Eldorado vs. California Touring

[JeffOlson]

This afternoon, I paid a visit to Moto Guzzi Portland, where I admired, among other beauties, three new black Eldorados and one white California Touring. I am partial to the Touring because of the better two-up seat, windscreen, and saddle bags. However, the Eldorados looked sweet (I love the white-wall tires!), and they are significantly less money than the Touring.

Anyone ridden both? Of course, if I were ever to get one, I would need a better pillion seat, and a windscreen, and saddle bags, and...

[balvenie]

Put white walls on the Cali?
Hey, you've given me an idea

[John Ulrich]

Put white walls on the Cali?
Hey, you've given me an idea

Touring has an 18" on the front.  Not sure about 18" Whitewalls you'll need to look that one up.

[mtiberio]

I have ridden both. Get Eldo

[toaster404]

I wish I'd found as good a deal on something other than the touring.  The bags are so wide etc.  Didn't need that fancy a windscreen.  Would rather have had better suspension. 

[elvisboy77]

The Eldorado is very comfortable for the pilot, not sure about the passenger.  I can and have ridden all day on it, stock.

They will have saddlebags other than the 23 L leather soon, I think it will be same as touring.  Cannot wait.  I have Givi EA100s now, which work fine.

I love the style, handling and ride of the Eldo.  I rode a custom and sat on a touring but chose the Eldo.

[Zoom Zoom]

The biggest deal to me personally is the back tire. The Custom/Touring is using a 200 series rear while the Eldo is using a 180. Changing the tire is a job! From what I have read, unless you're willing to install a car tire on the back, you can expect 8K on the rear at very best. I have read many getting closer to 6K on the rear before needing replacement. Also, there are fewer options for that tire size.

Now for the 180, there are many more options. Furthermore, it is the same tire size used on my buddies late model Road King. When I looked at his tire during the Kentucky rally, he had 14K on it and it was still looking safe to ride on. Certainly more than 4/32 still remaining on the tread.

So: 200 series, $300.00 plus installation + 8K at best; 180 series, closer to $200.00 plus installation and 15 to 20K depending on brand selected.

That was the biggie to me. With my intended long term ownership, that is a rather significant thing. Sadly, the Touring has everything I want otherwise. A la carte (ing) the Eldo will probably end up being just as much as the Touring once done, but that is what I wanted. Certainly, one could argue that the long term cost would be offset especially with the carrot that was dangled recently. I have to agree. But consider this: If you started out on a cross country trip with a fresh set of rubber, do you really want to have to worry about a tire change in the middle? I talking a planned change, not an unforeseen thing like damage. I have taken several trips that would have required changing the tire before getting back home. Personally, I would like to know I can make the trip on the set of rubber I started out with, barring anything unforeseen.

John Henry

[Zoom Zoom]

On another note, I would add there now a couple of seat options for the Eldo. You could easily install the seat from a Touring. You would probably need the grab rail as well.

Check out the accessory options on the US web site and also the Italian site, which BTY has a lot more stuff. That might aid in your decision.

John Henry

[lucian]

I would recommend test riding the custom, It handles quite differently from the eldo due largely to the bigger rear, and not in a bad way.If you have crappy cracked up pavement like we do it is a plus.