Author Topic: California 1400 Merged Threadfest (Read 855570 times)

jackson · « **Reply #1050 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:25:34 PM »

I like the look. I don't do any long distance riding anymore so I wouldn't like the floor boards but the overall look is attractive to me. It DOES need a center stand.

youcanrunnaked · « **Reply #1051 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:31:22 PM »

I'm still liking it. Hopefully, those tail lights are a styling exercise and not the production version.

I'm sorry to see a rear stand being used on the display bike; I hope the production bike continues the California tradition of a cruiser with enough ground clearance to achieve impressive lean angles AND carry a center stand. (If I could only have one or the other, I guess I'd settle for keeping the lean angles generous, but I wouldn't be happy with the compromise.)

I'm reserving judgment on the gauges and controls until I see a production bike. If they use a single gauge instrument cluster, I hope the tachometer is the analog portion; I could live with a digital speed read-out (assuming it's legible in direct sunlight). The model shown looks to be the opposite arrangement, however. I wouldn't mind mid-forward foot controls, but, please, not full forward. I HATE forward controls and would never buy a bike with them. They take your legs completely out of the handling equation. I find it hard to tell what the seat / foot relationship is on the bike shown, but they look maybe a bit too far froward for my taste. I need to see a picture of the bike with a pilot. Anyone have one they can post?

The Rotund One · « **Reply #1052 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:37:43 PM »

All I can say is.... I'm glad I've got my CalVin.

I don't dislike it, except for the short rear fender, but,,,, it's not getting me all fired up. That said, I've been told that I'm hesitant to change and I may very well get all "warm and fuzzy" about it when it's finalized.

The upside is that development IS happening!

youcanrunnaked · « **Reply #1053 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:42:19 PM »

Muschi, are you saying that as a fan of the California series? I ask because, your bike list goes in a decidedly different direction.

Kev m · « **Reply #1054 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:48:14 PM »

I like my tonti Cali - but it comes up shy in a lot of areas - including electrical system, instrumentation and to some extent, performance, when compared with a CARC big-block. The continued internal oil filter is another unforgivable offense. I won't even go into sausage brakes.

I'm hoping that this new Cali addresses those issues without losing the other characteristics that make it a fine chassis.

JohninVT` · « **Reply #1055 on:** February 03, 2012, 01:15:51 PM »

What the hell does a modern cruiser with shaft drive and tubeless tires need a centerstand for? Jesus H. Christ...some of you guys would bitch about ANYTHING that wasn't a 45 year old Eldorado.

It's going to weigh 650lbs at the very least. Your intestines would drop into your nutsack trying to yank something that big onto a centerstand.

Cue the whiney-ass voice over:

"I wish it had a centerstand"
"I wish it had points"
"It should have carbs"
"Will a Vetter fairing and Dan Brown bags fit?"
:beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse

youcanrunnaked · « **Reply #1056 on:** February 03, 2012, 01:28:46 PM »

Quote from: JohninVT` on February 03, 2012, 01:15:51 PM

What the hell does a modern cruiser with shaft drive and tubeless tires need a centerstand for?

It's useful when trying to fit it into a garage with three other bikes.

It's useful when changing fluids and doing other maintenance.

It's useful for plugging a tire on the side of the road.

It's cool as hell. :P

Let's hope this new model does not weigh anything close to 650 lbs. If anything, I'm hoping that with modern materials they found a way to shave a few pounds. In any event, getting a bike on a center stand is a matter of leverage, not brute strength. You can put a 1,000 lb bike on a center stand, if it's designed correctly.

Hmmm... I wonder if it has linked brakes? As much as I'm getting used to them on my EV, I think unlinked brakes with ABS is the way to move forward.

Oh, yeah. I like that funky blue paint, too. I doubt it will sell in the US (too chi-chi European), but, I like it.

Kev m · « **Reply #1057 on:** February 03, 2012, 01:31:11 PM »

Linked brakes would be a deal breaker too...

youcanrunnaked · « **Reply #1058 on:** February 03, 2012, 01:52:46 PM »

Quote from: Muschi on February 03, 2012, 01:39:03 PM

at naked :) : I am a big fan of the california series, but that thing looks like a Japanese cruiser.
I wonder where the Italians are hiding there feel for contemporary design this time, that thing
looks like a creature from the mid-nineties. And it is awful.

