Do the 1400's have 'it' ?

[bmp72]

After booting out the Yamaha 250 a spot has opened up in my garage... I am looking for a bike to fill this spot.

I am looking for a bike that has 'it'... for me this is what my old Le Mans 3 had. It had a very soothing low frequency vibration that went all through the bike, on the autobahn for instance the bike felt like an unstoppable train because of this. Even though it broke down all the time, which was half the fun.

I think the vibes that I like have to do with it being a 90 degree Vtwin, when you do the math (Fourier, I am an analog electronics engineer) it has a strong component at half the rpm of the crank. My Honda NC750 is a parallel twin with a 270 degree crank (making it a 90 degree vtwin) and has the same vibes, but much softer than my old Le Mans. I once had a BMW boxer, this does not have it at all. Also had a Harley, this bike also did not have the vibes I am looking for. A 45 degree twin has the half-rpm vibes but much less than a 90 degree twin, I just found the HD was annoyingly shaking up and down at certain rpms but did not have the vibe that I wanted.

In my old LM3 the half-rpm vibes went all through the bike, you could feel it in the seat of your pants. I tried a V7 and a V9 Roamer a few years back, these disappointingly also did not have it. The vibe was faintly there, the same as my NC750, but nowhere near the level of the old Le Mans. I am wondering whether this is because the LM3 is based on the big block and has a heavy flywheel. Also the opposite and opposing forces (Newton), with the Tonti frame, went through the frame. You know, the motor turns the driveshaft, this wants to turn the rear drive box and via the swingarm tries to 'pretzel' the entire frame before the force is transferred to the motor. The V7 and V9 have the return force go directly to the motor via the swingarm as this is bolted right into the gearbox, not via the frame. I can imagine this removes the vibes from the fame. And the flywheel is much lighter.

I think what I liked about the LM3 was the pretzeling of the frame, or had to do with the heavy flywheel.


So now my question, do the 1400's feel like my old LM3 ? Or are they civilised compared to my old LM3, even though they have the big block. There is a used one standing for cheap at a local dealer, but I've always found the 1400 to be too big and heavy, and am very hesitant to book a testdrive (afraid to drop it, would feel much happier on something V9 sized). Any other bikes that you guys have experience with that has the vibe I am looking for ?

[moto-uno]

 Concerning the 1400 ( Eldorado ) , it's heavy for sure , but it's also kinda low and easy to put both feet down at the lights . Once moving , you're gonna
have to put some effort into having it fall on you :) . As for the Le Mans visceral experience with the 1400 , forget it ! They've done a great job of removing
vibrations . Why else would they rubber mount a 90 degree v-twin ? But the roll on power up the mountains here in B.C should be experienced ! I also ride
a Le Mans 2 that's got a 990cc kit , cam and big honking carbs , but I always have to gear way down and nail it to get anywhere near the Eldorados' simple
throttle  twist . So if the vibes are your driving concern "just say no" .  Peter

[Ncdan]

I can only attest to the 1400 as I had a 2015 1400 tourer for a couple years
And here’s what I can tell you about it.
Yes it is a heavy motorcycle and if you have never owned or ridden an 800Lb bike extensively, the weight my challenge you until you ride it enough to get accustomed to that weight. That being said, the weight is relatively low and you won’t feel much of it until you allow it to become  off balance then you may need to get you some help to get it back on its wheels.
The vibration level is non existent at speed, it does dance a little when at Idle but not annoying at all.
It’s a mile muncher and gets around 42-45 on the highway and around 35-38 local riding.
I only let mine go due to having two TPS sensors go out in less than 7K miles.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[blu guzz]

i had a custom, they are rarer, but also "only" 700 lbs.

[Huzo]

I had only ridden one Guzzi for 15 minutes prior to buying my Norge and it was  a Sport 1100 with carbies, like this one.



Now, I had just climbed off a Suzuki GSXR 1100 and the Guzzi felt “alive” by comparison.
The Guzzi smelled (vaguely) of fuel.. it shook, snorted and gasped as the carbs opened up and breathed in the cold mountain air, propelling me forward relentlessly in successive iron fisted punches from under the tank.
The sensation of twisting as the torque flooded in only made it feel more “attached” to me and it felt deliciously long legged like a Brazilian dancer.
For sure I was younger and more easily impressed, but I loved it...!
The Sport was the “iron fist in the velvet glove” personified and it felt raw and dangerous, all the while feeling as stable as Mt Rushmore.
That was in 2000 and I did not get on a Guzzi again until 2007, but the feeling is (almost) the same..
Those carbies snorting underneath are fantastic.
Talk to Medic Andy here on the forum and see what’s up...

[Guzzistajohn]

There's nothing like a LeMans III in the twisties. No caparison.

[lucian]

The simple answer is no. I currently own a 14 custom which I love for what it is a big , heavy , touring cruiser. Can't really compare it to the LMIII , which i also own and ride often. The LMIII is more of a sport bike , albeit a slow one by today's standards, but great fun in the twisties ..  I think what you really need to check out is the griso. It will tick all the boxes you are seeking to fill. 

[Huzo]

The simple answer is no. I currently own a 14 custom which I love for what it is a big , heavy , touring cruiser. Can't really compare it to the LMIII , which i also own and ride often. The LMIII is more of a sport bike , albeit a slow one by today's standards, but great fun in the twisties ..  I think what you really need to check out is the griso. It will tick all the boxes you are seeking to fill.

Too many valves..
Get an 1100 Griso.

[Ncdan]

Too many valves..
Get an 1100 Griso.

Does the griso have the same motor as my Stone?

[moto]

...
I am looking for a bike that has 'it'... for me this is what my old Le Mans 3 had. It had a very soothing low frequency vibration that went all through the bike, on the autobahn for instance the bike felt like an unstoppable train because of this. ...

