Best California for 1000 Mile Days?

[Mwether]

Hi, all.

My glacial search for a Guzzi continues, and now I have a specific scenario: next summer, in memory of a good friend, I'm planning to do a 50CC (coast to coast in fifty hours) as a benefit for the National Brain Tumor Society.

I'm giving myself a year to acquire the bike and get it sorted and outfitted for this kind of LD trip. (Not to mention an SS1000 or two to get things dialed in.)

I know the right answer to the question is probably an SP or Norge, but I really would like to take a "California to California," if this kind of Iron Butt nonsense is not a ridiculous misapplication of the bike's design brief. (I don't think it is...?)

I've read that there are significant differences between the EV Touring and CalVin seating position and bars. Those are the two leading contenders (due to screen/bags/floorboards), but of course I'm open to Cal II or III ideas (or anything else I'm unaware of)!

Very interested in your thoughts!



ETA: RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BELOW

Guzzis
California 1400: 6 votes (at least)
SP: 2 votes
V85: 2 votes
Various 1100 Calis: 2 votes
Norge: 2 votes
Stelvio: 1 vote
V100: 1 vote

Non-Guzzis
Goldwing: 1 vote
GS Adventure: 1 vote
Ferarri: 1 vote

[PeteS]

50 hours means riding straight through, no sleep. I did it in a car but with a co driver. Things get pretty weird about 4 in the morning. Choices are floorboards or foot pegs. A seat you can tolerate for that long and a decent fairing. A Swanee has them all pretty much beat.

Pete

[cliffrod]

50 hours at once is stupid and reckless imho, but floorboards are the way to go.

[Tkelly]

I would think a 1400 California would be the best,smoother and more powerful than early EVs.

[matt franklin]

EV would be good except for too small fuel tank.  Refueling would eat up a lot of time.  in my mind a SP1000 would excel for this.  300 miles to a tankful more or less

[ridingron]

As mentioned, gas stops will kill your pace. Take some practice runs and time your stops for gas. Start the timer when you start slowing down for the exit ramp and get the time (for a full tank) until you get back on the road at your travelling speed.

[Ncdan]

I’ve owned 3 EVs and IMHO the MG that would provide the best results for your future endeavor would be the California 1400 tourer.

[Mwether]

Thanks for these reflections, folks. So far, two votes for the 1400 and one for an SP.

As to the trip itself, this does NOT mean riding for 50 hours straight. That WOULD be crazy. The goal is to complete the ride WITHIN a 50-hour window.

My route is about as short as you can get and still go across the continent: Tybee Island, GA to San Diego, CA., essentially 2400 miles. If I can average 55mph it will take 43.6 hours, leaving 6.4 hours for stops and rests. Google Maps estimates the drive time at 34 hours (~70mph), leaving a 16-hour cushion.

[Vagrant]

A new V85 with Goldwing foot pegs. Just as good as floorboards) is the only Guzzi to consider. More comfortable than the others, good wind protection, upright seating, fantastic fuel mileage and range this bike does it all!
Let the hate begin!

[PeteS]

A new V85 with Goldwing foot pegs. Just as good as floorboards) is the only Guzzi to consider. More comfortable than the others, good wind protection, upright seating, fantastic fuel mileage and range this bike does it all!
Let the hate begin!

That has my vote too. Add cruise control if for no other reason than to rest your right wrist.


Pete

[kballowe]

[kballowe]

[Turin]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Stelvio NTX. an 8.5 gallon tank would be handy on a long trip.

[Moparnut72]

1400 California is the bike to get if you want to use a Guzzi. I had a 1400, different model, but they can eat up the miles. The only drawback is small fuel tank and they are a little thirsty, mine averaged 40 mpg. I would carry some type of auxillary fuel supply. It can be done, I rode an R75/5 from Denver to Rhode Island in 46 hours with 6 hours worth of naps. It had a 6.3 gallon fuel tank and 50 mpg, 300 miles per tank was easy.
kk

[Dave Swanson]

The V11 EV would certainly be the bargain of the bunch for effortless cross country cruising.  A beautiful one owner 1998 HDM with only 26,000 well cared for miles just sold for $1500 on Marketplace. 