See, I think that mid-'90's vibe you're feeling is the California series design elements coming through. (Side covers, fenders, height vs. length....) The fuel tank cut-outs for the valve covers is a 1920's thing, not 1990's. Meanwhile, showing off the engine like that is pure Guzzi. It doesn't recall any Japanese cruiser, to my eye.

I think the Italian flair will come out in the details. How the triple tree is machined. How the mirrors and lights are styled. The color choices. Luggage and light kits. I could be wrong, but I'm optimistic.

rtbickel · « **Reply #1059 on:** February 03, 2012, 03:36:54 PM »

As long as it Guzzi makes some decent looking saddlebags and a functional windshield or fairing available, one of these will find a home in my garage. I will soon start to practice my sniveling for when I go before my banker to fund the transaction. Right now I will just drool on my keyboard.

rocker59 · « **Reply #1060 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:18:29 PM »

Quote from: gooseontheloose on February 03, 2012, 07:35:05 AM

From TLM facebook page (world dealer meeting)

Looking at the "gouge" or "groove" in the side cover makes me believe they're still using Marabese for styling. That element has been present in some form on every bike since the V11 LeMans.

I really hate that the front fender's stay has been deleted. I liked it on the black bike shown a few months ago.

I'd need to make some photo comparison measurements, but it looks like a low seat and a long wheelbase relative to the existing Cal Vin/Cal 90.

That fuel tank sure looks like something a person in a chop shop could come up with, if starting with an Eldo/Ambo tank.

I'd rather have pegs than boards. The boards on these preproduction bikes look too flat to me, based on the apparent ergos.

Looks like its got GREAT brakes. The wheels are super-cool. I like the retro looking large gauge housing with multi function LCD screen.

The rear fender looks OK, but after looking at the bike several times, I just can't take the tail lights. The tail light off a V7 or a Bassa/Special would look much better.

This thing has attitude, and I'll bet that 1400cc engine will sound healthy with a set aftermarket cans!

bad Chad · « **Reply #1061 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:24:35 PM »

Foot controls do look pretty far forward compared to todays Cali. But, it looks to have a conventional rear brake pedal, (i.e. no baby penis!)

It's not my kind of bike, but I think in touring guise it might work well for a lot of guys. And with just a few tweaks it may pull some Road King sales!

bad Chad · « **Reply #1062 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:30:49 PM »

How to read the clock? It the temp ambient, or oil? And what is the M G A showing R 2 2 shown under the minutes on the clock?

johnr · « **Reply #1063 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:48:52 PM »

Quote from: bad Chad on February 03, 2012, 04:30:49 PM

How to read the clock? It the temp ambient, or oil? And what is the M G A showing R 2 2 shown under the minutes on the clock?

Temp is probably water. (It is water cooled isn't it?)
I'm no fan of the tail lights either, and where does your number plate go?
Plastic tank would be a deal breaker for me, as would the lack of centre stand.

What the hey. I couldn't afford one anyway.

lti_57 · « **Reply #1064 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:57:01 PM »

Quote from: JohninVT` on February 03, 2012, 01:15:51 PM

What the hell does a modern cruiser with shaft drive and tubeless tires need a centerstand for? some of you guys would bitch about ANYTHING that wasn't a 45 year old Eldorado.

It's going to weigh 650lbs at the very least. Your intestines would drop into your nutsack trying to yank something that big onto a centerstand.

Cue the whiney-ass voice over:

"I wish it had a centerstand"
"I wish it had points"
"It should have carbs"
"Will a Vetter fairing and Dan Brown bags fit?"
:beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse :beat_horse

Now thats funny right there

jdgretz · « **Reply #1065 on:** February 03, 2012, 05:05:23 PM »

Quote from: JohninVT` on February 03, 2012, 01:15:51 PM

It's going to weigh 650lbs at the very least. Your intestines would drop into your nutsack trying to yank something that big onto a centerstand.

