Extended touring on the Calfornia 1400 Touring or Eldorado

[BaldBiker]

Hi all,

After putting over 100,000 miles on my 650 V-Strom, I started to think maybe it was time for something different. I love so much of what that bike does, but I want something that’s more relaxed on cross-country rides. I started looking at ADV alternatives and the Stelvio really interested me, but the Suzuki is still running strong, so why get more of the same? And I took a realistic look at me – 59 and not getting any younger. Those tall top heavy ADV bikes are great once they are underway, but tough to wheel around the garage, and even tougher to pick up off of the rocks and mud when I take them places they are most fun to ride. But I really think it’s time for me to ride less of that, and stick to more pavement.

So… I test drove an Eldorado and fell in lust. I can’t stand the look of most traditional cruisers, but this thing had me before I sat on it. And that motor… maybe it’s just coming from a 650, but that motor made me smile like a kid.

So what’s my point… could any of you impart some wisdom on the Eldorado (or the California Touring model) for use for extended touring? I’m talking about being on the road for a couple of weeks to a couple of months. On the ‘Strom it was great: good tire life, good gas mileage. All the camping gear, clothing, and a few tools fit into the side cases, top case, and a duffel.  I rode in whatever weather was happening, over flooded roads, mountain passes and deserts, and the bike never missed a beat (well, if you don’t count the wheel bearing I lost in Oklahoma). How will the Guzzi’s hold up to being used as a mule for weeks at a time, in all sorts of weather? The thing is beautiful, but can I use it hard and put it away wet?

Thanks for any input, it’s greatly appreciated.

[groundhog105]

I have 27  thousand miles on my 1400 custom.  I’m planning on riding the 4 corners of the US tour next month and have used it for multiple day tours.  The 1400 motor is a real jewel and will hold up well it is just going to require more maintenance than your v Strom 650 so you have to be prepared for that and it is heavier as you know but the weight is not an issue on the road.  Hopefully some of the guys with higher mileage will chime in.  I think there at least a couple out there with over 60 thousand.

[Bud]

     I have a 2014 Touring and love it. I have had some problems along the way, nothing to stop a trip over but issues. I have taken the bike on two one week vacations and now have close to 15kmi on it. I put a Hepco and Becker backrest/rack on the back and ride solo with dry bag with camping gear on the seat and sissy bar bag with clothes on the rack. If you were to ride two up for a week you would probably need to get the large rack and top box. Many on here say they get low to mid 40 mpg but High test with ethanol and you should realistically see mid to upper 30 mpg.
     The Eldorado came out after the Touring and quite honestly I like the looks of the bike more than the Touring but I think the Touring would make more sense for what you are planning, bags,screen,driving lights and sissy bar.
     Bike is super smooth. You will get about 6 kmi. out of first set of tires but I'm now at almost 9 kmi with Metzlers. Think about a used one you should be able to find a great deal on one. GOOD LUCK!

[Ncdan]

I have been touring for two years on a 2007 California Vintage and it does great at 400 mile days with an improved saddle. I just got a 2015 1400 tourer and after just two week I can already tell it will be even a much better Touring mechine and will not have to bow down to none of the full size tourers, including Honda or Harley.

[JohninVT]

I traded an extremely well set up 2012 V-Strom 1000 Adventure for a 2014 California Touring last Fall. 

-The MPG's between the big Strom and Cali are the same but a Cali will get a lot less than a 650 Wee.  You're not going to get 260 miles on a tank like you can with the 650.

-The weather protection on a V-Strom is far superior.  I had a large Cee Bailey and handguards and the only thing that got wet in the rain were my knees. 

-Forget cruising gravel roads on a Cali like you did your Wee.

-The aftermarket is non-existent compared to the Strom and what there is...is about 7 times more expensive than you're used to.

-Unless you've owned or ridden cruisers and like the ergonomics, you may find it difficult to get comfortable on a Cali.  I could ride my V-strom 7-800 miles in a day.  I am good for about 400 on my Touring.  Feet forward, wide bars and all your weight supported by your ass rather than spread between your hands, feet and ass makes your back hurt after a while(well...it does mine anyway).

-The Guzzi will cost 3-4 times as much in maintenance per mile than a V-Strom.  If you do all your own work it will still cost at least twice as much.

-If you think a 460lb ADV bike is PIA to push around the garage a 700lb bike isn't going to be less tiresome.   

Now for the good:
-The fasteners and every single component on a California 1400 are a bazillion times higher quality.  It will age a lot better than the Suzuki.

-The Guzzi will stop eleventy bazillion times better than the Suzuki. 

