*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[JJ]

If you have to ask, you can't afford it?...  ???

Where there's a will...there is a way...and especially for me....and when it comes to motorcycles!! ;D :D ;) :)

[rboe]

Well JJ, maybe I should sell you the Griso and I'll take the 1400...   :BEER:

[JJ]

Well JJ, maybe I should sell you the Griso and I'll take the 1400...   :BEER:

Let's face the reality Ronzo... ;D :D ;) you miss your ol' Quota...you never really bonded with your new Griso...you keep talking about "cruisers" to the point where at C4 and Cruise Night you are looking more closely at Fat Boy's, Heritage Softails, and bikes of that class! :o :o ::) ::)

I told you that you should have bought a Norge or a Stelvio! ;D ;D :D :D ;) :)

[Chicago Mark]

Let's face the reality Ronzo... ;D :D ;) you miss your ol' Quota...you never really bonded with your new Griso...you keep talking about "cruisers" to the point where at C4 and Cruise Night you are looking more closely at Fat Boy's, Heritage Softails, and bikes of that class! :o :o ::) ::)

I told you that you should have bought a Norge or a Stelvio! ;D ;D :D :D ;) :)

     If cruisers are what's being stared at, then a Norge or Stelvio would have been a real mistake. Nothing wrong with Milwaukees finest. They're great mototcycles. They also happen to do very well what 99% of most riders do 99% of the time. I'd take a Road Glide or a Street Glide in a minute thank you very much. A Victory Cross Country, Cross Roads would be awesome as well.

All the best,

Mark

[JJ]

     If cruisers are what's being stared at, then a Norge or Stelvio would have been a real mistake. Nothing wrong with Milwaukees finest. They're great mototcycles. They also happen to do very well what 99% of most riders do 99% of the time. I'd take a Road Glide or a Street Glide in a minute thank you very much. A Victory Cross Country, Cross Roads would be awesome as well.

All the best,

Mark

Having owned and ridden 4 Big Twin Harley's (2 FLHS and 2 Road Kings) in my career, putting a total of over 125,000 miles on all four, I would agree 100%.  :) 8) ;-T ;-T

Also, I have to say the new Victory Cross Country and Cross Country Tour models are very nice as well! 8) ;-T ;-T :)

[rboe]

Right now, the only bike that would come close to getting me to sell the Griso for; Honda CB1100F. And that would be a big IF it makes it to the States.

After riding a big twin for the past four years I"m not sure if would like a four that much.

[custimguitarman]

Right now, the only bike that would come close to getting me to sell the Griso for; Honda CB1100F. And that would be a big IF it makes it to the States.

After riding a big twin for the past four years I"m not sure if would like a four that much.

But the nostalgia that thing wreaks of would be awesome!

[rboe]

Alas, I completely agree....

[JJ]

But the nostalgia that thing wreaks of would be awesome!

Two words for both of you guys..."Oh my...!"   :) 8) ;-T ;-T

[Kev m]

Two words for both of you guys..."Oh my...!"   :) 8) ;-T ;-T

L4s and Hondas are NOT my thing - but THAT is a nice bike. I always said if they brought it to the US I'd consider one.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Reeks not wreaks

[Unkept]

Two words for both of you guys..."Oh my...!"   :) 8) ;-T ;-T

This bike, and the VTR250 are the only Honda's I'd consider... and they both aren't available in the US.  :'(

[bpreynolds]

Two words for both of you guys..."Oh my...!"   :) 8) ;-T ;-T

Bleh.   ;)  To each his own.  No offense intended but I lost my excitement for this bike after the numbers came out and too after owning the GT1000 I used to have, a bike that is also retro but greatly less heavy, comparable performance, and with, I think it's safe to say, more character as well.  Don't get me wrong, I like the innovative idea Honda has of better cooling the two interior cylinders, and that tank is painted pretty and all but by most accounts the bike is merely a serviceable and decent standard without a great amount of soul.  Again, no insult intended and I mean this as a kind of compliment, but it would seem to me that if you are looking for that modern Bonnie with a bit more power, this is it.  I will admit it is a sharp looking bike.

[Kev m]

If I HAD to pick a Honda sold here today I might go for the NT700X as it seems like a decent, utilitarian bike and my SIL loves hers.

That said, BP - "but by most accounts the bike is merely a serviceable and decent standard" THAT'S EXACTLY why I'd like it.

I'd also imagine the valve adjustments would be less frequent and possibly easier than the Duc. Not to mention the plastic tank issue on the Duc would be enough for me to look elsewhere.

That said, I'm not likely buying a Honda OR ANOTHER DUC anytime soon.

[bpreynolds]

If I HAD to pick a Honda sold here today I might go for the NT700X as it seems like a decent, utilitarian bike and my SIL loves hers.

That said, BP - "but by most accounts the bike is merely a serviceable and decent standard" THAT'S EXACTLY why I'd like it.

I'd also imagine the valve adjustments would be less frequent and possibly easier than the Duc. Not to mention the plastic tank issue on the Duc would be enough for me to look elsewhere.

That said, I'm not likely buying a Honda OR ANOTHER DUC anytime soon.

All points well taken, Kev, and I'd agree with you on all of them.  I'm just saying that for me personally, if I had to choose a retro standard, I'd take the valve checks, better performance, and more character of the GT.  And just because there is rampant misunderstanding on this board about the Ducati maintenance, I'd only add here that the "official" valve check is now a very reasonable 7500 miles.  Most guys who do their own checks say that should actually be about every 10k-12k even.  But, I'd also add that if I wasn't willing to learn the desmo valve check, and a Duc was going to be my only bike, I'd probably advice against getting one.  But yes, I agree with you, I'm sure the Honda's intervals are better still.  And hey, my comment about the Honda being the bigger and modern Bonnie was not meant as insult; it's just not for me.