I'm going to offer an opinion on the basis of slight evidence. I'll use my T3 as a stand-in for your Le Mans III, and my Griso 1100 for the proposed 1400. (I've also ridden the Griso 1200.)

The answer is no. The 1400 won't have "it," and won't feel like an unstoppable train on the autobahn, because it lacks the flywheel even of the Le Mans, let alone the heavier one of the T3.

The modern Guzzis were progressively modified to be more similar to other manufactures' bikes, with light flywheels and better acceleration and stopping. The older ones were engineered to be, well, like trains. You can't have it both ways.

I really prefer the engine of my T3 to my Griso's for that reason, putting aside the differences in handling, braking and maintenance requirements that make it hard to deny the Griso is better overall.

Though I am familiar with the basics of Fourier analysis, I think the flywheel is the source of that locomotive feeling, your interesting points notwithstanding. I don't have any reason for this opinion beyond the distinct inertia I can feel in the T3 drivetrain.

I have often considered what it might take to put a T3 flywheel into my Griso. Surprisingly little, I think.

Moto

[Kremmen]

I haven't ridden an LMIII, but do have an SPII which gives a little of that feeling. My first Guzzi was and is a 1997 Sport 1100i which I frequently compare to riding a steam locomotive. It is a bloody terrible machine in a variety of objective senses - the passenger ergonomics are outright frightening and only the fact my wife is 5'0" makes it tenable at all for her. It's got a MyECU replacement computer but I don't have it even half way dialled in yet so the fuelling's nearly as rotten as the factory ECU. It has 26-degree rake and steers like a supertanker. But it has ALL THE TORQUE. Seriously, it has monopolised about half the world's total supply of torque. And your vibration thing is resonating for me because I think you might have nailed what makes it an irreplaceable first love.

I have a Bellagio. It's an amazing ride. I chanced into it at a can't-say-no price and it's now my daily. I love it. My wife loves it. It loves to rev like no other Guzzi I've ridden and it has character and feel and brakes and handling, but it has zero steam locomotive. They have smoothed it out SO much.

I have a red Ducati Sport 1000 which sits in the shed with its injectors clogged 90% of the time. 2007 Monoposto, the semi-rare one. It's an incredibly good-looking bike. It feels amazing to ride. I'm a greybeard and I get propositioned by strange women. It's also got decent brakes, not amazing compared to the Sport but good. The handling is *fantastic* - short wheelbase and 24-degree rake and it is just plain nimble. Riding it feels so great. And yet I hardly do ride it. Because it has NONE OF THE TORQUE. Also no steam locomotive. And no vibes.

I think your best options are either another LMIII, or if you think you might want to upgrade but not a crazy amount, maybe a Sport 1100i. Give one a try perhaps. My Sport was by no means my first bike, but it will be my last one.

[ampm7]

The 1400 Eldo/Cal are heavy bikes as the LMIII is lighter. The Eldo does have plenty of power and goes through the turns quite well considering it is lower with footboards; just don't go over to far. It is a touring bike not a sport bike. And, it is a good touring bike. It does shake at idle-as most Guzzi's do-but once you get going it is very smooth. The previous owner put the bike through it's paces here in SoCal as there are a lot of twisty 2 lane roads. You can see his handiwork in the picture on the plastic pieces under the floorboards. It was a good thing that he bought a Griso, a much better bike to be aggressive in the corners.     

[roadventure]

Mine does...

[Bulldog9]

Not for me. The MGX was way overbuilt, very heavy and the rubber 'shaker' mount system made the engine butter smooth while riding.

I'd have loved to see the 1400 motor in a Griso or Norge style stressed member frame setup. It is a great motor but as it was used exclusively in Harley/Indian wannabe chassis's it just wasn't for me.

I liked it when I rode (mostly) but when not on the bike it had NO draw like my other bikes. So, it was gone in 9 months.

[Jorg66]

Well, 'love / really like ' our 1400 Cali but that being said our VTX 1300 c is more sporty than the Cali,simple reason ,weight and seating position. Riding a Audace different again,simply cause how you sit on it .the 1400 Motor is a charme ! But to compare to a LM 3 ,little far apart.
I say 'we' cause 90 %,we ride 'two up' .More than perdfect Bike for that .

[motorcop]

Go test ride the 1400 and decide. You may be surprised on how well the 1400 handles. I work as a Motor Officer and we have to recert every year on our dept RTP’s. At the end of training, we will run our personal bikes thru the cones. My 1400 Touring hustles very well thru the course with a light tip in, great clutch/brake feedback and easy to move around on for body positioning.

The 1400 is a great touring rig and commuter. My only complaint is you have a separate key for the bags and ignition. The Touring has the most pleasing lines too, especially the solid color with pinstripes. They look like a proper motocycle.

[moto-uno]

^  Hey hey hey , you mean the Eldorado has the best lines  .  Peter

[LowRyter]

The test ride I did on the 1400T 's were excellent.  Better than any touring cruiser (Indian, Harley, Victory).  But it's still a cruiser.  Not quite an RT.  Not a GW.  They handle well, have brakes, a revving motor but still a cruiser- not a standard tourer or sport touring machine.

Then there's the Guzzi reliability factor to consider.  And now has Guzzi taken them out of production?   

The 1400 series could've been a great motorcycle IMO. 

[Jorg66]

Well, both ,the Eldorado and Touring have nice lines  and so does the Audace .
Isnt it that the Eldorado,Audace and MGX 21 stay in Production ,....just the California will be discontinued.

[Moparnut72]

Eurocycle is advertising a 2020 Eldorado. I don't know which store has it. They have changed their on line advertising.
kk