*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[jdgretz]

That is one ugly ass headlight.

jdg

[Wayne Orwig]

Not excited.
I'll reserve more comments for the final act.

[Travman]

I absolutely hate it. No need to see one in person.  It is so ugly I can't stand looking at it. Each subsequent picture that comes out looks worse. This bike is going to bankrupt Guzzi.

I didn't notice the shock cutout before. It looks terrible. I notice there is a line that seems to cut the bike in half.  Notice where the seat meets the tank and then the front of the side cover then the frame. It all forms one line that visually cuts the bike in half.

[MGKrebs]

I absolutely hate it. No need to see one in person.  It is so ugly I can't stand looking at it. Each subsequent picture that comes out looks worse. This bike is going to bankrupt Guzzi.

I didn't notice the shock cutout before. It looks terrible. I notice there is a line that seems to cut the bike in half.  Notice where the seat meets the tank and then the front of the side cover then the frame. It all forms one line that visually cuts the bike in half.

That is weird. Like two bikes have been grafted together. Even the exhaust has a line near there.

edit to add: Just a simple change to the shape of that side cover would probably fix it.

[Mark West]

Here we go again.



http://www.motociclismo.it/popupgallery/moto-scooter/moto-guzzi-california-1400-in-versione-definitiva?iframe=true&width=980&height=605
http://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-california-1400-in-versione-definitiva-moto-52377

(the guy is about 2 m high)

Looks like he is hanging his heel off the rear of the footboard in order to prevent his leg from hitting the cylinder head.
Waiting to see one in person to see if those boards are as forward as they look.

[Lannis]

16" wheels?

If Harley has them, the 1400 HAS to have them, doesn't it?

[alpine]

I like the Skunk seat !

Roberto.

[Kev m]

I've got mixed feelings about the looks. Still want to see it in person.

More importantly, I still want to see some specs.

But I don't hate it.

[youcanrunnaked]

First, I like it.  I like the black fork; very reminiscent of the Eldorado.  I like the cylinder heads cut-outs in the tank; very old school, like the very first motorcycles.  I like the details; I think they are very well done and expensive-looking.

Second, I'm not sure why you guys are saying it looks massive.  The person sitting on the bike is 6' 5" (2 meters) tall, and he does not fit the bike -- it's too small for him.  In fact, it looks to me like people over 6' tall are going to have trouble fitting on this bike.  That's NOT a big bike.

Look at it in comparison to the BMW C right next to it.  They are similarly sized, and the BMW is not a big bike.

Look at it from the back.  Notice how the seat tapers and drops down in the front.  It looks to me that unlike the current California, people around 5' tall will be able to flat-foot it.

So, exactly how is a cruiser that's designed to fit people between 5' and 6' tall, massive?

[rocker59]

16" wheels?

Looks like the same 17" rear / 18" front combo they've been running for years.

[bad Chad]

Looks pretty darn close to done to me.  The Mandelo eagle is on the tank if you look closely.   Bike does not look huge when taken in full scale at all.

I like it.

[rocker59]

Where did that quote come from?

Mahatma Gandhi

[john fish]

Here we go again.



http://www.motociclismo.it/popupgallery/moto-scooter/moto-guzzi-california-1400-in-versione-definitiva?iframe=true&width=980&height=605
http://www.motociclismo.it/moto-guzzi-california-1400-in-versione-definitiva-moto-52377

(the guy is about 2 m high)

It doesn't look like he can operate the rear brake.  :(

John

[Chicago Mark]

Why would you say that? He's just posing for a simple picture.

Mark

[goog64]

I think because one could imagine that if he tries to put his foot on the brake lever, the cylinder will be in the way of his shin?

[Kent in Upstate NY]

It still looks all wrong.

[Dogwalker]

The guy in the photo is the owner of the 850 T3 that you can partly see in picture 5. He just climbed on the bike for a moment while the tester was not there, so that's not necessarily his riding position.
As said, he is a very tall guy.
The location of the shots is the "Birreria Padavena", a place that is traditionally full of bikers (something like a Triumph prototipe in front of the Ace Cafè), so the bike was there to be seen, and commented.

[john fish]

Why would you say that? He's just posing for a simple picture.

Mark

Looks like the cylinder would prevent him from moving his leg forward enough to get at the pedal.  IDK, reserving judgement until I see it in person.  Pictures can be very deceiving.

