Audace & Eldorado 1400 Ride Reports and Reviews merged threadfest

[Penderic]

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-audace/26733.html

The engine ecu mapping is different from the Cali.

They didn't understand who would buy the bike.

Also... http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-eldorado-review/26731.html

[steven c]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/moto-guzzi/2016-moto-guzzi-audace-first-ride-review.html
 I would say he liked it.

[kevdog3019]

My understanding is that he doesn''t have an open mind.  If he did, he would look past the end of his nose.  He seemed stuck on what his needs were (which is ok), but then to admit what doesn't work for him won't appeal to others.  I find that arrogant or naive; one of the two.  It's not a bike for me either, but I wouldn't ever say I'm clueless as to who would buy it.  I think there's a segment that will enjoy what he doesn't.  It's likely the segment that WON'T bother with the Eldo. 

[nick949]

Typical bike mag Guzzi road test:

1) It lurches.......
2) Potted history (usually inaccurate or just plain ignorant)
3) It's weird - I don't know what to do with it
4) But I kinda like it............

Damning with faint praise once again.

Where do they get these people?

Nick

[bpreynolds]

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-audace/26733.html

The engine ecu mapping is different from the Cali.

They didn't understand who would buy the bike.

Also... http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-eldorado-review/26731.html

Read the Eldo piece and, I think at least, he does get it.  In spades.  After reading the mostly fawning Eldo review, I get the sense he's just being honest on the Audace.  Let's see, there's the EV, Special, Stone, Stone Touring, Alumiinum, and a few others I can't/don't wanna bother recalling.  That MG, they never make redundant use of an engine platform, right?   His comments regarding the Aucace ergos are spot on my only complaint about the Griso - Guzzi sometimes makes bikes with feet oddly standard or even slightly ahead, bent over the bike to the bars.  Just sayin.  The guy seems to want an Eldo pretty bad.  Me too, maybe.  ;-T

[kevdog3019]

WOW... praise!!??   :o

[Chuck in Indiana]

Traction control seems to be another irrelevant piece of tech tom-foolery.

 

 ;D ;-T

[PeteS]

"I don’t quite know how, but it just works."

Seems to describe most Guzzis.


Pete

[Penderic]

I should have reversed the order of the links I posted. Sorry. Makes it look like the reviewer has a bias against the whole brand/type.

[rocker59]

Think of the Audace as a slightly more customised California 1400 Custom and you’re about there. 

...the chunky front forks replaced with thinner RWU versions,

WTF?  Does he think the other Californias have USD forks?   LOL!

[lucian]

Interesting article, seems they have improved the fuel map, wonder if they have improved the lumpy idle. At least it seems Piaggio is aware of the room for improvement on their F.I. performance.

[Loftness]

Funny how the visor down reviewer claims the Audace's map causes the bike to lurch and lacks smoothness, while the motorcycle.com review I just read claims the opposite is true.

[segesta]

Yeah, the review was a little odd. The author says that the 1380 "isn't a performance engine," yet Cycle World tested its 0-60 time as 3.7 seconds. Which is faster than a lot of other "power cruisers" with larger displacements.*

He wanted to know who would buy the Audace. First answer: hardly anyone; it's a Guzzi. Second answer: people who want a cool cruiser that isn't like every other Whatever Glide on the road. At least, that's why I got my 1400 Custom.

* http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/9-fastest-cruiser-motorcycles-from-0-60.html/?a=viewall

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I love the Audace for the lightened up front end, round headlight, 1.5 seat, and PEGS over floorboards!  I keep looking at the Cali 1400 Custom thinking "if they just trimmed it back a little, I would be interested" thats what the Audace does for me. Not a fan of that drag bar tho..

[Kev m]

* http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/9-fastest-cruiser-motorcycles-from-0-60.html/?a=viewall

Holy crap that was an annoying link full of adware and malware.

Funny part was that of that article of 9 bikes, only 2 of them (the Diavel and VRod) had SMALLER MOTORS THAN MY CAR!  :o

[Penderic]

Some promotional video...      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ow17FJi4O8

[rocker59]

Some promotional video...      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ow17FJi4O8

The Eldo sure looks good in that video.

[lorazepam]

I wonder how much I can get for a kidney? that eldo is sweet!

[blackcat]

Very good promo video.  I wish they would spend more money on promoting the bikes to a large audience.

My one complaint about the Eldo is how low the brake light is located on the rear fender. I wonder if it is some regulation requirement? I'd have to move it up if I owned one.

[rboe]

I have to wonder if the feature offering three different maps on the Eldo wasn't working for some reason.

[Cross-tie Walker]

I wonder how easy bags and a trunk would fit on that Eldo...or if just getting a 1400 touring already set up would be better. I like the lean clean version of this Eldo, but I do most my riding on road trips.

[segesta]

Holy crap that was an annoying link full of adware and malware.

Sorry, I didn't have a problem with it before I posted it. I wouldn't knowingly share a link like that! So thanks for the warning.

Re: the round headlight. Looks like Piaggio went to the Griso parts bin for that one. Seriously.

[Kev m]

I wonder how easy bags and a trunk would fit on that Eldo...or if just getting a 1400 touring already set up would be better. I like the lean clean version of this Eldo, but I do most my riding on road trips.

HB C-Bows would be my solution. But I've not checked yet if they have a topcase rack.

Segesta, could be device dependent, as I was on my phone not laptop. <shrugs>

[arveno]

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-audace/26733.html

The engine ecu mapping is different from the Cali.

They didn't understand who would buy the bike.

Also... http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-moto-guzzi-eldorado-review/26731.html

His reviews suck ! big time... i would like to read his review regarding any bmw model lol

And I AM one of those that will buy the Audace, not now unfortunately.... maybe in few years when it will be half price lol
Anyway i like it ! and that engine is a beauty.IMHO

[Penderic]

FYI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19k5Us2GCxU

From the video link:
"Shorn of the chrome and color of the typical cruiser, the Audace comes from, as the media introduction to the motorcycle put it, Moto Guzzi’s “dark soul.” Here, Moto Guzzi hopes to grow a relatively new branch on its family tree, a branch only recently created by the Moto Guzzi V7 II Stone and the Dark Rider accessories designed for the V7.