Cadre Cycle 1st Impression

[TN Mark]

I started on this forum back in the late 1990s. At that time I had a G5 and/or a Convert and bought a new 1999 Bassa from GP Cycles in San Diego. I don’t recall what my first online name was. Maybe Bassa Mark or CA Mark?
I haven’t had a Moto Guzzi since March of 2013. The last Guzzi I had was a white CalVin. I used that bike and two others as trade ins for my Victory Cross Country Tour at Randy’s Cycle in Marengo, IL. I still have that Victory and it’s been 100% reliable 100% of the time for over 101K miles. I bought a second Victory, a Hard-Ball over two years ago. It’s also been 100% reliable 100% of the time for over 53K miles.

About 10 days ago I was driving through Ohio and had time to stop at Cadre Cycle. I was given a very warm welcome by Enzo. He spent over a half hour with me and showed me all his new, used and vintage bikes. What an awesome representative for the Moto Guzzi brand! It was such a pleasant experience meeting and talking to Enzo.

I have had a desire for a black Eldorado 1400 for the last several years. Perhaps a good used one will show up and a sale and/or trade can be worked out.

Anyway, Cadre Cycle is over 5 hours from my house. If I do get an Eldorado from Enzo or anyone else, I’d most certainly want Enzo and his Cadre Cycle team to work on it.

[blu guzz]

I live in the Northern Kentucky area and have a black Eldorado.  It is my 3rd Guzzi all bought a Cadre.  I also had a Victory Kingpin Tour Deluxe from 2008 until 2012.  With the exception of a frayed clutch cable, it was dead reliable until the day I traded it with 25k miles on the clock.  I foolishly traded that reliable bike for another BMW I thought I wanted.  Not exactly trouble free, that bike.  In fact, because Cadre is there, I started riding Guzzi when that BMW crapped its rear drive at 39,500 miles.  My 2015 Cali Custom was an excellent bike and very reliable, then when the V85s came out, I had to have one so traded the Cali in the summer of 19.  Except for a cheesy metal exhaust protector falling off, it was perfect for 25,000 miles.  It was running perfectly when traded only because I had to be on the balls of me feet and my legs didn't have their former strength, so back to my black Eldo.
My history with Enzo goes back to 2004 when I bought a new BMW RT from him when he worked for the long gone local BMW dealer and he was basically the same person you met, only a younger version. 
I started my interest in motorcycles in the 70s when all the shops including Harley and BMW were like Cadre is now.  BMW and Harley went the "Disneyland" route with their shops. The nostalgia factor is a strong draw for me and the respect everyone at Cadre shows customers as well.
All together, it makes my ownership a more enjoyable process than just the bike alone would be.
Sorry to ramble on but I just got back from the fantastic Ohio Rally and was in the mood to type.

[Dave Swanson]

The Midwest is lucky to have Cadre. 

[Moparnut72]

I really miss the old time motorcycle shops where everyone was on a first name basis. The two Guzzi dealers within a couple of hundred miles from me are the Disneyland versions. Just not the same as the shops I used to frequent in the 60's, 70's and 80's.
kk

[SemperVee]

Hi Mark,

    I have not been on the Vic forum in a long time yet still miss my Original 2012  RED Victory Cross Country tour;  but I have also just added a 2003 EV Cali to the stable with my Norge.  Wish I could combine some of the best traits of both bike Marquees.

[blackcat]

They currently have a very good price on a new 24 V100 Mandello S for $12,500.

[TN Mark]

I live in the Northern Kentucky area and have a black Eldorado.  It is my 3rd Guzzi all bought a Cadre.  I also had a Victory Kingpin Tour Deluxe from 2008 until 2012.  With the exception of a frayed clutch cable, it was dead reliable until the day I traded it with 25k miles on the clock.  I foolishly traded that reliable bike for another BMW I thought I wanted.  Not exactly trouble free, that bike.  In fact, because Cadre is there, I started riding Guzzi when that BMW crapped its rear drive at 39,500 miles.  My 2015 Cali Custom was an excellent bike and very reliable, then when the V85s came out, I had to have one so traded the Cali in the summer of 19.  Except for a cheesy metal exhaust protector falling off, it was perfect for 25,000 miles.  It was running perfectly when traded only because I had to be on the balls of me feet and my legs didn't have their former strength, so back to my black Eldo.
My history with Enzo goes back to 2004 when I bought a new BMW RT from him when he worked for the long gone local BMW dealer and he was basically the same person you met, only a younger version. 
I started my interest in motorcycles in the 70s when all the shops including Harley and BMW were like Cadre is now.  BMW and Harley went the "Disneyland" route with their shops. The nostalgia factor is a strong draw for me and the respect everyone at Cadre shows customers as well.
All together, it makes my ownership a more enjoyable process than just the bike alone would be.
Sorry to ramble on but I just got back from the fantastic Ohio Rally and was in the mood to type.

From a practical sense, What's it like living with an Eldorado 1400? Do the ones that don’t have aftermarket, or the latest factory fuel mapping, need it? I test toad a white Cal Touring 1400 locally a dealer had. I wanted to like that bike but it ran so poorly I couldn’t wait to get back to the shop and forget about that bike.

With my ‘dead’ brand Victory bikes, I can literally get just about any part delivered to my door in about 3 days.
Victory accessories is another issue though. They can be challenging to find, depending what you want.
Thankfully, I'm well past customizing and modifying. Mine already have aftermarket air filters, cams, exhaust and custom fuel mapping.

The 1400’s, regardless of model get little mention even here on this forum.
Less on places like eBay and it seems if the bike doesn’t already have the accessories someone wants, it’s way too late to get them now.

Tonti framed variations from the 1970’s and 1980’s still seem to dominate the threads here on Wildguzzi.

One more mention for Enzo, the man seems to be a real gentleman. One who makes a person want to do business with him.

[blu guzz]

There may be less than 1,000 1400s in the entire country.  I was just at the Ohio Rally and saw 6 or possibly 7 including my own.  The most I have ever seen at any rally.  My first one benefited from the Mistral V-twin plug.  It had only 500 miles when I got it.  Below 3,000 rpm was unpleasant. Definitely ran better after 5,000 miles in general and I traded it at about 10,000 and it was running well still with the plug.  My current Eldo had 18,000 when I bought it and 31,500 now and has always run very well in all ranges without the mod being required. 

[Bob Wegman]

My wife and daughters bought me a new V7 from Cadre Cycles in 2020 for my birthday.  Cadre even delivered it, which was over 500 miles from Cadre to my home in Rochester, NY

[TN Mark]

Hi Mark,

    I have not been on the Vic forum in a long time yet still miss my Original 2012  RED Victory Cross Country tour;  but I have also just added a 2003 EV Cali to the stable with my Norge.  Wish I could combine some of the best traits of both bike Marquees.

I remember well you selling your beautiful Victory for a Moto Guzzi.
I ‘may’ somewhat follow suit. If I can find an all black Eldorado worth consideration I could be tempted to sell or trade one of my beloved Victory bikes.
After I turned a used Hard-Ball into the worlds most enhanced 2013 Victory Hard-Ball, it’s captivated me but good.
Though I still love my gloss pearl white 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour. Hmm, decisions and more pondering are in order.