*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[Tom]

I'll say one thing; Guzzi knows how to build a factory in a beautiful setting! I bet the roads in the area are equally sweet!

They are!  The best part is that while on the road they expect someone on a motorcycle to pass them.   ;-T

[Dogwalker]

After the race at Miller Park.



http://twitter.com/maxbiaggi/status/207522000271454208/photo/1

[PeteS]

I wonder if Max ever did flat track or speedway? They would sell all the 1400s they could make if they did showed him drifting the Cal around like Nicky Hayden did on the Goldwing when it first came out.

Pete

[Dogwalker]

He regularly train with supermoto (there are several videos on youtube).

[tool flinger]

I'd say Max has a little bit of talent when it comes to riding a motorcycle.



I hope his promotion of the brand helps sell a few more Guzzis.

[Dogwalker]

Someone on the Animaguzzista forum saw a New California on test around Noale.

These pictures are from a Polish Guzzi Club.

[rocker59]

Thanks for the pics!   ;-T

[Unkept]

Awesome pics! That wheel is huge  :o

[kevdog3019]

It ain't for most current Guzzi folks, but it will get the attention from others. Probably smart.
Kevin

[Sheepdog]

I hope they sell every one they can produce.

[Big Block Jon]

Much as I dislike cruiser style (don't hate, please), that seat REALLY makes the thing more attractive.  It makes the bike look shorter.

Guzzi seems to have always had a sort of genius for improving the look of its machines with just a subtle paint accent or similar low-cost alteration. Design with a small -d-, but still, kind've remarkable.

[Tom]

Thanks for the pix.  I'd still like the option of a straight bench seat with on no step.

[Mountain Bob]

"Song of the Sausage Creature!!"   ;D ;D :D :D ;) ;) :) :)

... and the Winning Comment is:    ;-T

To my eye that thing is definitely a Guzzi Rune -- memorializing yet another classic looking bike whose memory is being trashed by some "designer."

Then again, I'm a guy who likes the look of the Cali tank, the Big Rukus, and that '60's Ducati 250 desmo-thumper...


--mb

[mtiberio]

I am seriously considering selling my 1700cc Yamaha Roadstar so I can justify one of these...

[Chicago Mark]

Why does the right frame tube look crushed in the second to the last picture? The frame almost seems like a variation of the Griso frame. I may put my beautiful Griso on the market now in anticipation of the California 1400 coming next year.

I really hope they make them available in the white version from the first round of pictures.

All the best,

Mark

[Suncoast]

Whats the bracket for hanging off the front in the first 2 pictures? At first I thought signals but they are there already....Almost looks like a fairing mount...

[brenwin]

coming soon:

Perfecto .............

[flangeman_70]

Why does the right frame tube look crushed in the second to the last picture? The frame almost seems like a variation of the Griso frame. I may put my beautiful Griso on the market now in anticipation of the California 1400 coming next year.

I really hope they make them available in the white version from the first round of pictures.

All the best,

Mark

If you look in the 4th picture you'll see the left has the same kink.
I am intrigued by the 2 braided lines that come from the transmission which would be where possibly the clutch actuator lives

Adam

[Chuck in Indiana]

Maybe it'll sell, but not to me. Forward controls blow. ~; :BEER: Not to mention the weight of that center stand.. ;)

[Crusty]

It's interestimg how many people have judged the bike based on very little information, and only a couple of pictures. When I first saw a  picture of the Griso S.E., I thought it looked extremely ugly. It wasn't until I actually saw one in real life that I found it to be really nice looking. With the 1400, each picture is making the bike look better. I thought the bike looked pretty ugly in the first set of pictures, but with each new set of pictures, it looks a little nicer. I think I'll reserve judgement until I can actually see one in real life.
Does this mean that I have to turn in my red suspenders?

[Green1000S]

I go against the grain. I like it, a lot. ;-T
It's time to invent new looks, works for me.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It's interestimg how many people have judged the bike based on very little information, and only a couple of pictures. When I first saw a  picture of the Griso S.E., I thought it looked extremely ugly. It wasn't until I actually saw one in real life that I found it to be really nice looking. With the 1400, each picture is making the bike look better. I thought the bike looked pretty ugly in the first set of pictures, but with each new set of pictures, it looks a little nicer. I think I'll reserve judgement until I can actually see one in real life.
Does this mean that I have to turn in my red suspenders?

