*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[Kev m]

Maybe it's semantics but I'd say that supports what i've been saying from the first pics. That's a standard seating position like mid mounts. Legs bent at or near 90° is no where near forward controls.

That said, legs do look closer to the jugs then on previous Tonti Calis so there is a difference.

[JJ]

I like it.  Looks badass.

I'd need drag bars and rearsets to be comfy on it, but I'm glad they're going to have another California in the lineup soon.

It's sure to be a nice bike.

Agreed (+1) Actually, with rider, and from those angles, it does not look too bad! :) 8) ;-T 

However, make no mistake, it will be a heavy-weight cruiser (aka "A Whale...") :o :o ::) ::) ;D :D ;) :)

[Dean Rose]

Glad I've got my '02 EV, I'll take it over what I see here.


Dean

[ritratto]

Sorry, but that is hideous. I predict it will be as well received in the marketplace as the Honda Rune.

Yep, I'm with garp... ugly and much too cruiser/harleyish for this cowboy. Seems the wrong direction for the old marque.

[bad Chad]

Sorry, but that is hideous. I predict it will be as well received in the marketplace as the Honda Rune.

And you will be proven wrong. :)

[Dean Rose]

Say what? I've had dozens of guys tell me my V7 Café is a beautiful bike and even asked to take pictures of it. Exactly one female has remarked on how it looks. I'm going to go out on the limb here and surmise that you consider any bike with less than 120+ horsepower as "feminine". Sorry to disappoint you, but there are some of us out here that not only like the smaller bikes, we're capable of riding them to their full extent and getting at least as many smiles per mile as the guys with the two wheeled nuclear bombs. Rant mode off. That statement just got my goat though. I'm not into the "Man's Motorcycle" mode that involves a rolling parade with "look at me" as the major function of the bike, that's a style that belongs to that other V-twin.

I couldn't have said it better!  ;-T


Dean

[bad Chad]

For the sake of the brand, I hope you are right. That said, if it is successful, and this is the new direction for the brand, then I suspect I have bought my last new Guzzi.

I don't think it's likely as dire as all that Garp.    I don't see any reason to think that because Guzzi has decided to produce a bike aimed more directly  at the current big bore cruiser market, that they would be abandoning the markets segments they already serve.

[Kev m]

Considering how well the Griso and V7 are selling I highly doubt the Cali 1400 styling is going to define the styling of the entire brand.

[Travman]

This bike just looks too long.  Also too low.  Look at the man's knees are even with the top of the tank.  The only pictures in which it looks proportional are the three-quarter front and rear view pics which hide the longness of the bike.  Some of you are trying to hard to like it.

[Joliet Jim]

I know its all perspective but that rider looks pretty big compared to the man behind him in the pic.  It might be a big guy on there

[Kev m]

Too long or low for what?  It's nut trying to be a Griso or Stelvio.

And I can't see how someone can determine functional limits without more info than a few photos.

I'll be surprised if it lost much cornering ability from the Tonti Calis and MOST owners/riders of those can't use all of it anyway.

But time will tell.

[youcanrunnaked]

This bike just looks too long.  Also too low.  Look at the man's knees are even with the top of the tank.  The only pictures in which it looks proportional are the three-quarter front and rear view pics which hide the longness of the bike.  Some of you are trying to hard to like it.

C'mon, really?  Look at how distorted that picture is.  EVERYTHING in that shot is too long and low... unless you think that test rider is half man, half praying mantis.  Some of you guys are going out of your way to find reasons to hate it.  Well, haters gonna hate...

The bike is beautifully proportioned and should sell well (at least, for a Guzzi...).


Hey, even Carlo Guzzi likes it.  Look!  He's looking down at it (from heaven?), smiling.

[Moto]

C'mon, really?  Look at how distorted that picture is.  EVERYTHING in that shot is too long and low... unless you think that test rider is half man, half praying mantis.  

If the pictures were distorted the wheels would not look round. They look round to me, so I don't think there is distortion.

[youcanrunnaked]

^^   That back wheel looks round to you?   ???

Compare the two pictures in my post.  Why does the bike look shorter in the bottom picture?  It's the same bike.

EDIT:  Just showed the pics to my gf.  She's not a Guzzisti, but she knows a thing or two about motorcycles.  Her (unsolicited) take: "It looks like an updated version of your bike [2003 California EV]."  Bingo!  Piaggio nailed it.

[Moto]

^^   That back wheel looks round to you?   ???

Compare the two pictures in my post.  Why does the bike look shorter in the bottom picture?  It's the same bike.

Yes, the back and front wheels look round to me. You think only the right side of the first picture is distorted?

The bikes look the same length to me in the two pictures.

[Dean Rose]

Reminds me of this monster.

Dean

[Gary]

That was no monster - it was a weenie.

