*California 1400 Merged Threadfest*

[Unkept]

My Italian is limited to varieties of pasta; anyone got that first ride link in a decent translation?

You should try Google Chrome. It will auto-translate pages to your language.  ;-T

[Kev m]

Well, let's see - the Norge is 246 k dry (542lbs) with a 23liter (6 US Gallon) which includes a 4 liter (1 US Gallon) reserve.  I generally get between 210 and 220 miles per tank before the low fuel light comes on.  Looking at Fuelly.com, I am averaging right at 40MPG.  There's only one other Norge listed on the site, and that one is showing 36.4 MPG average.  Heck, Harleys only have a 6 Gallon tank and that seems to work out pretty well.

HOWEVER the big Harleys do tend to get better mileage despite their weight, probably due to their mild/torquey/more diesel-like tuning.

[bad Chad]

But, their press release also said the Stones are here and available, but I don't have one yet lol.  :BEER:

I take press releases with a huge grain of salt.

It would be quite an accomplishment to increase the weight by about what about 25% but also increase fuel efficiency by 20%. If they did, that's awesome, and I hope it is true.

Seriously though, I'm a show me type o' guy (guess I live in the wrong state) and I'll believe it when I see it.

Come on Kev,  the press release is right, (yes I saw your LOL) I think your dealer might be your issue, not Piaggio/Guzzi.

[Sheepdog]

HOWEVER the big Harleys do tend to get better mileage despite their weight, probably due to their mild/torquey/more diesel-like tuning.

Also, HDs are factory-tuned using the actual fuels that us, the unwashed masses use.  As a result their fuel maps are appropriate for US fuel blends and the bikes run close to optimally.

[Kev m]

Chad, you can keep believing what you read, but I'm gonna continue to be a doubting Thomas.

Heck, don't you remember Mike Haven giving me a wrath of crap for believing some Guzzi tech literature?

Now in that case I and the literature were right, but the point is that his VAST experience with Guzzi made him skeptical.

Me getting lucky one time isn't going to buck that experience the rest of the time.  :D

[bad Chad]

Kev, I guess it's too late to avoid getting into a pissing match with you, which you are well famous around these parts for! :)

But if I'm wrong, and you are right, how do you explain post 187 of the following thread?
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=57897.160

[Kev m]

Kev, I guess it's too late to avoid getting into a pissing match with you, which you are well famous around these parts for! :)

What a lousy and uncharitable thing to say. Feel proud of yourself to be the one to make it personal.

For the record, this wasn't a pissing contest.

I expressed an opinion and supported it with examples, that was all.

I even added some self deprecating humor to the statement.

I didn't attack anyone, call anyone names, or even remotely suggest anything negative about anyone.

My stubbornness to accept unverified statements from an OEM when experience suggests a reason to doubt doesn't reflect on you in any way. Yet you seem to have taken this personally. I'm sorry you feel that way as absolutely nothing was meant by it.

s for how I explain...does it really need an explanation? Was anyone arguing that point? Did you think I thought you were wrong about that still?  ???

Maybe I should just do what so many others before me have done and bow out of this place so full of angry old men. It's starting to really add nothing positive to my life.

[Lannis]

Maybe I should just do what so many others before me have done and bow out of this place so full of angry old men. It's starting to really add nothing positive to my life.

Sometimes that helps.   It isn't like that this is a physical group that you have to see every day at home or at work, and if you wanted to "bow out" you'd have to move to another state or quit your job.

All you have to do is "Just not click" on the WG icon.   Don't have to change a setting, nothing, just don't click.  

And it ALL disappears!    Political issues, hassles, people with different opinions, obnoxious people, all of it.   Gone.    You won't know if the negatives that you perceive outweigh the considerable positives of participating on this board unless you try it.

Or, if that's too much, if someone particularly annoys you, WALK AWAY from the thread!   Don't respond.   Don't read the posts.   Laugh.   Let other cyber idiots crow and strut that they "Spanked You" or "Owned You" because you didn't get the last word in.   Doesn't matter.    You can make them disappear completely out of your universe if you like ....

Lannis

[rocker59]

Maybe I should just do what so many others before me have done and bow out of this place so full of angry old men. It's starting to really add nothing positive to my life.

Bad Chad is a "young man"...  Well below the Guzzisti median, if I'm not mistaken.

[Chicago Mark]

Certainly not every thread has to have one persons perspective posted ad nauseam. It's not like we have a bunch of 16 year old girls here who feel the need to argue every point and have the last word no matter what. Too many young girls seem to think they're the smartest people on the planet.

Just a thought,

Mark
old - yea maybe, if 52 is old
angry - not a bit

[Kev m]

Bad Chad is a "young man"...  Well below the Guzzisti median, if I'm not mistaken.

Then maybe this place is adversely effecting those below the median.

Hmmm, what IS the median?

[rocker59]

Then maybe this place is adversely effecting those below the median.

Hmmm, what IS the median?

If it's less than 55, I'd be surprised.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course... 

[Kev m]

If it's less than 55, I'd be surprised.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course... 

Well, then I beat it by a decade too.  ;-T

[bpreynolds]

Oh come on guys, maybe Chad was just being bad         ;-T :D ;D

Age of members - certainly not current as this was 2 years ago:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=41788.0;viewResults

[Kev m]

I love Chad, like I love my brother... Love you Jay!