And shoot, let me rephrase, if I had to choose a retro standard, I'd still skip the Honda, sell the Duc like I did, and get my Jackal.   ;D :D  It's a retro standard, right??? :)  

[Kev m]

LOL - no insult taken for sure - I just found it funny since it's the exact reason I like it.

As for Duc maintenance, don't forget replacing the timing belts every 2 years.

And on the newer ones that use the Siemen's ECU's instead of the Weber-Marelli's I believe there is no such thing as a VDST yet, so you NEED THE DEALER TO TURN OFF THE OIL CHANGE/SERVICE WRENCH right now.  ::)

Good thing my wife only puts a couple thousand miles a year on it otherwise I'd be pretty annoyed.

Oh yeah, and about that $1200 Brembo rim that bent on me the other day - UGH.

[rboe]

I'm in the same boat with Kev here. I like it for what it is (and isn't); which are very similar reasons the Griso is so nice. I miss the standards which is too funny as back when they were king I was hoping they would come out with fast crotch rocket citizen racers. Which they have done in spades.

Now that they are as common as toilet paper; meh. Cool to look at but not so much to sit on and ride. Says more about me and my riding focus than anything else though.

[john fish]

Sorry if this is 205, but a very interesting talk on the new cali.  Good pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4K3kFFnYDg&feature=g-crec-u




Sorry, no embed.  You'll just have to hit the link.  :)

John

[Travman]

So I gleened from the video that the full touring version will be presented first in Sept. or October. Any day now.

[Tazturtle]

Apparently the 1400 will be in the shops in the UK in October this year!

This was posted on Corsa Italiana's Facebook page 2 hours ago:

"The New California 1400 is looking good! just had the spec sheet through and we are most impressed and very excited about it. ABS, Traction Control, Cruise Control, 35ltr Panniers, Screen, Passenger Grab Rail, Engine Bars, Front Spot Lamps ~ £14,499 ~ we are expecting the first bikes to arrive in October ~ Deposits being taken ~ Call for details.

** Bike may vary from that shown in the photograph"

[Kev m]

Spec sheet?

Ohhhhh...maybe some of our answers on size are finally about to be answered!

[Guzzi-Guy]

Pricey!!

[Kev m]

Pricey!!

How so we know yet? That's a different market.

What's a Griso 8V or a Cal Vin sell for there?

[Guzzirider]

Bloody pricey- Calvin lists for about £11k but punters rarely pay more than £9k for one.

[Kev m]

Ooooh.... :o  ok, that puts it in perspective, thanks!  ;-T

[Chicago Mark]

Kev m,

     Slightly used 09 CalVin's are well under $10k. But now that there's a spec sheet the weight and size questions can certainly be addressed.

Mark

[Digitaltown]

Ooooh.... :o  ok, that puts it in perspective, thanks!  ;-T

To give a it more persective

My dealers felt if it was £12,000 it would sell, if they could have got it below £10,000 they would sell shed loads. £14,000 makes it a very expensive bike.

Triumph Thunderbird sells for £10,500 and a Rocket 3 for £12,500. I can get a BMW K1600 GT for £15,700 so it gives an idea where it sits in the current pricing of UK bikes. Sadly at £14,000 I wouldn't consider one although I really like it but I just could not justify the cost. It's about £5000 more than I could have bought a new Black Eagle cali a few weeks back...or 50% more....that's a big increase.

[Kev m]

To give a it more persective

My dealers felt if it was £12,000 it would sell, if they could have got it below £10,000 they would sell shed loads. £14,000 makes it a very expensive bike.

Triumph Thunderbird sells for £10,500 and a Rocket 3 for £12,500. I can get a BMW K1600 GT for £15,700 so it gives an idea where it sits in the current pricing of UK bikes. Sadly at £14,000 I wouldn't consider one although I really like it but I just could not justify the cost. It's about £5000 more than I could have bought a new Black Eagle cali a few weeks back...or 50% more....that's a big increase.

NOW THAT's a useful comparison.

Mark - can't really compare UK to US pricing - it's not like they're going to just take the UK price in pounds and convert it to dollars. There's a lot more that goes into their final decision on price for the US. But I think we can guess it will be on the higher end for sure now. I suspect from market pressures it won't go north of $17k, but if it does yikes.

[Oca]

NOW THAT's a useful comparison.

Mark - can't really compare UK to US pricing - it's not like they're going to just take the UK price in pounds and convert it to dollars. There's a lot more that goes into their final decision on price for the US. But I think we can guess it will be on the higher end for sure now. I suspect from market pressures it won't go north of $17k, but if it does yikes.

It might be the same.  2 years ago, when I was in London, the price for a Mini Cooper Clubman was £32,000.00 OTD.  In the US, it was $32,000.00.  It might not be analogous, just saying.

[Kev m]

It might be the same.  2 years ago, when I was in London, the price for a Mini Cooper Clubman was £32,000.00 OTD.  In the US, it was $32,000.00.  It might not be analogous, just saying.

Well since a £1 doesn't equal $1, they're not the "same" - right?

BUT if you're suggesting perhaps the US model will be $14.5k I think you're probably optimistic, but I sure hope you're right.  :BEER: