Which year/model Hydro?

[inditx]

So, call me crazy but I got a hankerin' for a Hydro.
Now assuming the dreaded recalls/bulletins are done like the;
Twin Clutch
Tappet situation
Triple tree

Anything else?

So, for general solo and 2 up riding, considering around town and short day trips which variant is the most fun all around?
Seating and seating position is best upright and neutral for me these days and some luggage capacity
Lower seat height welcome
Pegs or floor boards ok
Prefer tubeless, center stand and of course outside oil filter, backrest (I know a lot of these may need to be aftermarket adds)
Windshield on or off dependent upon temps/etc.
Don’t want the EV hump or the beach bars though

Ready set go!!!
Thanks in advance,
inditx

[guzzisteve]

03,04,05 California models

[drdwb]

I have an 03 Ev which came with all the features you are asking about and either I or dealer did all the recall work. I had to do clutch it came with double but pulling a trailer resulted in premature failure of one of the plates.  It came with Heppco Becker bags and had back rest on it, you probably know The EV s came with floor boards , I’m 5’9 on a good day and average build, I had the seat redone and raised a bit to reduce leg cramping from riding position,I also added Bar backs , North Americans must have longer arms than Italians.. My wife has an 03/04 Stone touring, on it we had to do the clutch at around 6500 miles, the other recalls were done by a dealer. I describe the differences in the bikes as similar to a Chevy Impala and Belaire , the EV has more chrome and a few other features like  floor boards vs foot pegs ,Tubeless vs tube rims and other than seats I don’t see a lot of other differences.

We also re did the seat and  put shorter shocks on the Stone which required lowering the forks and made it easier for her to flat foot. One plus to that is it feels quicker shorter ,turning radius , makes it feel more flickable in the twisties, the Stone is also lighter but I can’t tell you by how much. The Stone Touring also came with Heppco bags. But did not come with a Center Stand,the EV did. Both are decent bikes we’ve had for around 13 years, they are both comfortable for 3-400 mile days. But tend to be fatiguing on long days.

However, 6 years ago my wonderful wife bought me a 07 Norge, I was so impressed at the difference in bikes ,So I returned the favor and rescued a 04 Baby Breva . These are the bikes we spend most of our ridding time on now. The Norge and Breva get better mileage and we comfortably do 5-600 mile days when we get the chance.
Nothing wrong and a lot right, once they are sorted out, with the California Hydros and there are a lot of great deals out there now on these bikes.
Good Luck

[inditx]

Thanks, great info.

drdwb, your EV for sale by chance?

Anyone else?

[Ncdan]

I had an 04 cal EV, great bike and loads of fun to ride. I put a Plexi Fairing 3 shield, great air flow control and looked good.

[radguzzi]

'04 EV Touring.  We have owned two.

Bought this one new, rode it for 45-ish thousand miles and sold it.  No issues, really loved it, good two-up performance and comfort. 






Some time later I too had a hackerin' for another and a couple of years ago and bought this one... No issues.  Love them both.





Best in your search,
Rob D__

[drdwb]

Inditx  Well possibly, but probably not.

I haven’t started the project yet, but my plan is to hang my Vetter Taraplane side car off it. I’m looking for a reasonably priced ( cheap) leading link front end to put on the bike before I totally commit to the project. But they are rare, like having an 80 degree day in Minnesota in March or April.

If you go into the bikes for sale part of this forum they are fairly common also look at the National site, I can’t believe how cheap some of them go for. The bonus of finding one here vs E-Bay or a random dealer is most listed here sound like they are already pretty well sorted out.

Luckily I have storage space,and it is nice to always have a spare good runner. And at the low prices I see them going for I’ll probably hang on to them. Which is also why I still have 3 Yamahas.
I’m still hopeful My Daughters  and /or Son in Laws will become motivated...soon.

[John Croucher]

The rocker arms and valve stem end do not get adequate oil due to the extra oil journals for the lifters.  This causes the rocker arm and valve stems to wear.  Valves need to be adjusted periodically to compensate for the wear.  Easy to do.  Quite engine with a unique cam profile.  Running a Ram clutch,

[geoff in almonte]

I bought radguzzi's (Hi Rob!!) first '04 EVT.  It needed the triple tree recall, but had the tappet recall done before I bought it.

I had to do the clutch at about 160,000 kms.  Sold it to a buddy at 185,000 kms.  He had to do the U-joint at 225,000 kms.  It's starting to look a little rough, but it has over 250,000 kms on it now and is still running strong.  Great bike!!

G

[inditx]

Inditx  Well possibly, but probably not.

I haven’t started the project yet, but my plan is to hang my Vetter Taraplane side car off it. I’m looking for a reasonably priced ( cheap) leading link front end to put on the bike before I totally commit to the project. But they are rare, like having an 80 degree day in Minnesota in March or April.

If you go into the bikes for sale part of this forum they are fairly common also look at the National site, I can’t believe how cheap some of them go for. The bonus of finding one here vs E-Bay or a random dealer is most listed here sound like they are already pretty well sorted out.

Luckily I have storage space,and it is nice to always have a spare good runner. And at the low prices I see them going for I’ll probably hang on to them. Which is also why I still have 3 Yamahas.
I’m still hopeful My Daughters  and /or Son in Laws will become motivated...soon.

Totally understand, been searching the forums already and will continue to.
Thanks

[NC Steve]

Inditx, PM sent.

[inditx]

Replied NC Steve, thanks

[KJRJ]

There was also a notification, if not a full recall, regarding the forks and damping. One leg has a spring device down at the bottom, the other does not. Result was a rattle. Fix? Belagio has same forks but fitted with twin springs, result? A quite fork action.

[inditx]

Good to know KJRJ thanks!

[NC Steve]

I've never heard of such a problem with any Guzzis sold in the US, or elsewhere for that matter, and the Bellagio was never imported here to the States. That's not to say that Luigi didn't come to work hungover one morning and forget to install a fork spring.....