[Bulldog9]

A great event and doable, though there are few things worse than hours on the super slab.

Back in the day, I did a LOT of Iron Butt runs on my XS 1100. Fuel stops ever 100 miles, average of 80 mph including stops would knock out the 1000 mile run in 13-14 hours, all on superslab.

I think a lot depends on start and end point, your age and reseliency, and obviously the bike. I'd have done it at 30-30, never in my 60's. My son-in-law and I did a Washington DC to Tacoma Washington run back in 2015. We drove straight and switched off. It was brutal.

I just ran the numbers on a New York City to LA. Minimal tolls on a decent route through beautiful country (NY-OK) is just under 2900 miles. If you committed to averaging 80 miles an hour you could do 20 hours on day one, get 8 to 10 hours of rest overnight, and knock out the final 20 hours averaging 80 miles per hour on day two. I'd stick to a 100 to 125 mi stopping distance with or without gas will keep you hydrated give you opportunity to stretch your legs, etc. As long as you kept your average speed over 80 you'd be fine. I would also see if you could do 20 hours, and assess if you could do that 2 days back-to-back. Could be a pretty dangerous proposition if you or your motorcycle or not up to the task.

You asked which California model, I think any of the California 1400s would be fine if...... You had proper wind protection upper and lower. This would be important not only for general fatigue from wind buffeting, but also inclement weather etc. I also think that any properly prepared an equipped motorcycle of 1000cc or higher would be completely adequate. What is the end goal I don't have a lot of experience, but I think the v100 is not up to the task. Any of the older California's or an ev, and certainly the 1400 California's would shrug off long distances like that, as would a Norge.

[PeteS]

Also relevant is what bike would you want to keep after this two day run? Its not like you can rent this.


Pete

[Ncdan]

A great event and doable, though there are few things worse than hours on the super slab.

Back in the day, I did a LOT of Iron Butt runs on my XS 1100. Fuel stops ever 100 miles, average of 80 mph including stops would knock out the 1000 mile run in 13-14 hours, all on superslab.

I think a lot depends on start and end point, your age and reseliency, and obviously the bike. I'd have done it at 30-30, never in my 60's. My son-in-law and I did a Washington DC to Tacoma Washington run back in 2015. We drove straight and switched off. It was brutal.

I just ran the numbers on a New York City to LA. Minimal tolls on a decent route through beautiful country (NY-OK) is just under 2900 miles. If you committed to averaging 80 miles an hour you could do 20 hours on day one, get 8 to 10 hours of rest overnight, and knock out the final 20 hours averaging 80 miles per hour on day two. I'd stick to a 100 to 125 mi stopping distance with or without gas will keep you hydrated give you opportunity to stretch your legs, etc. As long as you kept your average speed over 80 you'd be fine. I would also see if you could do 20 hours, and assess if you could do that 2 days back-to-back. Could be a pretty dangerous proposition if you or your motorcycle or not up to the task.

You asked which California model, I think any of the California 1400s would be fine if...... You had proper wind protection upper and lower. This would be important not only for general fatigue from wind buffeting, but also inclement weather etc. I also think that any properly prepared an equipped motorcycle of 1000cc or higher would be completely adequate. What is the end goal I don't have a lot of experience, but I think the v100 is not up to the task. Any of the older California's or an ev, and certainly the 1400 California's would shrug off long distances like that, as would a Norge.

Good luck “averaging” 80 MPH through some states. One may be sending posting your progress from some jurisdictions county or city jail!
My advice would be not to attempt this feat for safety and common sense reasons.

[blackcat]

I've only completed one 1,000+ mile day and that was by necessity on my SPIII, what I found was that around the 700 mile mark I started getting my second wind and probably could have gone farther but I was at my destination. Would I do it for back to back days? Nope.

[moto]

A Ferrari California is recommended.

[LowRyter]

The new V100 is the best Guzzi I've ridden for touring, followed by the Norge.

