Cal Vin's........ Are they worth a &$#@???

[Guzzistajohn]

[Tony/CT]

That's different. Black fenders, wheels, exhaust, turn signals. I like riding my Vintage, although my wife is more comfortable riding on the back of our EV.

[rocker59]

That's a nice one from souldoutmotorcycles

[stmike]

The black treatment is nice, but it's a cruiser. I prefer the chrome on the CalVin.

[oldbike54]

 Well dangit , thought you were just trying to pre-start a fight with Terry  :D

  Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

I just thought it was nice, I've never been a cruiser dood either, but I'd ride that............... ................... .......... On the way to Walgreens to get my Geritol :D

[oldbike54]

I just thought it was nice, I've never been a cruiser dood either, but I'd ride that............... ................... .......... On the way to Walgreens to get my Geritol :D

 So you are trying to start with Terry  ;D

  Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

So you are trying to start with Terry  ;D

  Dusty

You think I can take him?

[Kiwi Dave]

The black treatment is nice, but it's a cruiser. I prefer the chrome on the CalVin.

I believe the original fenders are stainless.

[oldbike54]

You think I can take him?

 Man I don't know , both of you are big ol boys . Here is an idea , we can charge admission and invite the locals , should be worth a hundred bucks or so  ;D

  Dusty

[stmike]

I believe the original fenders are stainless.

Yes, the fenders are stainless or shiny aluminum; but the exhaust, valve covers, rack, crash bars, and other parts are chrome.

[travelingbyguzzi]

 :wife:

I just thought it was nice, I've never been a cruiser dood either, but I'd ride that............... ................... .......... On the way to Walgreens to get my Geritol :D

The fact that you know what Geritol is tells me that you need it.
Lng live Lawrence Welk reruns.....

[EldoMike]

I like it....a lot ;-T

[Crusty]

What many people don't know is that Geritol was 70 proof. Do you really wonder why Granny was so happy watching Lawrence Welk?

[Guzzistajohn]

I have a confession to make. I do enjoy re-runs of the LW show. And bikes w/o chrome. :-[

[mtiberio]

Taking the title seriously, CalVins are far from perfect, but they can be fixed. What I really like about my CalVin: Nice ride, great motor.

[Tobit]

I like the looks of the CalVin, a lot.  Mike, could you run down a bullet point list of what you see as needing correction?  Mechanical, ergonomics, fueling?  If I ever do move to another Guzzi I'd consider the CV.

Tobit

[mtiberio]

I like the looks of the CalVin, a lot.  Mike, could you run down a bullet point list of what you see as needing correction?  Mechanical, ergonomics, fueling?  If I ever do move to another Guzzi I'd consider the CV.

Tobit

wow, if I do that I'd be inviting attack, but I will. You might also check out my school me thread (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=75122.0), where I articulate my issues with the CalVin, and my solutions to date and projected.

Some of them are related to what suits my body and all are subjective, so here you go...

geared too tall, my solution to date: drop to a 130/70 rear tire, which lowers gearing and helps next issue, 7:33 rear drive is another albiet much more expensive solution

saddle height too tall, however cannot be cut because of next issue, so I installed lower shocks (13.5") that plus low profile rear tire lower saddle height sufficiently

floorboards too high, possible solution: remove floating pad and go with fixed pad, vibration may increase however

riding position to far forward (handlebars and seat bump force you forward), possible solution: move seat hump back, and handlebars with more pullback

windscreen's truncated lower section induces buffeting, possible solution: remove spot lights, move directionals, get undrilled full length windscreen and drill for CalVin mounts

too heavy, solution: remove all the BS

saddle bag mounts under supported toward the front, causing them to wag and hit guards, solution: add forward mount to muffler hanger bolt, shim guards outward.

saddle crowned, uncomfortable over the long haul, solution: have it flattened, but without lowering.

