California 1400 Custom, I fitted OEM Black Touring bars, no new hoses or cables!

[regriemer]

Hello, guys. Well now that my 1400 actually runs well, I decided I really like it and wanted to fit the OEM Guzzi Touring 1400 bars. I found a dealer in Cincinnati that had a black one in stock, they were very nice to deal with in the ship them out to me to calgary arrived in about four days. I had read that there was new hoses required and so on but I thought as a retired mechanical engineer I would take it on myself and see what I found out.

I took a few photos and will attach them at the end of note. Anyway, I was able to fit the bars with no new parts at all. All I did was relocate the brake hoses to behind the triple tree, I did not have to drain or open the brake system, what I did was take the levers off the clutch and brake master and removed them from the bars, then by turning the forks all the way left or right I was able to sneak the oil cylinders past the centre post and to the other side of the triple tree, giving the hoses ample length for the taller further back bars. I did the same with the cables , then re-used the rubber fastener straps that pop into the bars to make it all clean and nice. The OEM black bars are all ready for the electrical and mirror mounts all line up to index holes etc, perfect fitment. The bike is much easier to ride on long rides now. Anyway post here any questions you have but in my mind this is a great upgrade. Also in the photos is a comparison of the bars sitting on the bike, look at the bird on the tank to see the change to hand riding placement.

I personally like the look of the black bars on my custom, the finish Guzzi puts on the bars is amazingly nice! 



Bye for now.

Reg

 

[pebra]

Nice job!
Hope you will be pleased with the new bars.
Do you plan to do something about the windshield, too?

[regriemer]

Nice job!
Hope you will be pleased with the new bars.
Do you plan to do something about the windshield, too?

Hello there. Yes, they are much nicer than the custom for long rides I did find my custom had me leaning forward too much. Now I can sit upright and stay in the soft part of the seat. Anyway, yes, I did order a windshield , I did a few weeks of looking and reading and the best I found out there for the cost and material is as follows.

Via another Guzzi owners posts regarding the Parabellum Ltd windshields on the forums, not sure where maybe here or GuzziTec? This owner worked on his 1400 trying different shields with Brenda at Parabellum Ltd after a lot of trial and error in testing on his bike, he said Brenda and Parabellum was fantastic to deal with. So after chatting with her on the phone she said I would be happy with the tall Touring Windshield,
item: Moto Guzzi California 2013- (Tall 22 Inches, Tint ($10.00)) $269.00 plus shipping. Their windshields are made of military aircraft grade cast acrylic. My windshield has arrived in Caglary but im not able to fit it yet as I'm away at my cabin in northern sask. Will post again after I test it out.

http://parabellum.com/Touring-Windshield-Moto-Guzzi-California-2013--P106.aspx

Reg

[MotoGuzzi750]

Hello, guys. Well now that my 1400 actually runs well, I decided I really like it and wanted to fit the OEM Guzzi Touring 1400 bars. I found a dealer in Cincinnati that had a black one in stock, they were very nice to deal with in the ship them out to me to calgary arrived in about four days. I had read that there was new hoses required and so on but I thought as a retired mechanical engineer I would take it on myself and see what I found out.

I took a few photos and will attach them at the end of note. Anyway, I was able to fit the bars with no new parts at all. All I did was relocate the brake hoses to behind the triple tree, I did not have to drain or open the brake system, what I did was take the levers off the clutch and brake master and removed them from the bars, then by turning the forks all the way left or right I was able to sneak the oil cylinders past the centre post and to the other side of the triple tree, giving the hoses ample length for the taller further back bars. I did the same with the cables , then re-used the rubber fastener straps that pop into the bars to make it all clean and nice. The OEM black bars are all ready for the electrical and mirror mounts all line up to index holes etc, perfect fitment. The bike is much easier to ride on long rides now. Anyway post here any questions you have but in my mind this is a great upgrade. Also in the photos is a comparison of the bars sitting on the bike, look at the bird on the tank to see the change to hand riding placement.

I personally like the look of the black bars on my custom, the finish Guzzi puts on the bars is amazingly nice!



Bye for now.

Reg

 

Beautiful bike. 

I am thinking of owning one in future/near future. Is it too heavy at slow speeds? A bit worried about that.

[regriemer]

Beautiful bike. 

I am thinking of owning one in future/near future. Is it too heavy at slow speeds? A bit worried about that.

Hello, no I don't think its heavy at all its weight is all very low, it rides like it’s a few inches off the ground. Compared to other big bikes I have owned like my Vrod the Guzzi is a light guy for sure. The 1400 with a strong running low end response is amazing actually. When my tune was bad with the factory issued map and no booster trick it was still ok to ride at slow speed but you had to use the rear brake and friction zone very carefully. Over all the build quality and attention to fit and finish from Moto Guzzi on the 1400 is very very nice. I have also a new Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin and its not really much up on build quality from the 1400. If you get one 'PM' me I would love to chat with you. Bye for now Reg

[blu guzz]

when i had my 1400 custom, the one thing i sometimes wanted was some bar backs.  i felt the touring had better bars.  the cruise helped me around this most of the time though so i never did it.