Any Stelvio to California Custom riders?

[dave1068]

Never knew too much about the California Custom as was never a cruiser fan but for some unlikely reason 2 dealers near me have 2014 used ones, one with 150 miles and one with 2000. Sat on one with a custom seat but not the other and while Ive never ridden a bike w/ forward control or toe shifter, I have to say they are great looking bikes with newer technology than the Stelvio.

Curious if anyone went from Stella to Cal, what were your thoughts?

[JohninVT]

Not a Stelvio but an extremely well set up V-Strom 1000.  My Touring is my 5th Guzzi so while in some ways I knew what to expect, in others I did not.  It's also my first cruiser. 

I'd suggest a long test ride.  The longer the better so some of the shine dulls a bit on the uniqueness of the Custom.  While I find the suspension pretty decent, it doesn't like expansion joints or rough roads.  You will feel every single imperfection in the road as a sharp jolt.  While the damping is controlled and the handling is neutral, I'd never call it plush.  That said, There's none of the squishiness or wallowing you get from a big ADV bike pogoing on long travel suspension.  My Touring holds a line through a corner about as well as my 1200 Sport did.   

Forget riding gravel roads.  I learned to ride on dirt 40 years ago.  I've ridden every bike I've ever owned on gravel roads.  I avoid them on my Touring.  It's too heavy, it has too much rear tire and loose gravel has it wiggling around like a dog pooing fish hooks. 

The ergos are not natural for anyone used to a Stelvio or other ADV bike.  You feel disconnected from the bike since your main contact with it is your ass.  There's no weight on your hands to receive feedback from the front end and you can't take weight off your butt because your feet are out in front of you.  I'm used to steering with my hands, feet and hips.  You can't do that on a 1400. 

That's the negative.  Now for the positive; they don't feel like they weigh that much more than the porcine Stelvio.  Sure...it's 100lbs heavier but the seat height is 4" lower and it doesn't have 50lbs of gas sloshing back and forth at elbow level.   Torque is abundant everywhere.  The electronics package is really great and I'm a guy who absolutely hates electronics.  The throttle and traction control modes have a discernible effect in each setting and cruise control is amazing.  The ABS brakes are FANTASTIC.  It will outbrake a Diavel.  The gearing is just about perfect.  It's evenly spaced and the bike will cruise at 80 or 90mph all day feeling completely unstressed.  I've seen  115mph on the speedometer a few times.  It's dead stable at 100mph.  Looks are subjective and I'll admit I thought the bike was overly styled and ugly for a couple years.  As with every Guzzi I've owned though, the looks have grown on me the more miles I put on it.  It gets tons of attention from other motorcyclists and people on the street.  I haven't heard a stock 1400 but mine has Mistrals and even with the dB killers in I think it's too loud.  Again, other motorcyclists and people on the street say it sounds great. 

Did I mention that torque is abundant?  I think I did.  While it may not have the top end hit of the Stelvio and Griso 1200's, it's so ridiculously easy to stay in the fat part of the torque curve(there is no curve...it feels like it's completely flat) that hustling it along a curvy road at a 7/10th's pace is like cheating.  The only effort you expend is trying to muscle it onto the side of it's too fat rear tire.  The engine is really, really good.  The way it's tuned and the performance of the engine is perfectly suited to the type of riding most people will do on it.  The question is...is that the kind of riding YOU want to do?                   

[Lcarlson]

I concur with just about everything JVT said. As for the suspension, I would describe mine as pretty plush, but I have the Custom, which has different rear shocks from those on the Touring. Mine have separate reservoirs, the Touring does not. That may make the difference.

As for the ergonomics, well, the Calis are cruisers — you get what you get. When I got mine I wanted a cruiser in the mix, but with the best performance for the class, and that’s what I believe I got. As JVT said the motor is great in this application, and I find the fit and finish to be excellent. At 15,000 miles, I’ve had no significant problems.

Full disclosure: I have only ridden a Stelvio as a loaner. Nice bike, but especially with those wide bags, way too tall for me.