John

[Lannis]

Mahatma Gandhi

Yes; in trying to argue that people from the city are far superior to people from rural areas in wisdom, friends, and cultural awareness, unsere deutschen Freunde had invoked Gandhi.    So as to end my part of the discussion and not get caught in the crossfire when he inevitably got snipped, I just left behind a little, somewhat appropos Gandhi quote.   I don't think anybody got it at the time though, and without the original context it falls a bit flat ....

Lannis

[rtbickel]

Hmmm.  The squared-off front fender does not match the style of the rest of the bike.  Skunk seat has to go. And I want to see it in RED!  But me likey!

[Chicago Mark]

I think because one could imagine that if he tries to put his foot on the brake lever, the cylinder will be in the way of his shin?

That would be news to those who have actually ridden this new model. Presumedly they were able to bring it to a stop. But many are certainly welcome to draw their own speculations. As I've always said, I really want to like this bike when it comes to the US. But I'd prefer it in white with an all black seat. Also anxious to see the windshield, saddlebag and other options as well. Certainly the price of it will be interesting to find out. Are they supposed to be in the US later this year or early next?

Mark

[PICKLEKOOKEN]

 ??? Will the forks fit on my Eldo? ~; ~; ~;

[cruzziguzzi]

Hmmm.  The squared-off front fender does not match the style of the rest of the bike.  Skunk seat has to go. And I want to see it in RED!  But me likey!

Both fenders leave me cold as to style and geometry and while skunkifying a seat is a legitimate nod to nostalgic style, I don't see it much supported or replicated elsewhere on the bike. I'm in fact going to have to add some white to my all black Calvin to regain the justification for the seats skunkiness which I hate to give up.

[bad Chad]

I like the headlight, different, yet cool.   Rear fender looks good to me too, not sure I like the tag set up, but that can be changed.

[Mark West]

I just realized what I don't like about this side view. Notice how the tank and seat come together in a vertical line. Then note how the side cover below has a straight edge that follows the seat/tank line. And if you follow it down even further, you have another vertical line on the front of what appears to be a variation of a CARC drive.

The result is that the front and rear of the bike don't flow together and look as though they were designed separately and then stuck together. The more I look at it the more I dislike it. I hope they do something about that on the production version.

[Adan]

I just realized what I don't like about this side view. Notice how the tank and seat come together in a vertical line. Then note how the side cover below has a straight edge that follows the seat/tank line. And if you follow it down even further, you have another vertical line on the front of what appears to be a variation of a CARC drive.

The result is that the front and rear of the bike don't flow together and look as though they were designed separately and then stuck together. The more I look at it the more I dislike it. I hope they do something about that on the production version.

Right.  You expect to see hinges on the other side, or something.  

I don't "get" big cruisers.  Why so much power just to ride slowly?  Obviously, I'm in the ignorant minority on this one.

[Kev m]

I don't "get" big cruisers.  Why so much power just to ride slowly?  Obviously, I'm in the ignorant minority on this one.

Because people's definition of "slowly" varies.

Some people use big cruisers to tour on - sometimes high-speed, 2-up on the highway.

And it's good to have power in reserve.

That said, I'm not a "Big Cruiser" guy either, though I would like another RK one of these days for the aforementioned purposes.

[LowRyter]

Because people's definition of "slowly" varies.

Some people use big cruisers to tour on - sometimes high-speed, 2-up on the highway.

And it's good to have power in reserve.
That said, I'm not a "Big Cruiser" guy either, though I would like another RK one of these days for the aforementioned purposes.

what is the "power in reserve" that you speak?  Is there a special Harley Key for HOG members-only that the rest of us can't obtain?  Secret power residing only that the Motor Company faithful can access?

[Kev m]

what is the "power in reserve" that you speak?  Is there a special Harley Key for HOG members-only that the rest of us can't obtain?  Secret power residing only that the Motor Company faithful can access?

 ???

This isn't just about Harleys but I totally don't understand your comment.

Regardless, let me explain my point further, for instance, a typical Tonti Cali like my Jackal made decent power, and wasn't bad 2-up. But a pass at highway speeds really required a downshift that say the Breva 1100 could get away without.

I think that is ONE of the reasons some people like the big motor cruisers (i.e. the 1400-1800cc and bigger bikes).

[LowRyter]

OK Kev,

so for some bikes the "reserve power" is acccessed by a down shift and for others it's just a pull of the right wrist (provided you're not already pulling 4400-5k rpm)?

OK, got it.  Nothing hidden when I've ridden a Glide, RK or Soft Tail (or Star, Vulcan or Vision).