I'd caution anyone against 1000 miles of riding in a single stint.   I know "Ironman" Mike T aka "Rocker59" did the Colorado 1000 on his Nero Corsa LeMans a few years ago, not counting the two way trip from Arkansas. 

[Guzzistajohn]

I did a bunburner 1500 one time. Glad I don’t have to do that again. I would never try it with floorboards and feet out front. 

[Perazzimx14]

BMW GSA with electronic cruise. Open ergos, upright neutral seating position, ability to stand up sit down move for and aft, decent wind protection and most of all LT suspension.


Top up the tank, click it into 6th set the cruise and roll for 300 miles. Repeat 10 times. Or add a 4 or 5 gallon salve tank and run 500+ miles between stops.

[PeteS]

My longest day on a motorcycle is 860 miles on my Norton. No windshield, zero electronic nannies. Just wanted to get across Nevada. Rolled into Reno at 11:00 PM and got a room with AC.

Pete

[Perazzimx14]

My longest day on a motorcycle is 860 miles on my Norton. No windshield, zero electronic nannies. Just wanted to get across Nevada. Rolled into Reno at 11:00 PM and got a room with AC.

Pete

So did everyone from the development of motorcycles until -2000ish until  electronic Nannie’s were a thing. So what!

My biggest day was 1144 miles in 18:54 on a fairly analog 2009 R1200GSA. Again, so what or more importantly who cares, it’s a personal best not a competition.

[PeteS]

So did everyone from the development of motorcycles until -2000ish until  electronic Nannie’s were a thing. So what!

My biggest day was 1144 miles in 18:54 on a fairly analog 2009 R1200GSA. Again, so what or more importantly who cares, it’s a personal best not a competition.

The point is you only need two wheels and a desire to ride. In this case you need a machine that can cruise at least at 70 mph to get there in 50 hours but all that other stuff is superfluous.

Pete

[Mwether]

Also relevant is what bike would you want to keep after this two day run? ...

Super important consideration, Pete.

I really don't dig the ADV look (anymore) so the the Stelvio and V85 are out.

I like old school sport tourers, so in age order, the SPs, Norge, and V100 are on the radar. In my case, the V100 is likely too new to be affordable.

I'm not a cruiser guy but there's something special about the Tonti Californias, specifically the California Vintage. I love the look of Loops (but I don't think I'd try this trip on one) and I think the CalVin comes the closest to a modern Loop aesthetic. I like the flatter seat (like the California II) better than the scooped seat of the California III, California 1100/1100i, and EV. I think the FWP tank looks least offensive on the CalVin too.

But I'm attracted to EVs, because they are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, as Dave Swanson mentioned. (That '98 "McDonalds" for $1500 would have been fantastic. I haven't seen them go that cheaply before.)

I've read great things about the 1400 engine and the biggest Cali. I think it would be super for the LD ride but probably overkill once I was done. It weighs ~710 dry vs. ~580 for the EVs/CalVin.

Like so many things, this is also form vs. function question. The Norge likely makes the most sense in terms of value and capability, but the CalVin is so much more beautiful.

[PeteS]

I had a ‘98 EV. It would easily cruise at 80. Limiting factor is how much wind blast can you tolerate. I just had a flyscreen over the headlight that kept most of air off my chest and my helmet in clean air, no buffeting. A Swanee would keep the windblast off but still let clean air in for cooling. Pressure balanced.
Early EVs had a big 8 bit computer that was not well programmed. Also took a lot of room under the seat which made it a bit harder to find a more comfortable seat. The stock seat sucks. Best to stick with the post hydro valve models. Better seat and mapping.
Handlebars can be swapped out to suit. Lots of good Guzzis to choose from for this.

Pete

[kingoffleece]

Any good seat maker can craft a seat to one's liking using the original pan.

[ridingron]

After comfort, I think the number 1 concern is fuel range. A 15 minutes gas stop (time yourself one time) every 120-150 miles is a deal killer. Remember, once you start  slowing down for the exit ramp you're not going to be getting 75 mile an hour anymore. The longer the range, the less the stop affects your overall 50 hours time limit.