*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[maniac_biker]

At least the bags have a lid rather than a door.

[Gary]

That's one fine looking motorcycle. I would certainly consider purchasing one.

My wish list for MG:

A thoroughly modern (or at least as modern as current) Eldorado w/1100-1200 engine
Mini Stelvio Dual sport/adventure & Mini Norge based on 750 (would be nice to have an updated 4 valve)

I like:

V7 variations (already done)
V12 variations (rumored)
California 1400
Of course the Griso, Norge, Stelvio, & Breva round out the offerings

[rocker59]

I like it!

[JJ]

As beautiful as this Moto Guzzi is and inticing with that big mill, I can't consider buying a new Guzzi until they catch up with the other brands and go with modern shocks and a suitable two-up seat for long-distance rally bopping.

It's really more than that...much more....(IMHO)

Like dramatically improving the overall parts / warranty / customer service (listen up Piaggio!!) :o :o ::) ::)....... AND improving their support to all their dealers in the USA.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't hate it.. ;D

[BillinAbilene]

I've been away for a bit so maybe I missed it....Where's the radiator?  Still a work in progress?

[Kev m]

Like dramatically improving the overall parts / warranty / customer service (listen up Piaggio!!) :o :o ::) ::)....... AND improving their support to all their dealers in the USA.

Geeez, everything I've heard/seen lately leads me to believe they have been improving overall parts quality.

Plus I've heard almost nothing but positive reports about warranty and customer service.

Soooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooo perhaps they're on the right track there too.

[cruzziguzzi]

I think the "Skunk" seat - which I love but understand other's views for sure - needs color justification elsewhere on the bike as with the Calvin stripes. As far as the bags - I can't begin to imagine why the bottom edge is not horizontal. The way they are they neither follow a visible frame line, the ground line nor any exhaust line; top, center or bottom. Tipping the bags would also come closer to mimicking the rear fender.

In general, I'm likin' it and though I wouldn't give up my Calvin I would consider it as a post theft/destruction option.

[JohninVT`]

The MSRP is going to be sobering on this.  While most European manufacturer's are making up market share on the Japanese in leaps in bounds due to respective currency valuations, Guzzi is still pricing their bikes with a premium.  A Ducati 848 EVO costs 12,995, yet Guzzi has the gall to ask 13,500 for a Black Eagle. 

I'll bet they put an 18 thousand dollar price tag on the Cali 1400.       

[Kev m]

I'll bet they put an 18 thousand dollar price tag on the Cali 1400.       

That would put it firmly in Road King territory.

But for that, they'd better include passing lamps, quick-detach windshield, quick-detach hard bags...

IF I HAD TO GUESS I'd say that a dressed version of this might come in around $16k (that's a very loose guess based on current model pricing).

If it comes in naked at that price or higher ouch, my next bike will more likely be a Harley.

But I'll remain cautiously optimistic.

[cruzziguzzi]

Geeze - I hope it has tubes! :BEER:

[kirb]

I love it, though I agree about the bags.  They remind me of Corbin Beetle Bags.  I'd skip those and mount a set of big Pelicans.

"I dislike the factory bags so much that I want to mount camera storage cases to the bike to give it that 'it'll survive a a TSA thrashing' kind of look."

The cases, if top loading, are not that bad. They go with the lines of the bike.

[JohninVT`]

I love it, though I agree about the bags.  They remind me of Corbin Beetle Bags.  I'd skip those and mount a set of big Pelicans.

"I dislike the factory bags so much that I want to mount camera storage cases to the bike to give it that 'it'll survive a a TSA thrashing' kind of look."

The cases, if top loading, are not that bad. They go with the lines of the bike.

LOL.  No..I really just dislike overly styled saddlebags.  It limits their carrying capacity.  I think Krausers look classy and I like the fact Pelican cases are bomb proof.

A Stelvio with ABS is what, 16 grand?  This will be more.  If it's the halo bike, it'll be priced accordingly.  The MSRP of a CalVin is 15 grand.  I would love if the new Cali was 16 grand but I honestly can't see that happening.  New engine, new chassis, new drivetrain.......it'll be closer to 20k than 15.   

[Kev m]

Hope you're wrong John, but time will tell...

Geeze - I hope it has tubes! :BEER:

 :D ;) :D

[Dirtclod]

should I buy one?  are the cams ok? if i super super super size the picture it looks like they have or are about to fail.  i think.  what oil
is ok to use in it?  my dealer doesn't carry the correct oil.

[samfrank]

While it's not my cup of tea, I like it! I especially like the wheel design. The bags look fine to me. I just can't ride a cruiser style. Hope they do well with it. But, as mentioned before, the whole dealer network thing has to be made more consumer friendly to get new business.

[Idontwantapickle]

I like the overall look, but the floorboards that far forward would likely be a deal breaker for me. Hopefully they'll have a sportier version with pegs in a more appropriate place.

You're in luck! Griso!

[cruzziguzzi]

should I buy one?  are the cams ok? if i super super super size the picture it looks like they have or are about to fail.  i think.  what oil
is ok to use in it?  my dealer doesn't carry the correct oil.

Yes, you definitely shouldn't buy one. ;-T

Your clarity on "super super" sizing the picture let you down, If you had an Apple, you'd clearly see that the cams will be fine as it will have the new non-lube, flat-roller system and you have viewed them before the magical 10,000 mile gnomes snuck in at night to provide the secret post break-in performance upgrade (nay-sayers be hanged).

Any oil at all will be perfectly acceptable in the role of indicating your backwards thinking as a lubri-progressive owner.

It really doesn't matter whether your dealer has the correct oil or not as; the dealer doesn't really exist, will soon cease to exist, will fail to acknowledge the existence of you or your bike or will don his "Wonder Woman" bracelets of resistance when you come around.

