2015 California 1400 advise

[Ncdan]

I’m looking at a 2015 California 1400 listed in my area 2000.00 less than NADA average book value. Bike is like new condition with 2600 miles. I’m thinking about a buy and keeping my 07 Calvin, which is also mint condition with 11000 miles and ridding both and see if one wins over the other. Anyone who has one of these new 1400 California bikes please speak out and give me your opinions on the 1400. Thanks in advance.

[groundhog105]

I�m looking at a 2015 California 1400 listed in my area 2000.00 less than NADA average book value. Bike is like new condition with 2600 miles. I�m thinking about a buy and keeping my 07 Calvin, which is also mint condition with 11000 miles and ridding both and see if one wins over the other. Anyone who has one of these new 1400 California bikes please speak out and give me your opinions on the 1400. Thanks in advance.

I have a 2014 1400 Custom that I now have over 27000 miles on.  I’ve never owned a Calvin 1100 but I do have a Lemans 5.   The 1400 is going to be about 100 lbs heavier but is lower to the ground and well balanced.  The motor is an absolute gem and is FAR superior to the 2 valve in smoothness and power.  Go ride one and see for yourself.

[fotoguzzi]

I don't own one or desire to but I do have advice if you like them... TEST RIDE.. tell the owner your serious but need at least 30 hours  minutes seat time..

[Lannis]

I don't own one or desire to but I do have advice if you like them... TEST RIDE.. tell the owner your serious but need at least 30 hours  minutes seat time..

I've ridden one ... TEST RIDE it for sure, see if it's what you want.   It's a great big ol' touring bike, if that's what you're after, you're on the right track.

Lannis

[kingoffleece]

Or, keep BOTH!

[Ncdan]

Thanks for the responses guys. Yea I would definitely ride it. So Thur far no one has pointed out any real negatives. I realize it’s a little heavier than my 07 but I understand it’s also right much lower center of gravity. It the power much more significant than the 1100?

[beetle]

It the power much more significant than the 1100?

Danny, the 1400 has about 20% more power, and 30% more torque. You could pull down small buildings with one.

 

[Kjon]

I went from a 1100 Cali to the 1400 touring. Admittedly mine was the older 1100i but there's really no comparison between the two.
I intended to keep both as I had owned the 1100 for 20 years & many happy miles but riding both bikes back to back the 1100 felt like what it was, something from another era & almost toylike in comparison to the 1400.
I sold the 1100 & haven't regretted it.

Jon

[vintagehoarder]

I have an 14 California Touring, and absolutely love it!  Great touring bike!

[Ncdan]

Thanks a bunch guys for the responses guys. I definitely want to ride it. Like I said i can get the bike for 2k under the book and it only has 2600 miles!

[lucian]

 Dan,I really enjoy my 1400 custom and it has been stone reliable since purchased new in 2014. Used primarily for two up touring it has been great for that purpose.  You will go through rear tires in 6,000 miles, but the handling and braking belies a machine of its size. The engine is extremely smooth once off idle and the cruise control, abs and traction control are all pluses. It is a beast to push around the garage but it is wonderful out on the road. I was looking at road kings and then test rode the 1400. Game over. Hope you get a test ride and give us your take on it. 

[elvisboy77]

I had a 2008 CalVin, great bike, but doesn't hold a candle to my 1400 Eldorado.  Go for it!

[OldMojo]

I went from an 1100 EV to a Cali 1400 tour. I had figured on selling the EV, but found that it made a far better city / work bike than the 1400 for shorter trips. After riding the 1400 for a while, the EV feels very light and nimble, so it's staying.

The 1400 is a rocket ship. the controls will feel a mile out in front in comparison, but you'll adjust to this in a matter of blocks, not miles.

The shifter throw is larger, and needs proportionally the same "authority" when shifting as the EV.

I personally feel like 6 gears is overkill. 5 gears spread over the same range would have done just fine with such a strong motor, resulting in more gear changes than necessary.

Know beforehand that 1st gear on the 1400 is at the bottom of the shifter travel, thus lacking the reassuring "dead space" below 1st gear that the old ones have.

The stock seat is wonderful on mine, and the seating position geometry is near perfect.  I have no need to shift around on it as I do with my 5'11" frame on the EV.

The 1400 has a lumpy rumble at idle that borders on the obnoxious, but this disappears the instant you come off idle.

It's really a different animal, and as such not properly comparable to the old Calis. How you use a bike will dictate whether or not it's actually a replacement.

[mjptexas]

Dan,I really enjoy my 1400 custom and it has been stone reliable since purchased new in 2014. Used primarily for two up touring it has been great for that purpose.  You will go through rear tires in 6,000 miles, but the handling and braking belies a machine of its size. The engine is extremely smooth once off idle and the cruise control, abs and traction control are all pluses. It is a beast to push around the garage but it is wonderful out on the road. I was looking at road kings and then test rode the 1400. Game over. Hope you get a test ride and give us your take on it.

:1:

Lucian provided a concise and accurate summary.  24,000 trouble free miles on my 2014 Custom. 

[Ncdan]

Great evaluations and comparisons guys, this greatly helps my task at hand. The main issue I think will have the most weight in my decision will be that my Calvin is a low mileage, 11,000, pristine condition bike. With the assistance  of Mr Beetle making me a great map and the Calvin running flawlessly, it will be a tough decision to part with her. Therefore the 1400 will have to have something real special to simplify the decision, to make the change. I think it’s a good recommendation a couple of you guys made to keep both and ride for a while, which would be feasible for me as I have the room.
In the event I would buy the 1400 and decide to sell the Calvin I will offer it here first for around or a little under the NADA value.