[Cruzerdog]

wow I can't believe the hits on this post  ..... ;-T (huge interest I'd say  .. a home run for they Guzzi boys )

a couple of questions (too lazy to scan thru the hundreds of posts here ) :pop

Has anybody lined up to buy one from any US dealer yet?   made a deposit?

supposedly (from a GOOD source ) the US prices should be out next week ... with US dealers getting the 1400 in their showrooms in March 2013.

Could we see additional dealer markup if the supply  is limited in the US ... maybe a first for MG ?

I have been out of touch with this board  since last spring  when I sold my Cal Vin  to be ready to grab a new 1400.

My size (6'2") is they key reason I am looking forward to the 1400 ... plus the extra HP

I loved my Cal Vin but I was cramped...save me a white bagger please..  with all the options...   



 


   

[bad Chad]

I love Kev.   

Fear not brothers on bikes, we shall all move forward from here!

[Lannis]

I love Chad, like I love my brother... Love you Jay!

Room 6, StarLight Motel, Breezewood, PA.    Hurry up, it's $15 an hour ....

[Lannis]

I love Kev.   

Fear not brothers on bikes, we shall all move forward from here!

Room 6, StarLight Motel, Breezewood, PA.    Hurry up, it's $15 an hour ....

[Kent in Upstate NY]

Rubber mounts will do that.

[Mad Mac]

Evidently, Moto Guzzi has invited some motorcycle journalists to Cannes for rides.
Here is one from Ultimate Motorcycling.

[youcanrunnaked]

One thing I noticed in some close-up pictures of the nuovo California (can't find the picture right now), is that the underside of the floorboards are equipped with hard plastic or rubber sliders, so when a floorboard touches down, it will slide rather than grab and try to lever the bike off the road.  Very cool, and a good example of the attention to detail on this bike.

Here's an old-school artist's rendering that I really like:

[Seagondollar]

First road test that I know of:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013-moto-guzzi-california-1400-touring-first-ride

[Mad Mac]

More than 2,000 RPMs? 
Scrape the floorboards?
I'm not trying hard enough.

[SemperVee]

 I want one!

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/11/2013-moto-guzzi-california-1400-touring-and-custom-new-flagships-for-legendary-italian-marque/

[sbaker]

Wow... what a beauty!!

[Stormtruck2]

Sounds like you no longer get that famous Italian massage as you ride it.  I want one, black, maybe white.  Would have to see them in person to choose. Guzzi's white is really beautiful.  I like the leather seat and bags idea.  Would have to see that first too though. Any idea on pricing yet?? 16K ? 20k?  Looking forward to RF getting one in to demo then put money down.  :bike ;-T

[bad Chad]

For those to lazy to hyper link,


Moto Guzzi California 1400 Test

The all new Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring is the most comfortable beast ever to leave the Mandello del Lario factory gates. The plush seat kept me comfortable and happy during our whole 125-mile test ride in Cannes, France

There's some excessive heat dissipation from those big new cylinder heads that hits just below my knees, and luckily for us the temperature only ranged between 55-68 degrees Fahrenheit.

The new 1380cc air-cooled V90 is very impressive, and while I preferred to keep her under 2,000 rpm it gets really lively all the way up past 5,000rpm. The new 1400 is a really flexible engine that hasn't sacrificed its low end sweet spot to achieve an almost sporty top end. That's unusual for this size cruiser.

The Guzzi California 1400 Touring features Cruise Control, Traction Control and riding modes to play with. The latest ABS technology is also included for safe braking.

With a big section 130 front and 200 rear from Dunlop, I hadn't expected the California 1400 Touring to handle quite as well as it did. This 742-lbs. mammoth really handles well. When the footboards touch the tarmac it's quite a soft feel rather than a dramatic rattle which can happen with other big cruisers.

With the California 1400 Touring Moto Guzzi is really close to other big twins and gone is the cramped seating position of the old California Vintage. Moto Guzzi certainly means business with the new 1400.

Stay clicked to UltimateMotorCyclin g.com for a full review.

[youcanrunnaked]

"I preferred to keep her under 2,000 rpm"   ???    Not a guy who know Guzzi engines very well, is he?

Or maybe this is a new type of Guzzi engine? The comment certainly is a testament to the low-speed fueling and out-of-the box rideability of the nuovo California engine.  (The 1100 and 1200 engines are not too happy running at 2,000 rpm.)

Keep in mind the engineers purposely kept the 1400's hp figures modest in favor of low-end torque; 90 ft./ lbs. at only 2750 rpm.    Meanwhile 96 peak hp is at 6,500 rpm, so maybe you can either putt along at 2,000 rpm, or wind out each gear to 6,500 rpm.

If it works out that way, that's a very flexible engine for the class.  For comparison: Harley Road King published figure (optimistic) is 100 ft./ lbs. torque (90 is more realistic), but at 3,250 rpm. Harley doesn't publish hp numbers, but Road King is around 80 crank hp at only 5,200 rpm.

[Kev m]

Aren't the 96 hp / 89 ft lbs torque figures from Piaggio crank and not rear wheel?