[Kentktk]

Say what? I've had dozens of guys tell me my V7 Café is a beautiful bike and even asked to take pictures of it. Exactly one female has remarked on how it looks. I'm going to go out on the limb here and surmise that you consider any bike with less than 120+ horsepower as "feminine". Sorry to disappoint you, but there are some of us out here that not only like the smaller bikes, we're capable of riding them to their full extent and getting at least as many smiles per mile as the guys with the two wheeled nuclear bombs. Rant mode off. That statement just got my goat though. I'm not into the "Man's Motorcycle" mode that involves a rolling parade with "look at me" as the major function of the bike, that's a style that belongs to that other V-twin.

All I know is my GF and her girl friends who ride seem super excited about the V7. They like it`s looks and feel it is more suited to the way ( and they admit this) girls ride. Their cautiousness is something I wish I had more of.

[1Sourdough]

Maybe it's semantics but I'd say that supports what i've been saying from the first pics. That's a standard seating position like mid mounts. Legs bent at or near 90° is no where near forward controls.

That said, legs do look closer to the jugs then on previous Tonti Calis so there is a difference.

The rider in the leading machine appears to have about a 60 degree leg bend... ?  Perhaps the foot position has a little room to move around.  Wouldn't that be nice?!

[bad Chad]

That may well be, as the apparent position of the lower legs on the two riders is noticeably different.   There may be something to the notion that the pic's have some distortion.   Look at the door to the building, to me the ratio of height to with looks wrong.

[Stormtruck2]

The door looks fine.  It is a door with a side light on the left side.  Look where the door handle is.  Looks close to good to me.

[Kev m]

I think the angle of the photo accounts for some of the perception of less leg bend on the front rider, but if the seat is level enough foot boards usually allow for a greater range of sitting positions.

[wittangamo]

Reminds me of this monster.

Dean

My neighbor has one of those and leaves it uncovered on the street 24-7. I think he's hoping someone will steal it, but no takers.

[Kev m]

 the R1200C wasn't a bad bike, comfortable, handled well enough. I believe it was responsible for a significant increase in BMW sales in the first few years of it's production.

[HDGoose]

This bike just looks too long.  Also too low.  Look at the man's knees are even with the top of the tank.  The only pictures in which it looks proportional are the three-quarter front and rear view pics which hide the longness of the bike.  Some of you are trying to hard to like it.

My knees are always at the top of the gas tank. On my LeMansIV and my 97 California.

May the fellow is just tall?

[Vasco DG]

Regarding the pipes, I am certain that several aftermarket suppliers will be on this, pronto.  Unless you live in California (and maybe even there), you'll have a choice of several mufflers to produce and depper, more mellow tone from the big twin.

Yup, and they'll make it run like crap, rob it of power and increase its fuel consumption just like open pipes do to all the other 8V models

VDG

[Bill Hagan]

Say what? I've had dozens of guys tell me my V7 Café is a beautiful bike and even asked to take pictures of it. Exactly one female has remarked on how it looks. I'm going to go out on the limb here and surmise that you consider any bike with less than 120+ horsepower as "feminine". Sorry to disappoint you, but there are some of us out here that not only like the smaller bikes, we're capable of riding them to their full extent and getting at least as many smiles per mile as the guys with the two wheeled nuclear bombs. Rant mode off. That statement just got my goat though. I'm not into the "Man's Motorcycle" mode that involves a rolling parade with "look at me" as the major function of the bike, that's a style that belongs to that other V-twin.

All I know is my GF and her girl friends who ride seem super excited about the V7. They like it`s looks and feel it is more suited to the way ( and they admit this) girls ride. Their cautiousness is something I wish I had more of.

I'm thinking I may have no testocred in this thread as I have to admit to driving (and very much liking) this:



I do not permit any men friends with small dogs to ride with me, tho!  My ego is fragile.   :D

Still, I really like the entire new V7 series. There likely isn't one in my future, but that's because of fiscal reasons, only.  Well, that and I'm working on getting spousal-unit approval for a "real" tractor right now, and don't want to screw that up.   ;D

Seriously, I find it interesting that I cannot recall any woman other than Kathi ever commenting -- favorably or unfavorably -- on my EV, Ballabio, or Norge.  Yet both sexes who notice are effusive about the Griso.  Only a couple of the women are riders, tho.  Whatever, the Griso gets lots of "I like that" words and looks.

The V7's strike me as elegant with an edge.  I don't think I'd ever get one if I lived in the Great Flat as I do now temporarily, but in downtown Atlanta and back-roads Virginia, I think they would be super.  See no inmasculinity in riding one.  Well, unless with a lapdog.   ::)

As for the C14, my jury is still out.  Does not call to me in the slightest, but I think it might sell well.  That's good for all Guzzisti.

Bill

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

"C14". I like that.

"C14" is already taken - Concours 1400. Maybe Cal 14?

[Kentktk]

You need to get your GF on to a V7 then. That it appeals to a female doesn't make it feminine though. My daughter likes Carl Urban. He definitely isn't feminine.

I hope she would get one. She calls them cute, so that sounds promising.

[Moto_Chicago]

The rider in the leading machine appears to have about a 60 degree leg bend... ?  Perhaps the foot position has a little room to move around.  Wouldn't that be nice?!

The front rider looks to be notably shorter than the rider following, accounting for the greater knee extension.