Side stand only or center stand too on EV 1100

[nwguy]

Just curious. On your EV 1100, do you have a side stand only, or a center stand too? If one way or the other, why? My Bassa has a side stand only and bikes this big I've had in the past usually had a center stand too. Though my Norge's center stand would scrape easily on left hand turns.

[AJ Huff]

I wish I had a center stand but have never had one. I've managed.

-AJ

[guzzisteve]

EV's have a centerstand, Bassa's don't but you can install one. Buy one w/all the parts & install.

[John A]

I put one on my Bassa when it was new. I would do it again, it helps a great deal if I’m out away from home and I want to do some maintenance with the bike level.

[mechanicsavant]

IMHO , every bike (race excluded) should have a center stand . So many tasks are easier with one . Even simple ones , cleaning rear wheel ,pre-ride inspection,fluid levels tire pressures etc. Some bikes are a pain to get onto a center stand , my V7/850 for example . I found rolling onto a piece of 1x6 wood leftover from a project, makes it way easier also put as much of your weight on the center stand arm when lifting.

[TOMB]

Keep both it will come a time in the future that you'll only have the site stand wishing you had the center stand and vice versa

TOMB

[nwguy]

Yeah, I thought most would want both. Pricey for one with all the parts though:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235786121080

https://www.ebay.com/itm/387497600461

[kidsmoke]

that's a steep price. You can do better. Try Moto Guzzi Classics in Signal Hill Ca. He has lots of bits for Tonti-Californias.

I too added a center stand to a TC that didn't have one. Use it 95% of the time the bike is static.

[rocker59]

Just curious. On your EV 1100, do you have a side stand only, or a center stand too? If one way or the other, why? My Bassa has a side stand only and bikes this big I've had in the past usually had a center stand too. Though my Norge's center stand would scrape easily on left hand turns.

Center stand was optional on the Stone/Bassa/Special.  I had one on my Bassa.

Center stand was standard on the EV variants.

[nwguy]

Center stand was optional on the Stone/Bassa/Special.  I had one on my Bassa.

Center stand was standard on the EV variants.

I'm confused about the "EV", "California", "V11" and "1100" terms. Obviously my Bassa is a V11 since it has decals on the bodywork saying so. I understand that it's also a California variant.  But what about "EV", etc?

[guzzisteve]

Ev is mostly the touring model offered w/bags, etc, started in 98. Has more metal covering instead of plastic. The Bassa turned into the Special Sport.

[rocker59]

I'm confused about the "EV", "California", "V11" and "1100" terms. Obviously my Bassa is a V11 since it has decals on the bodywork saying so. I understand that it's also a California variant.  But what about "EV", etc?

No worries.  The nomenclature is confusing, especially considering the "real" V11 line was sport/sport-touring bikes.

In Guzzi parlance "V" is for v-twin and "11" is for 1100cc. The nomenclature began with the original V7 series fifty+ years ago.

Anyway, in the 1990s, there was one variant of California, the California 1100.  For 1996 fuel injection was an option and it was called the California 1100i.  For model  year 1998 a few hundred items were changed/tweaked on the California 1100, and it was named the "V11EV" in some markets and "California EV" in other markets.  In the USA, it was "V11EV".  EV = Evoluzione  (Evolution).  The bike was highly regarded in the press, making 1998 a high water mark for the California.  In 2003, Guzzi introduced hydraulic valves in the V11 Californias.  By now, the "V11" nomenclature had been mostly dropped.  The bikes were California EV and California EVT / EV Touring.  The EVT came from the factory with bags and a fairing.

For 1999, Guzzi introduced a custom version with lower seat, shorter shocks, and a new rear fender/taillight assembly.  It was called V11 Bassa / California Bassa.  Eventuallly in 2001 it became the V11 Special / California Special.  There were a couple sub-variants called California Aluminum and California Titanium for year models 2003 and 2004.

For 2000, a stripped down version was added.  It was the V11 Jackal / California Jackal.  In 2003, it became the California Stone.

There was no 2005 California.  For 2006 Guzzi added the guts from a 1100 Breva to the California's engine and went full retro with the styling, calling the bike "California Vintage".  It lasted until the 90th anniversary in 2011.

Hope that helps a little bit.  Like Harley nomenclature, this history of Guzzi Californias can be a little murky for those new to the brand.

Most accessories interchange, but with differences in rear seat subframes and rear fenders, the Hepco Becker mounts for the bikes is different from EV to Jackal to Special.  Also, the swingarm was widened to accommodate a wider rear wheel for 2002.  That can also affect parts interchanability on the rear of the bikes.

[nwguy]

Thank you Michael! Very informative. Just what I was hoping to learn.

[bmc5733946]

Absolutely top notch work there Michael!!! Very well put together.

Brian

[Gwilliam]

Very informative, though as with most things Guzzi there are evolutions as one model becomes the next but the original parts supply is used up through the change point.
I have a 2001, 80th Anniversary edition of a California Stone which has adjustable valves rather than the later hydraulic version. It appears to be a crossover between the Jackal and Stone models.
I have been told that the Stone was not available in the USA until 2002, by which time the change to the later parts may have been complete.

[bigbikerrick]

Well done, Rocker 59!
Rick.