-The Guzzi sounds four hundred and eleventy bazillion times better than the Suzuki. 

-The Guzzi has almost twice the torque.  They could have made it a two speed instead of six and it would still be quick.

-Cruise control, phenomenal ABS, traction control and a rain mode are all great things to have when you want to tour. 

-The bags on the Touring are top loaders and the latches are nice.  They're big enough to hold quite a bit of gear but if I was going to tour for a month at a time I'd need a top case.  You can buy a really nice used car for what Guzzi wants for the top case and mount. 

-I think the seat is fantastic.  It big enough for two people, the rider portion is shaped nice and it's firm enough to be supportive without being plank-like.  If you like Corbin or Sargent seats, the foam is similar in feel.

-The Guzzi has nine thousand, six hundred and eleventy bazillion times more garage appeal.  If the Strom and California were women the Strom would be a hideous troll who was a terrific cook and better than average in the sack.  The Cali is a stone cold knockout who can boil water for pasta without burning the house down(usually) and six months into the relationship you've lost 20lbs because the sex is like trying to sandpaper a wildcats ass while trapped in a phone booth. 


The long and short of it is that you own one of the most maintenance free, most competent, most comfortable, most versatile motorcycles ever built and you're asking if you should get rid of it to buy a high maintenance, handbuilt Italian machine with no aftermarket to do all the things you do now...which it can't do.  My advice?  Of course you should buy the Guzzi.  The experience will either be a spectacular failure or you'll realize you're a masochist like the rest of us and spend all the time you're not riding bitching about the factory not putting grease on the swingarm bearings or wondering if Guzzi's marketing department are all on crystal meth.  If you love the bike it'll be a gateway into the shared delusion that is Guzzi longterm ownership.  If you don't like it you'll provide one of us with a low miles used Guzzi to buy from you at half what you paid for it.  It's a win-win all around.               

   

[kingoffleece]

That's as good as it can possibly be said.  Especially the last sentence.
Well done, sir.

[pete roper]

Ok, first a disclaimer. I�m not a fan of the Cali 14 series. This isn�t because they are bad bikes, far from it, it�s just they aren�t *My* type of bike.

Back in 2013 I bought one of the first Cali 14 Tourings to land in the US, ( The delivery by Piaggio was a joke even though I�d paid in full months ahead. Not the dealer�s fault.).

Jude and I had never tried �Touring� on a Cruiser but because we were doing a three month trip we thought we�d try one of the new 1400�s and see what we thought. We eventually picked it up in Tulsa rather than Houston, (Don�t ask.) and then spent three months and somewhere around 13,000 miles trekking around the US and Canada on it before leaving it with a mate in Los Angeles.

So the good.

It ran faultlessly. The only problems we had were getting tyres fitted because apparently the Cali wasn�t a �Normal� motorcycle. Cruise control! I can�t tell you how much I love cruise control!

The bad?

The seat, especially for Jude, was a torture rack. The bags are not QD, stupid on a touring bike. The rear shocks on the �Touring� are barely adequate and as delivered were shitful. We had to wind the preload right up but bear in mind we were carrying enough crap for a three month tour.

What really disappointed us though was it�s inability to handle anything apart from tarmac. You obviously aren�t going to go berm-bashing on one but even pulling off onto the hard shoulder made it feel really squirrelly and flimsy and almost uncontrollable. This is mainly down to the flimsy forks as the frame is built like the Sydney harbour bridge! This meant every time we saw an interesting looking side road we�d sigh and think, in unison, �Wish we were on the Mana.� (Over here I own an Aprilia Mana which is fully bagged up and is a lightweight tourer second to none.).

Look, as a �Cruiser� they are second to none but think hard about committing and make sure you get a good test ride in.

Shortly after I left in LA a mate from here borrowed it and it�s exhaust crossover snapped but I believe this issue has been addressed now. All fixed under warranty. I sold it at an enormous loss about a year after I bought it but that�s par for the course with most things.

If I had the time again I would of bought a Stelvio as they are a brilliant tourer and will handle less than perfect roads with aplomb but if you want a Cruiser there is nothing to be afraid of with a Cali.

Pete

Pics.



Setting odd from Tulsa.



Only in America!:D The bloke over the road had called his house 'Stingy'!



This one was just outside Glacier National Park. The little bloke was awestruck by the Cali so I invited him, (With mum and dads permission!) to hop on. Happy as a pig in poop!

[BaldBiker]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to have to do a bit or soul searching and decide what I want my next bike to be capable of. But you've given me enough good info that at least I can make an informed decision regarding what the Cali can do. If I decide to bite I'll be back...

Cheers!