I also don't like the stock front crashbar. It is cosmetic mostly, and at worst could bend the lower frame gusset where it is attached. The upper part of the crashbar is sheet metal and probably meant to bend and save the frame. The lower mount unlike every Guzzi front crashbar made since the beginning of Tontis, doesn't mount at the frame split bolt, but attaches to a hole in the gusset at the split frame overlap area. I could really see that gusset getting tweaked in an accident. Would require paint destroying heat to set right. I'm thinking of installing an old California II crashbar. Big diameter tubing, and a proven mounting system. Other gripes, the spot lights that are in back of the windscreen. Light up the whole windshield at night, and isn't that when you really want to use them, never mind they draw enough juice to drain the battery, especially with the tall gearing (yes I know, use 35w bulbs instead). Directionals are hardly better, lighting up the whole windshield. Then of course because of the locations of the spots and directionals, they abbreviated the lower windshield allowing a ton of air to rush  under the screen and deflect off the front of the tank and blast you in the face. Like I said, don't get me started. It is almost like Guzzi (with Aprilias help at that point in time) forgot all they had learned about making a Touring bike over the previous 80 years. That or, they simply wanted the CalVin to look good, which it does. One other gripe has to be the tube wheels, but that is also solvable.

I love the forks, I love the brakes, I love the handling, and I love the motor, stock, as is. I have no intention of changing the air box or muffler or reflashing the CPU. The CalVin motor is hands down the best 2 valve cam in block motor Guzzi ever put together. The short ring stack on the pistons allowed them to put long rods in it, and it is the first Guzzi motor (of its type, don't forget I had a Cal 1400 for a year) that can run down to sub 2000 rpm and not feel like it is lugging or cruise in top gear at less then 3500 rpm. Simply amazing. Wish I had that motor in my Eldorado Automatic.

[Chuck in Indiana]

What many people don't know is that Geritol was 70 proof. Do you really wonder why Granny was so happy watching Lawrence Welk?

You're confusing it with Hadicol. Geritol came later, minus the picker upper..  ;D I remember the neighbor telling about the wonders of Hadicol. He couldn't lift his arm over his head until he'd hit the Hadicol..

[Tobit]

I had a lot of the same seat-floorboard-handlebar issues on my '90 CalIII Touring.  I'm 6'1" with a 32" inseam and can't have my knees higher than my hips for long without a lot of discomfort.  Taller, flatter seat and shorter bar maybe?  I never tried experimenting with ergonomics before selling the bike.  It also had what I considered aesthetic rear crashbars.  The upper bolt could snap or bend in a tip over.

Thanks for the response!   ;-T

Tobit

[CalVin2007]

"So you are trying to start with Terry   ;D"

  Dusty

You think I can take him?

     You can take me where......to lunch? SURE!  We can discuss that rascal Dusty while we eat.  ~;

   Terry

[oldbike54]

"So you are trying to start with Terry   ;D"

  Dusty



     You can take me where......to lunch? SURE!  We can discuss that rascal Dusty while we eat.  ~;

   Terry

 Hey wait just a minute here  :D Sorry , already promised the locals in CV a rasslin match  ;D

  Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

Oh hell, rasslin' in Kansas? between a Jayhawker & a Missouri Boy? We don't wanna get that scrap started up again.

"They say they're gonna heel and hyde you to a barn door, Josie Wales, but I say all that big talks just doodley-squat"

Let's just go out for lunch ;D

[Kev m]

Gorgeous!!!

[krglorioso]

Mtiberio: Dittos re the too-tall gearing.  I despaired of the tall 8/33 rear drive of my '03 Stone Touring and recently fitted a Charley Cole 7/33 rear drive (with genyoowine Guzzi ring and pinion gears)--I love it!  Imagine; much less clutch slip on getaways and I can use 5th gear pleasantly at 60-65 mph .  Just have to remember that the bike now is going 7/8ths of what the speedometer reads. 

The '04 Stone Touring retains its 8/33 gears for faster touring.

Ralph

[rocker59]

You're confusing it with Hadicol. Geritol came later, minus the picker upper..  ;D I remember the neighbor telling about the wonders of Hadicol. He couldn't lift his arm over his head until he'd hit the Hadicol..

50-proof cure-all! 

[Cal3Me]

Purr-tee bike ,,,,,,,,,,,, I woulda done the spokes black too ....  ;-T

[Waterbottle]

I'm new to the Guzzi clan, ( 2009 griso ) But that one is the business, nice , no bells and whistles, just a bike you could ride all day long. I would mate it to griso  ;-T

[Waterbottle]

Cal Gris ? Gris Vin ?  ;D 

  Dusty

A GrisVin sounds good.  8V engine with Semi- ape hangers  ;D

[Guzzistajohn]

50-proof cure-all! 

Jerry Lee Lewis does the Hadicol Boogie--------Hadicol it somethin!