Oh, and make certain to find where the hose clamps go! Anyhow, that's some of the info I've gleaned so far.

[Mark West]

If this comes in to the U.S. at > 16 grand, I predict > 50% of them will be sold at blowout prices after they have sat for a looong time. I would hope that they are targeting to sell it in the same price range as the Cal Vin.

[Dirtclod]

Any oil at all will be perfectly acceptable

Thanks Cruzzi, looks like everything will be OK.  The local scooter dealer really wants to add Guzzi to their boutique.  He recommended melted butter.  He also said it was handy to have in the sump as corn is in season.  Maybe after supper I'll fashion my own cob pipe. 

[rocker59]

I would hope that they are targeting to sell it in the same price range as the Cal Vin.

Cal Vins sell cheap, way below MSRP. 

Do you mean "Cal Vin selling price", or "Cal Vin MSRP"?

[rocker59]

I think they put the CalVin seat on there to go with the bags. The prototype shown earlier this year had a different seat.

Compare side-by-side photos of a Cal Vin and a Cal 14.

Though the latest pic shows a skunk seat, it does not appear to be the same as the Cal Vin.

Look at the nose of the seat on both bikes.

[rocker59]

I've been away for a bit so maybe I missed it....Where's the radiator?  Still a work in progress?

After seeing this latest bike, my guess is that we were faked-out by the front cowling on the earlier bike, meaning it's not got the rumored liquid-cooled heads.

The oil cooler is clearly visible on the black Cal 14.

[LowRyter]

I've been away for a bit so maybe I missed it....Where's the radiator?  Still a work in progress?

After seeing this latest bike, by guess is that we were faked-out by the front cowling on the earlier bike, meaning it's not got the rumored liquid-cooled heads.

The oil cooler is clearly visible on the black Cal 14.

I hope you're right

[bad Chad]

You guys kill me with your idea of pricing.   Guzzi is going up scale, both in quality and pricing, that's were they are planing to carve their larger than current niche.   I will eat crow if this bike is less than 16K, I can see it fully equipped at $18,000 easy.   This bike looks to be squarely aimed at the Road King.   I think the guy that has had 3 Road Kings already, and is looking for something a little different, but still carrying authenticity that only old continuously operated brands like H-D, BMW, and Guzzi have, is the target buyer.   And since BMW doesn't make anything to compete, Guzzi is going to be sitting pretty.

[Kev m]

It's not aimed at the RK if it's equipped like a Black Eagle

I'd argue the Cal-Vin was aimed at the RK when introduced,  but even it's MSRP was THOUSANDS less.

So we'll see, but don't laugh too hard till we see the final product.

[Mark West]

You guys kill me with your idea of pricing.   Guzzi is going up scale, both in quality and pricing, that's were they are planing to carve their larger than current niche.   I will eat crow if this bike is less than 16K, I can see it fully equipped at $18,000 easy.   This bike looks to be squarely aimed at the Road King.   I think the guy that has had 3 Road Kings already, and is looking for something a little different, but still carrying authenticity that only old continuously operated brands like H-D, BMW, and Guzzi have, is the target buyer.   And since BMW doesn't make anything to compete, Guzzi is going to be sitting pretty.

I would say that is a pretty small market and those people are also ones that I think will expect a more extensive and higher quality dealer network than Guzzi currently has.

Everyone knows the overall motorcycle market is smaller than it was a few years ago when every would-be biker was buying something with home equity. That means in order for Guzzi to grow it's sales, they have to take market share from other brands. Not sure they can do that on looks and heritage alone. I believe value is going to be a bigger factor in most bike sales and if this bike is going to be priced as high as a Road King, I think it's gonna be a tough road.

[RayB]

If I was going to spend that many dineros on a RK wannabe, I'd spend it on the real thing instead of a subsitute.

Not for me thank you

[rocker59]

The market determines prices.

Piaggio cannot just say Guzzi is a premium brand, demanding premium prices, and have people knocking down the doors to pay MSRP.  The past seven or eight years has shown that Guzzi management has repeatedly overpriced the bikes in the USA market by 25% - 30%.  Year-end blowout sales prove that.

Piaggio also cannot just decide how many bikes they will sell and produce them.  The market sets demand.  Piaggio painfully discovered that after the 2006/2007 production ramp-up.

The bikes have to be desireable. 

The reason Harley Davidson is the leading seller of big street-going motorcycles is that they created an image.  They created a demand.  And, when demand was at its highest, they strictly managed supply, in order to keep up the demand.  People want Harleys. I don't know that any other company can do what HD has done, and I don't know that I want Guzzi to do it.

The first thing HD riders ask me about my Guzzis is, "where's the nearest dealer".  When my answer is in the hundreds of miles, thier faces always go blank.  You see, the dealership experience is a huge part of the Harley experience.  People want to stop at HD dealers to see and to be seen.  Piaggio will never have that in the USA.  They just won't.

I know it would only take a few hundred converts per year to be a big deal, but honestly, I just don't see Guzzi pulling  many repeat HD customers away from thier brand.  It's just not going to happen in any significant numbers.

Pulling non-committed riders off of all brands, I can see.  Basically, Piaggio are going to have to pick a few riders up here, and a few riders up there.  The Guzzi brand is on the ground floor in the USA.  There is no one thing that will make things better.  Everything needs to be done, and in coordination, to sell more than a few hundred machines per year here.

I don't doubt that Piaggio will price the poor Cal 14 at $18k in the USA.  If/when they do that, it will be a repeat performance of the Cal Vin, the Breva Sport, and every other Guzzi in the USA over the past few years.  ie:  great deals at the end of the year.

[mtiberio]

Hate to say it, but it looks like a Cali II saddle... not only that but the early version...