2001 Cali Special Questions

[Toystoretom]

I just bought my first Moto Guzzi, a 2001 California Special, that I think has had some goofy previous owners, and I have some questions.

Did this originally come with a tool kit? I did get an owners manual but there is no where to put it. Was there a tray over the battery?

How long were the original rear shocks? 13.5"?

Should the heel and toe shifter hop around like a spastic frog on an exhaust manifold? Is there a bushing for that?  (The shifter, not the frog)

Was there ever any HighWay pegs for this bike or did people just make up their own?

Is it normal for parts to just fall off while you are riding?

The stock seat is no bueno. Is the Harper's seat any better? I have a Corbin seat for it and that just isn't my thing. Russell Daylong, I'm sure is nice but is kind of homely.

I took it to work last week and most people thought it was pretty cool. Youngsters had no clue what it was and started to babble about GXSRs and R6's (even thought they had no idea who made THOSE) and some of the oldsters (like me) had heard of Moto Guzzi but have never actually seen one. All in all it got a thumbs up.

Thanks!
Tom

[oldbike54]

I just bought my first Moto Guzzi, a 2001 California Special, that I think has had some goofy previous owners, and I have some questions.

Did this originally come with a tool kit? I did get an owners manual but there is no where to put it. Was there a tray over the battery?

How long were the original rear shocks? 13.5"?

Should the heel and toe shifter hop around like a spastic frog on an exhaust manifold? Is there a bushing for that?  (The shifter, not the frog)

Was there ever any HighWay pegs for this bike or did people just make up their own?

Is it normal for parts to just fall off while you are riding?

The stock seat is no bueno. Is the Harper's seat any better? I have a Corbin seat for it and that just isn't my thing. Russell Daylong, I'm sure is nice but is kind of homely.

I took it to work last week and most people thought it was pretty cool. Youngsters had no clue what it was and started to babble about GXSRs and R6's (even thought they had no idea who made THOSE) and some of the oldsters (like me) had heard of Moto Guzzi but have never actually seen one. All in all it got a thumbs up.

Thanks!
Tom

 Yes , yes , no , yes , dunno .

  Dusty

[Toystoretom]

Thanks...

The part that fell off apparently was a chrome cover or finisher that goes under the rider's footpeg. I went back and got when I heard it slide down the street.

Has anyone mounted Highway pegs on the engine crashbar?

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Harpers http://www.harpermoto.com/ has Highway pegs that mount with the crashbar. They also sell peg to floorboard conversion kits. The plastic pieces tend to fall off. Lee Bruns, a longtime member here makes bushings for the shifter.

[190 Octane]

Harper's has some seat options also.

Harper's low seat and Harper's tall seat.

I replaced a Corbin on my Stone with the tall seat from Harper's and liked it better than the Corbin, both were much better than stock.

I have a Rick Mayer seat on my Titanium, same basic bike as the Cal Special, that was on it when I bought it and I like it even better.  Even though its the nicest seat I've had, I wouldn't recommend him because he has such a bad rep with customer service.

[Rich A]

I put some angled Kuryakyn pegs on my Bassa's crashbar, but I don't use them very often. More comfortable for me is putting my feet on the passenger pegs.

13.5 sounds right. Hagon's are decent replacements.

Tool kit was minimal, but it may have had a "special wrench" for the front axle retainer and a large wrench for the rear axle and oil/tranny filler.  Aside from those, roll your own is better.

Rich A

[Mark West]

The tools that came with the bike were things that I would only use if I was stranded and had no access to anything else. Besides that, the tool kit pouch didn't fit in the tray anyway. If you want to get some more storage, use an Oddysey PC-545 battery and you'll gain a fair bit of room under the seat.

13.5 is the shock length. Stock shocks are the worst things imaginable. Tons of options from relatively inexpensive to kings ransom. Guzzitech.com will give you some idea of the range. Many people have also added old HD air shocks which can be picked up cheap off ebay.

The shifter and brake lever have bushings, which wear. I think MG cycle has replacements and there was a member here, Lee Bruns, that was offering some that he made.

Sounds like you had a frame rail cover come off. Put some blue loctite on the screws and they should hold. If you still have all the chrome plastic trim on the fenders and side covers it's a minor miracle. The plastic nibs break off and eventually they fall off. You can prevent this by pre-emptively sticking some marine silicon adhesive behind them. I did this to my 01 Special when the nibs started to break and had no further problems over another 8 years and 40k miles or so.

The stock seat, like the shocks is some kind of evil torture device. I used an Airhawk cushion with mine and it worked well. Corbin makes a seat and there are several people that will rebuild them.

Once you get some of those things sorted out, I think you'll enjoy it. they are fun reliable bikes.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

I have a Bill Mayer Saddle on my Cal Special. I also installed Hagon Nitros, EV adjustable forks, floor boards, and a 7/33 rear drive. Most of the plastic stuff is gone.

[190 Octane]

Another vote for Hagon Nitros here, I have them and hyperpro fork springs.

[Toystoretom]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. I like the bike a lot, but I'm like everyone else and want to make the bike mine, so to speak. I think the next order of business will be shocks, and then a better seat.

The reason I put these questions out here is because you guys have experience with this and there is no need for me to re-invent the wheel and make a lot of silly mistakes.

That's a pretty bike Mark!

[John Ulrich]

When you are ready for some wind-management without a lot of buffeting...... H&H (Swanee originally) is the way to go.  Not the prettiest but they work at highway speeds.

[bigbikerrick]

When you are ready for some wind-management without a lot of buffeting...... H&H (Swanee originally) is the way to go.  Not the prettiest but they work at highway speeds.

I think That fairing looks quite handsome!
Rick.

[kidsmoke]

Consider a Rich Maund custom seat. Have one on my 2000 California (jackal) and it's a game changer.
I usually don't have the backrest on the bike, but had a passenger for a couple hundred miles Labor Day weekend. He matched that fabric with the side panels of the seat and pillion. Excellent work, comfortable.




as for highway pegs off the crash bar...ayuh. Here's Harpers link to what I have.

http://www.harpermoto.com/harpers-highway-pegs-and-mounts.html