*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[LowRyter]

longer, lower & heavier......perhap s only 100lb heavier instead of 150lb

[rocker59]

Is there a functional reason for the shape of the headlight? 

No.  For some reason, over the past few years, the headlights of new motorcycles seem to have gotten the attention of the designers.

Probably has a vertical row of LEDs on each  side of the main beam, or some other silliness.

Nothing wrong with letting a headlight be a headlight.  Same with the weird LED tail lights they've tacked on to the Cal 14.  Sometimes a tail light should just be a tail light...

[bad Chad]

Head lights and tail lights have been a object of designer play at least since 1980, remember the rectangualr headlight craze of the early eighties? 

Seems like an easy place to ply your wears if you are a bike designer.  Think about it, when working with a bike, how much do you really have to work with?  It's a hell of a lot less than a car.

[Kev m]

No.  For some reason, over the past few years, the headlights of new motorcycles seem to have gotten the attention of the designers.

How sure are you it has nothing to do with function?

Could just be correlation, but as I've said, the modern lights I've had that looked like that functioned way better than any traditional round ones I've had. Could obviously be other factors but still.

[pbeesley]

I have a theory about the headlight. I wonder if perhaps the twin columns of LEDs down the sides serve to inform drivers that what they're seeing in the distance isn't just a car with one lamp out. Of course, it's entirely possible that they'd simply be drowned out by the low beam brightness or that the horizontal separation is too small but if not then it'd be a good way to shout "I'm not a car".

[rocker59]

Head lights and tail lights have been a object of designer play at least since 1980, remember the rectangualr headlight craze of the early eighties?  

Seems like an easy place to ply your wears if you are a bike designer.  Think about it, when working with a bike, how much do you really have to work with?  It's a hell of a lot less than a car.

I have two bikes in the garage with square headlights.

What's different now is what's different with autos.  The headlights are proprietary and (overly) styled by a designer instead of being an off the shelf "standard" assembly.  

[Travman]

How sure are you it has nothing to do with function?

Could just be correlation, but as I've said, the modern lights I've had that looked like that functioned way better than any traditional round ones I've had. Could obviously be other factors but still.

Round ones can be made to work really well. I was very happily surprised the first time I took a night time ride on the Griso. It really lights up the road and gives you a good view of the shoulders too. Compared to all my other previous bikes (all of which had round headlights) the Griso's lights were much brighter and safer.

[Kev m]

I don't doubt round ones can be pretty great (our clear optic Harley lamp is impressive), I'm simply suggesting that since my irregular shaped ones are even better that perhaps there's a reason. But admit it could be coincidental.

[pauldaytona]

looks like it has led each side:

[Mark West]

I'm certainly in agreement that modern headlights are better than earlier ones, but not sure it's due to shape. Plenty of cars like the bug, mini, etc. have round headlights and work just fine. I suspect the LED's are driving lights but may also act as accents at night like the new Audi cars, but you could do the same with a round light.

[moltoguzzi]

looks like it has led each side:

Looking at the motoblog.it pix it seems the new redline is at 7K, 1000 rpm's is a lot to lose, which explains why only 96hp with a stomp pulling 90lbft. The headlight is just fine.

[Kev m]

I'm certainly in agreement that modern headlights are better than earlier ones, but not sure it's due to shape. Plenty of cars like the bug, mini, etc. have round headlights and work just fine. I suspect the LED's are driving lights but may also act as accents at night like the new Audi cars, but you could do the same with a round light.

Of course most automotive headlights are larger or deeper, therefore having more room for reflective surfaces.

But yeah, obviously you can have decent round headlights too.

Of course, not all lights are equal, sooo shape may still play some factor.

[youcanrunnaked]

It seems that both designers and engineers are paying more attention to vehicle lighting, from both an appearance and a performance perspective.  How can anyone complain about that?

[pbeesley]

The more I look at it, the more it's growing on me. I think this is going to be a definite see-it-in-person bike! When a demo bike rolls into the local dealership I'll endeavour to take it for a spin but I hear that's a little way off yet.

[bad Chad]

Kind of hard to say on the rpm.  My old Bassa would hit the limiter at about 7700.  My current Breva will pull around 8200 or so berfore the limiter sets in.  Will have to see where the new Cali puts the stoper.

[LowRyter]

I've never hit the limiter on my EV, don't think there's any power gain passed 7k anyway.

.......now the V11 will go to 8, no problemo .....have hit limiter but wasn't watching it.

[bad Chad]

You might be right, or not, but I used to bounce of my rev limiter all the time on my Bassa.  Never complained a bit, and still running strong!

