityBallabio]

This was posted on another board from a guy that actually got to take one out for a spin. Pretty good review methinks..

Wow. It may look a bit weird, but riding it is something else. The running boards are quite far forward, but my (short) legs are nowhere near the cylinders. The seat is set quite far back so longer legged people can cope. Gear change is heel and toe only, and really works well, but when you take off and put your feet on the running board you’ve got to be careful not to nudge the gear change. Not much transmission snatch. The steering feels far forward, but is quicker than I thought it would be. Quite neutral. More like the Norge. The throttle isn’t as snatchy as the Norse and Griso. Just heaps of low down gentle power. Until you open it, that is.

Quick? Very. Mario says quicker than the 1200 8V’s. Don’t know. Hard to tell in city traffic. Heaps of low down torque, and its happy in any gear. Coming off the Norge, the power and torque don’t feel appreciably greater, but if you came off a standard Cali you’d be in for a big shock. This thing is a quantum leap ahead of old Calis.

Does it handle? Sure does. It seems to carry its weight lower than I’d expected, even with a full tank of fuel. It's very bulky, but doesn't feel it when you are up and running. In fact weaving around in traffic is a breeze. Lane splitting too. (No panniers) Coming off the freeway on an almost circular bend it laid over beautifully, weaving round a couple of cars with ease. It didn’t scrape, but I was probably not going quick enough.

It’s still a Guzzi, with a few familiar quirks. The odd false neutral, of course. Not hard to ride at all. Comparing this with a Road King, like they do, is ridiculous. Road Kings, which I know well, are like boats in comparison. This responds to body English like a normal bike. It doesn’t feel like it has all that torque of a Harley, but comparisons are irrelevant. This bike can really be flogged. Griso owners will love it. Existing Cali owners will die for one. Their old Calis will never feel the same.

This is one great motorcycle. Beware of test rides. You will want one badly. If this bike had been around when I’d bought the Norge, I’d have bought one in a flash. It is very very good. I'm not entirely comfortable with the cruiser riding position over a long distance. Don't know if the old back would handle very long days in the saddle., like crossing the Nullabor. The Touring version might address the buffeting issue, but sitting astride the tourer later, in spite of the different seat and cow horn bars, the ergonomics seemed exactly the same.

It has a good side stand which will give more options parking on sloping terrain than the Norge. In fact it was much easier to manoeuvre around into parking spots than the taller Norge. Its easy to paddle it around while still seated. The running boards are well forward, so don't interfere with this, like they do on a Road King. On a heavy bike this is important. I like the low set tank, which doesn't intrude like on most modern bikes.

I didn't like the ugly speedo, but it has all the info, tacho on a needle, and digital speedo with large numbers in the middle. It has a gear indicator, which is great, so its all there. I didn't get into the computer side of it. It has cruise control too. I think its ugly from the rear. Two big fat exhausts with unfinished looking ends, and those naff tail lights. The looks will probably grow on us. You can't see how ugly a bike is when you are riding it, which helps. I got a lot of odd looks from Harley riders. I guess I'm biased, but I didn't think it owes anything to Harleys at all. Its a very relevant evolution from the Ambos of old, and that is the picture I had when riding it.

[MisterSmooth]

I'm stuck with my 1200 Sport as it still ticks all the boxes for me, torquey twin, shaft drive, long range, standard ergos, and decent suspension.  I guess I'll never be right for this kind of bike. YMMV.

Dammit, me too.  I'm just stuck with this dang 1200 Sport.  

Great motorbike, eh?  

BTW, I like the Cali Custom (what marketing genius names motorbikes?).and am looking forward to a test drive.  

[WitchCityBallabio]

Nice new ad for the Cali with Ewan. Pretty hi quality. Could it be that Guzzi is starting to get the marketing thing?  

[atadaskew]

This was posted on another board from a guy that actually got to take one out for a spin. Pretty good review methinks..

..
Quick? Very. Mario says quicker than the 1200 8V’s. Don’t know...

No way the new Cali is going to be quicker than a Griso 8V.
It weighs almost 200 lbs more and makes 20 hp less!

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1307_moto_guzzi_california_touring/

It’s an all-new, four-valve-per-cylinder engine with single overhead cams and a total displacement of 1380cc. Does that say torque? It does to our dyno, where the Cali hit its peak torque of 70.2 lb.-ft. at just 2300 rpm. Horsepower climbs the graph smoothly, peaking with 77.5 at 6500 rpm.

[Pete Roper]

Certainly won't be faster but, surprisingly, it may in fact be quicker! Especially if the Griso isn't well setup.

This is one of the things that amazed me about the Cali when I rode both models at the dealer launch the week before last. We did over 350Km including some very tight and twisty stuff and the Cali acquitted itself with aplomb. Could I of got through it quicker on my Griso? Of course I could but the effort required would of been an order of magnitude higher. The truly astonishing thing is the way the Cali makes and delivers its power. Claimed torque figures for the motor are 120Nm of torque at 2,750RPM. The motor pulls from nothing and is eerily smooth due to its mounting system. When you throw in RBW and Tri-map along with ABS, Traction Control and Cruise Control and look at the price it quite simply knocks every other cruiser in that market segment into a cocked hat!

It really is an outstanding machine. Here's what I'm buying in the USA



And here's a gaggle of 'em at the launch.



Pete