That's what I thought as well until I put a Goldwing up on one. Proper design makes it no harder than putting my Norge on her center stand. Of course the electro-hydraulic center stand of the K1200LT is nice.

jdg

youcanrunnaked · « **Reply #1066 on:** February 03, 2012, 05:11:08 PM »

Quote from: johnr on February 03, 2012, 04:48:52 PM

Temp is probably water. (It is water cooled isn't it?)

I'm not so sure. That radiator between the headers looks too small for a water-cooling radiator. It looks to me like an oil cooler. My guess is it's air/oil cooled, like the other current Guzzi big blocks.

Kev m · « **Reply #1067 on:** February 03, 2012, 05:55:50 PM »

The last report here on the subject was air/oil cooled, but nothing definitive yet.

blackcat · « **Reply #1068 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:05:51 PM »

Yuch....I will have to gain 50lbs to ride the damn thing.

ohiorider · « **Reply #1069 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:09:45 PM »

Its mother was a Centauro, the father is unknown.

Bob

QCGoose · « **Reply #1070 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:12:18 PM »

Man, the more I look at this thing, the less I'm liking it. I really hope there's a good amount of design changes made to the production model.

mphcycles · « **Reply #1071 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:41:43 PM »

as one of 3 Americans to see the prototype at the design studio I would like to comment.
I dont know who does it , but these photos suck. The bike looks better in person than these angles and poor lighting reveal. I will admit to being not a big fan of the Tonti Cali in all forms, its just not my personal style of bike. After we 3 saw this new one, we all had similar inputs to the design team about what the US market will go for. This green bike is not one we saw, so I cant say if they have taken those ideas into metal.
I liked the new Cal better than I thought I would based on those photos shown before of the white one .
It is air/oil cooled, liquid comes later on other models.

Kev m · « **Reply #1072 on:** February 03, 2012, 06:52:37 PM »

That's pretty definitive, thanks ;-T

leafman60 · « **Reply #1073 on:** February 03, 2012, 07:09:44 PM »

Much too stylized for my tastes. Don't they have any appreciation for classic Guzzi themes ? This thing looks more like an effort to match the Honda Rune or a Victory Vision !

wyrtyr2 · « **Reply #1074 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:15:46 PM »

Looks heavy, real heavy, and tankerlike. Not my taste. Kinda like the Rune

Chicago Mark · « **Reply #1075 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:20:36 PM »

Serious Part:
I've very rarely seen a picture of a Moto Guzzi where the bike didn't look MUCH better in person. The only thing I have against the bike in these pictures is that it's not in my garage. Otherwise, I LOVE IT !!! I'm very anxious to see one whenever they make it to my favorite local dealer, Rose Farm Classics.

Non Serious Part:
Add your red suspender wearing, corn cob pipe smoking, dirty and torn bib overalls kind of rider, Vetter Windjammer fairing fan, Califia Fats saddlebag lover, GIVI trunk fan/geek and a roll of duct tape to tighten up the things prone to rattle or fall off and call this bike done! Oh, and don't forget the hose clamp. ;D

YMMV,

Mark

alpine · « **Reply #1076 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:44:06 PM »

Somehow I hate to say this .....i LIKE IT !!!!! ;-T

Roberto.

LowRyter · « **Reply #1077 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:53:22 PM »

hope it's not too heavy, has good ground clearance &

handles and revvvvs like a Guzzi!

:bike

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #1078 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:56:19 PM »

The problem as I see it is...

You are always going to get people that don't like cruisers, or don't like sports bikes, or don't like touring bikes, or don't like blah blah blah........
Up until now, IMHO, the California/EV series has been a mix of touring and cruiser. They tried to do both and IMHO didn't do to bad a job at it.
This thing is clearly more a cruiser, and less touring.
They have the Norge/Breva and Stelvio for touring. So they want to fill a more cruiser category. I guess the California series is the one to do that with.
I wish them luck. It's not something I would want right now for sure.
Plus the more serious issue. If you owned it, at some point you would have to look at that tank. ::)

~;

Kev m · « **Reply #1079 on:** February 03, 2012, 09:02:09 PM »

What makes you think this isn't for touring? ???

News:

Author Topic: *California 1400 Merged Threadfest* (Read 855570 times)

The Rotund One

JohninVT`

lti_57

Chicago Mark

alpine

Author Topic: California 1400 Merged Threadfest (Read 855570 times)