[Dogwalker]

LEDs have the specific function of be seen by other drivers, even if they are out of the main cone of the light.
To see the road, ellipsoid headlights are unmatched, but they are barely visible to those who are not directly in front of them.
Parabolic reflectors (the normal round headlights) are more visible, but those of the bikes are still small, and not so visible than those of the cars.
The lateral LEDs make the headlight very bright from any angle, and then the bike more visible.

[Seagondollar]

I don't care much what the fit of the headlight is, so long as it functions - See and be seen.  One assumes this fits that role.

Also from:  http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2013-moto-guzzi-1400-california-aims-to-shake-the-cruiser-segment-51683.html

The bike is allegedly going to be loaded with all the nifty goods you'd expect from a top-drawer machine: electronic cruise control, ride-by-wire, ABS brakes, traction control and no less than 3 different engine mappings for various riding styles.

Couple the massive longitudinal V-Twin with a 6-speed gearbox and a shaft final drive, and load everything into an all-new sport-tuned chassis, and think about the Touring version, an even better-endowed bike full of nifty accessories, such as highway pegs, windshield, aux light and more. It really looks like the game's about to change.

[moltoguzzi]

Kind of hard to say on the rpm.  My old Bassa would hit the limiter at about 7700.  My current Breva will pull around 8200 or so berfore the limiter sets in.  Will have to see where the new Cali puts the stoper.

If you go to motoblog.it and click on the pix of the 1400 the pix it shows the red line starts at 7K. It makes sense since the 1400 motor makes less horses than the 1200. Horses are product of rims.

[Kev m]

If you go to motoblog.it and click on the pix of the 1400 the pix it shows the red line starts at 7K. It makes sense since the 1400 motor makes less horses than the 1200. Horses are product of rims.

Perhaps Chad meant that Guzzi isn't exactly famous for being precise with marking redline on their tachs (IF they even bother to mark it at all).

[moltoguzzi]

Perhaps Chad meant that Guzzi isn't exactly famous for being precise with marking redline on their tachs (IF they even bother to mark it at all).

All the fun on my EV is from 5Kthe to 8K, I love to run it in the high rpm range in the twisties. I hope the 1400 isn't more like HD motors were the fun is in the lower rev range.

[Vasco DG]

It all depends dunnit? Have any gearing specs been released yet? I haven't really been following all the brough-ha about this as it isn't really my sort of bike but the bevel box is different so its possible that the ratio may be different from a CARC bike and the primaries in the gearbox could be used to alter the ratios as well. If, as I suspect, the engine is tuned for bulk bottom end torque then a high red line is going to be pointless. Raise the gearing a tad and it'll still take off like a cut cat but with that slow, plodding exhaust note that seems to appeal to the cruiser crowd.

Lets face it, the aim here is to attract NEW buyers to the marque rather than catering to the *Old* customer base of people who never buy at retail and would rather eat worms than buy an OE part because the price is "Too high and I can make something just as good out of angle iron, 100 mile-an-hour tape and a bit of bailing wire."  ;D

Pete

[bad Chad]

Perhaps Chad meant that Guzzi isn't exactly famous for being precise with marking redline on their tachs (IF they even bother to mark it at all).

Bingo!  thanks Kev, you got exactly what I meant.   The electronic cut out might be dead on 7, or it might not, someone will have to ring one out and let us know.

[Guzzi-Guy]

Not bad in white either.



Jenn took one look and asked "hey why did they make the headlight shaped like a Harley bar and shield?" lol

I Like it enough for it to be the new background on my laptop  ;-T

[EVboyeee]

What? No toe guards........kiddi ng. That accessorized 1400 Cali doesn't look bad at all. IMHO. Now are these 1400s gonna have hydro valves?

[youcanrunnaked]

Now are these 1400s gonna have hydro valves?

They should, but, they won't.

[jdgretz]

I have a couple of requirements for a cruiser/touring bike - one is pretty simple; the wife must be happy on it.  This means comfortable seat for her, does not crowd me, backrest (can be top box) and a lot less wind buffeting than with the Norge.  The second is I need a bike I can attach a 3'x5' flag to for PGR rides.  Both Harleys and Goldwings do this very well, Victorys somewhat, the Honda Shadow can be coerced in to it, but the Norge - nope - no good place to build or mount a bracket as there is no rear frame.  I really want to like this bike and have it fulfill a need, but so far it doesn't look like it will solve my flag problem.

I do like the looks of it more with the production photos.

jdg

[Vasco DG]

What? No toe guards........kiddi ng. That accessorized 1400 Cali doesn't look bad at all. IMHO. Now are these 1400s gonna have hydro valves?

No, but they are going to roller tappets.

Pete

[Chicago Mark]

JDG,

     Thank you for your PGR activity!

Mark