[timonbik]

Other than weight and tire wear the only negative I have heard is that ignition switches tend to short out leaving the owner stranded  (2 cases that I know of)and cracking crossover pipes on early units.

[blu guzz]

I wish I could get 6000 miles.  At 4,480 miles, I just put on Metzler 888s in hope of greater mileage.  But, in my years of riding, I have never gotten what people say I will get.  Only complaint.  One difference is you won't need a new map. Very powerful bike, but easy to modulate.  I bought mine used with 400 miles last summer.  So, judging by the current mileage and including a not riding friendly winter here, you could say that I love it.  Fabulous to look at.  When I ride to the local watering hole and park next to the chrome ponies and squib bikes, mine always gets the compliments and the eyes, but this could also be due to the Agostini exhaust which makes stealth approachs difficult. Like all Guzzis, it has that difficult to describe perfect handling making it a joy to ride and sneaky fast through corners.  If you ride it, I am sure you will like it, but buying is up to you.


delete vk account

[lucian]

Blueguzz, Are those the Agostinis in the pic?  I have been waiting for a slip on with the look and finish of the original pipes. Did not know they existed yet.

[blu guzz]

sorry for any confusion, that picture was pre-Ago's.  They are reverse cone, smaller and lighter.

[mjptexas]

I wish I could get 6000 miles.  At 4,480 miles, I just put on Metzler 888s in hope of greater mileage.  But, in my years of riding, I have never gotten what people say I will get....

Not to hijack the thread, but I am getting 6,000+ miles out of the Avon Cobras I have been running.  About to mount my Third one on the rear. Plus, I really like the way the Avon’s handle.

[Zoom Zoom]

I'll add my 2 cents. I agree with everything said as I too have had a couple EV's prior to the 1400 Eldorado. The EV seems more nimble on twisties, but the 1400's are no slouch for what they are either. It is heavier and moving it around in the garage or where ever is where it is most noticeable. I have no regrets having gotten the 1400!

As for tires: For whatever reason, Guzzi decided to use bias ply tires on this particular version of the 1400. The Eldo also uses a 180 rear rather then the 200 series on the Touring/Custom/etc. Point is, I got a bit over 12K of the original set. I have read in these pages that some have fitted a 180 on the other models with success. That gives a much larger selection of tires. (You would need to ask those individuals about the particulars.)

I am very happy with my bike. I'm glad I got it and would do it again.

John Henry 

[blu guzz]

Here is Blu with the Ago's.

[vintagehoarder]

Blueguzz, Are those the Agostinis in the pic?  I have been waiting for a slip on with the look and finish of the original pipes. Did not know they existed yet.

They do exist and sound amazing! Here is a sound bite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4YXKnMRXgI

[rtbickel]

Keep them both.  I now generally use the Special Sport for weekenders and the Touring for longer trips, but I would go anywhere on either one.

[lucian]

Thank you Bluguz and Vintagehoarder for taking the time to share those pic's. Those Ago's look nice. Are they chrome or stainless?  I 'm sure they sound great. Are they overly loud at highway speeds? We do a fair amount of touring and too loud can get old on long days. I do feel it's a little too quite with the oem exhaust. Also , did they require a re map?  Both  are beautiful machines ! 

[blu guzz]

I wear ear plugs.  No problem for me.  They are noticeable on take off and when getting on it, both times when I like hearing them.  I just took a run this afternoon to dry after her bath and left plugs out but wore full face and I could see how it could get old, but that also accounts for the wind noise coming over the fairing.  I just want to try and save some hearing so generally always use them.

[vintagehoarder]

Thank you Bluguz and Vintagehoarder for taking the time to share those pic's. Those Ago's look nice. Are they chrome or stainless?  I 'm sure they sound great. Are they overly loud at highway speeds? We do a fair amount of touring and too loud can get old on long days. I do feel it's a little too quite with the oem exhaust. Also , did they require a re map?  Both  are beautiful machines ! 

They are just right. A low Rumble but when you really get into it they Bark nicely.

[blu guzz]

at the watering hole, there were the usual harleys with pipes, a metric with pipes and me.  i have to say that the ago pipes sound every bit as menacing as the harley, but you can tell it is not a harley easily.  i have never heard a metric with pipes that sound right to me.  they can sound loud, but maybe it is their perfection of idle that just makes them sound like a loud drone and i include my former victory in that lot as well.  blu settles into a lower idle around 850 so it is just a little stacatto which is real nice and adds character. 

[Lannis]

at the watering hole, there were the usual harleys with pipes, a metric with pipes and me.  i have to say that the ago pipes sound every bit as menacing ....

I've never figured out why anyone would want their motorcycle to sound "menacing"? 

We generally have a bit of a public perception problem anyway, I don't think that helps ... ?

Lannis

[lucian]

The other thing that is becoming a problem here is annual inspections. They are really getting tough on aftermarket cans. They have db apps on there phones and check the volume level. I don't know if that is a requirement for them now or not but several here are now doing it.  Funny thing is they are happy to sell you an after market exhaust , install it and then deny you an inspection sticker. How messed up is that?  Last summer the state troopers went into a few HD dealers and requested them to take the Rineharts off display. The times they are a changing.