[dave1068]

Appreciate the comments. good reviews, oddly enough the one I liked just sold according to the website. (it was the silver one with red valve covers and 150 miles for 9000)

John-Funny you mentioned the vstrom 1000, I looked at a left over a few yrs ago and liked the look of it- it was sand colored 2016 and i figured it would be more reliable than our geese

[Daniel Kalal]

Dave,

I have several hundred thousand miles on an (original) Eldo as well as a Cal2, so I'd be fine with something more exclusively road-oriented than the Stelvio and with heel-and-toe shifting if the new California were similar.

I test-rode a 1400 Custom a few years back for about a hundred fifty miles to see how similar it was.

Not much.

I never got used to the feet-forward attitude or the seat that was far too low for me.  And, I don't think I ever would.  I find the Stelvio to be pretty comfortable (with the seat in the "high" position), but if Guzzi offered something that let your legs drop straight down from the knees to the floorboards and also kept your knees just below your hip (as with the original Eldo-850), I'd consider it.  As it is, the big 1400 bikes don't work for me--but, I love the engine (and, hate the idle).

One last thing.  As has been mentioned several times, the thing is surprisingly horrible off pavement, even on roads as smooth as this one.  Each little rock slips and twitches the front end.  I'm not an off-road rider, but roads such as this are pretty common in the central plains states.

[JohninVT]

Appreciate the comments. good reviews, oddly enough the one I liked just sold according to the website. (it was the silver one with red valve covers and 150 miles for 9000)

John-Funny you mentioned the vstrom 1000, I looked at a left over a few yrs ago and liked the look of it- it was sand colored 2016 and i figured it wouldSS be more reliable than our geese

I bought a 2012 1000 Adventure model new and had zero trouble.  They're legendary for reliability.  Suzuki took a 160hp V-Twin designed to destroy Ducati in racing, which it did, and detuned it to 95hp.  The TL and SV1000 came in between but the architecture is the same.  Many, many of them have gone over 150k without anything but consumables.  One documented case of 400,000+ miles without splitting the cases.  They have several shortcomings(brakes, suspension too soft and wind management) but they're easily and cheaply addressed.  The valves stay within spec for 30-40k at a time.  It's just a great engine.  The problem with the bike is that it's an appliance.  It's the Maytag of motorcycles.  After my last Guzzi I wanted something that didn't sit in the garage broken or at a dealer waiting for parts so it fit the bill to a T.  If my California Touring experiment fails I'll probably buy a ST1300 or something.  Or a V7III.  Or another Ducati (I'm a masochist).  Seriously though...try a 1400.  I'm still not sure mine is the bike for me but I'm having great fun riding it so far.       

[dave1068]

I found some leftover  1000 vstroms from 2015 and 2016 for under 10k near me. I know the 650s are very popular but I think for the money-you get a lot with the 1000. They make an adventure model which includes bags and maybe a few other upgrades.

[pete roper]

Dave,

I have several hundred thousand miles on an (original) Eldo as well as a Cal2, so I'd be fine with something more exclusively road-oriented than the Stelvio and with heel-and-toe shifting if the new California were similar.

I test-rode a 1400 Custom a few years back for about a hundred fifty miles to see how similar it was.

Not much.

I never got used to the feet-forward attitude or the seat that was far too low for me.  And, I don't think I ever would.  I find the Stelvio to be pretty comfortable (with the seat in the "high" position), but if Guzzi offered something that let your legs drop straight down from the knees to the floorboards and also kept your knees just below your hip (as with the original Eldo-850), I'd consider it.  As it is, the big 1400 bikes don't work for me--but, I love the engine (and, hate the idle).

One last thing.  As has been mentioned several times, the thing is surprisingly horrible off pavement, even on roads as smooth as this one.  Each little rock slips and twitches the front end.  I'm not an off-road rider, but roads such as this are pretty common in the central plains states.

My two and a half month ownership of a ‘Touring’ Cali almost exactly reflect Daniel’s above. It’s not the motor, (Although a 1400 built on the 1200 platform offers the best of both worlds.) it’s the weight, handling and ergonomics that, for me, make the Cali’s such unlovable turds.

If you’re a ‘Cruiser’ Person that won’t bother you but comparing a Cali to any of the CARC bikes is like comparing a washing machine to a pineapple.

Pete