I agree about the looks. Forward controls?? Not for me.

[Kev m]

You guys calling these forwards have never actually seen a bike with forwards have you?

Forwards are raised pegs at the very front of the motor and frame. When riding with forwards your legs are near straight.

These are similar to Calis and HD touring bikes. Somewhere between mids (knee in front of you and foot below your knee) and forwards. I suspect one's foot will be slightly in front of one's knee, leg still mostly bent.

This gives lot's of options for leg and foot positioning and lends itself to comfortable all day rides without completely compromising your lower body for handling/bike control.

[Gnigma]

It's not a bad looking bike. As I said, it looks like the current crop of long 'n' low cruisers. My own doubts are mostly functional. I don't like forward controls, and I see no real reason to have an engine that large on a bike. Small engines begin to lose efficiency at around 1000cc. Modern fuel injection and electronic ignition can stretch that to maybe 1200cc. Even that is not a given: you have to burn x amount of fuel to produce x amount of horsepower. Mega engine bikes tend to get fewer miles per gallon than newer cars. My EV gets nearly 50 mpg as long as I stay below 80 mph. Stock Harleys get more than their competitors, generally, though that advantage tends to disappear if you mess with the motor. Generally, though, bigger engines suck down more gas.

Fuel economy is not necessarily a deal killer, though it will be more important in the years to come. However, I like standards. To me, the EV feels really close to the neutral riding position you get on a standard. Full boat cruisers put your feet forward; sport oriented bikes put your feet behind you. Neither is comfortable to me for very long. Standards are pretty rare nowadays. BMW, Triumph, and the Honda CB1100 that they never brought over here are the only ones I can think of. I really think people are closet standard-lovers, because the closest thing that's popular nowadays is probably a dual sport.

It sort of makes me sad to see the new California. MG seems to have taken away most of what I love about the EV. "I'd give it consideration, but it looks like it would be a hard sell to get me to buy one. Hopefully, they'll come up with something more to my liking before I get ready to buy again.

[Gnigma]

You guys calling these forwards have never actually seen a bike with forwards have you?

Forwards are raised pegs at the very front of the motor and frame. When riding with forwards your legs are near straight.

These are similar to Calis and HD touring bikes. Somewhere between mids (knee in front of you and foot below your knee) and forwards. I suspect one's foot will be slightly in front of one's knee, leg still mostly bent.

This gives lot's of options for leg and foot positioning and lends itself to comfortable all day rides without completely compromising your lower body for handling/bike control.

For me, if you can't stand on the pegs or boards without hoisting yourself up by pulling on the handlebars, the feet are forward controls. I can sit on the EV on the center stand, and stand on the boards without touching the handlebars at all. THAT's midset controls. For me. Look at the pegs on a Stelvio, or a BMW GS, or a Kawi KLR.

[MGKrebs]

That's a fancy looking rear shock. Doesn't look like much travel though.

[Kev m]

Gnigma - I could stand on a Harley dresser with boards in a similar position.  The jury's out on this but I think you're making assumptions re capabilities and ergos of this bike. Like a lot of people did with Harley tourers, and others with the Diavel,  and others with the Triumph R3...

[EVboyeee]

The styling cues on the Cali 1400 remind me of the 1980s Kawasaki ZL 900/1000 bikes. It's yesterday once more, shoo bee doo lang lang?

[EVboyeee]

There was some kind of tragic story behind the builder of this bike. I remember reading about him being shot and killed by the police in Wisconsin?

[Gnigma]

Gnigma - I could stand on a Harley dresser with boards in a similar position.  The jury's out on this but I think you're making assumptions re capabilities and ergos of this bike. Like a lot of people did with Harley tourers, and others with the Diavel,  and others with the Triumph R3...

You could be right. The boards on the new bike, however, line up with the cylinders on the engine--- just about where the fold down highway pegs are on the EV. When the footrest is forward of the junction of the seat and tank, it's a forward control design. It really does not matter to me; right now I'm not looking to buy another bike. All I can say at this point is that it's pretty, and it looks to be set up as a cruiser. I'm happy with my pseudo-cruiser.