V14 California improvements?

[Poncho]

I am searching for information to improve my new 14 Cali v14, both performance and fitment.

Fitment. first, I am not big by any stretch 'cept in my story telling. I would like to lower this winged creature (goose) about 2 inches in the rear if possible.? Tour version show are only 1" lower for a grand, is steep. Anybody have a line on shorter shox? I submitted questions elsewhere and progressive, but no replies.
Temporary I have a windscreen on it. By end of year should acquire a batwing and graft it on. I am well versed in fab work, so projects like this are easy and I enjoy a fair amount of wrench therapy.
Baggage. I will most likely pay the 1g price for factory bags at www.af1racing.com They are my go to parts house and have 2 dealerships near me.

Performance. Stock this bike is mor than fine. 8 months 8k smiles, it is my favorite day bike and canyon carver. I have 2 others that see tour duty, this is my backup bike.
When I had my v7, dealer offered to do a tune mod to bring out some low end power. This v14 has plenty and pulls strong from idle rite thru 5g on the clock. Typically I ride 3-4K rpm, because I do a lot of backroad (I hate interstates) discovery work, sometimes I find myself in the 2s. The motor is strong and will pull me out, but it stumbles a bit and I wonder if it can be smoothed out?
I've read that some have cut thier airbox cover and/or k&n filter. Does that help or create new problems?
I don't want to turn this into a race horse with top end hp, but rather a smooth work horse with a flat power band that is predictable.
This bike will eventually become my de facto tour bike when it's finished fitted and sorted. I will keep my Indian as a collector item with fewer road trips.

So any input as to what and how I mite go about bringing a bit more goose to the table? danka poncho

[rtbickel]

Matris offers a cartridge kit for the low-bid stock Marzocchi forks, available through Guzzitech and Af1 and others I believe.  Well worth the steep price imho.  If you are going to go with shorter shocks, you willaalso need to raise the fork tubes in the triple clamps to preserve the handling.  There are various mapping upgrades availabe as well to adress whatever version of the hiccups you might have.  Aftermarket pipes, airbox fiddles are also available.

[Poncho]

rtb, thx for the leads. I will research them. Was hoping for some first hand feedback. what worx, what doesn't. Lower shox is for footing, backing up, etc. I won't mess with the forx till proven needed. K&N filter worx well on most motors. Cutting the airbox? Only if it helps. Maps, can the stok ECU be remapped? I don't care for FI adders, have done enuff of them to dismiss thier value.
Stock this bike is 99% there. Just need some minor tweaking to put it in the end zone. poncho

[rtbickel]

Give Guzzitech a call regarding the available relashes to the ecu.  From personal experience, the fork upgrade and better rear shocks transformed the bike.   Aftermarket mufflers have caused a minor backfire on deceleration and I plan on addressing that soon.  I don't know if that added any horsepower as it already has more than I will ever need or use.

[Kiwi Dave]

According to the posted dyno results on the Guzzitech website, power improvement  for the full GT fueling kit is almost 20 hp and 20 ft. lbs. of torque.



Test bike is now with me in New Zealand.   

[Poncho]

According to the posted dyno results on the Guzzitech website, power improvement  for the full GT fueling kit is almost 20 hp and 20 ft. lbs. of torque. Test bike is now with me in New Zealand.   

kd,, kiwi, eh? isn't that a little dead bird?  but 20 more ft/lbs at 2.5k is muey bueno.. more ponies up top are for the jet set.. by chance does anybody publish fuel consumption with their motor enhancements?

currently am averaging 40-44mpg range per tank. not just what the digi-dash shows. calculated. I think with some judicious throttle control on a steady run longer trip, I could squeeze 50mpg on some legs. I wonder what penalty this might have? but nobody said flying airplanes this low to the ground was gonna be cheap. poncho

[jones525]

Guzzi makes a lowered seat that might come close to the 2" you need... I have a 30" inseam and I can place one foot flat on the ground with the other comfortably on the floorboard.

http://motostradaautomotive.com/product/moto-guzzi-california-1400-lower-seat-comfort-gel-b064238/

[Kiwi Dave]

kd,, kiwi, eh? isn't that a little dead bird?  but 20 more ft/lbs at 2.5k is muey bueno.. more ponies up top are for the jet set.. by chance does anybody publish fuel consumption with their motor enhancements?

currently am averaging 40-44mpg range per tank. not just what the digi-dash shows. calculated. I think with some judicious throttle control on a steady run longer trip, I could squeeze 50mpg on some legs. I wonder what penalty this might have? but nobody said flying airplanes this low to the ground was gonna be cheap. poncho

I posted my fuel consumption figures on this site a few months ago (http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=79048.0) but I'll repeat them here to save you changing pages.

On a recent tour of California I would regularly get an average for the tank full of 5.0-5.2 L/100kM (= 45-47 mpg (US) or 54-56 mpg (UK)).  The best average I achieved was 4.5 L/100kM (= 52 mpg (US) or 63 mpg (UK)).  My readings were metric because I had the speedo changed over by Munroe Motors in San Francisco.

Admittedly, these figures were achieved on very hot days, and some were at elevation.  But I was running a motor with the Gt-RX reflashed ECU with a Power Commander and Autotune, as well as exhaust and airbox mods plus I was loaded with panniers and a topbox (and a fat rider!).

And the kiwi is alive and well, but suffers from domestic dog attacks.  Perhaps this is why you were thinking this way.

[Poncho]

Guzzi makes a lowered seat that might come close to the 2" you need... I have a 30" inseam and I can place one foot flat on the ground with the other comfortably on the floorboard.

j,, thx for the pic link.. Yikes! that there seat is the very reason I did not get the tour model of this bike.. black n white looks bad nuff on sidewall tires.. on the seat, oh my! butt it does put you closer to terra firma. this might be the reason the tours are lower to the ground than standard califonicator.? poncho

[Poncho]

On a recent tour of California I would regularly get an average for the tank full of 5.0-5.2 L/100kM (= 45-47 mpg (US) or 54-56 mpg (UK)).  The best average I achieved was 4.5 L/100kM (= 52 mpg (US) or 63 mpg (UK)).  My readings were metric because I had the speedo changed over by Munroe Motors in San Francisco.

And the kiwi is alive and well, but suffers from domestic dog attacks.  Perhaps this is why you were thinking this way.

kd, thx. that is good news. the performance upgrade does not inflict fuel penalty. riding styles may vary. I mostly mosey at posted speed limits and expect reasonable good smileage. nice to know it can be had. adios, poncho

btw, I will file a grievance report with national geographic as they report that kiwi bird is extinct.

[jones525]

Yes the white stripe is nasty.

I have a Cali Custom, and I would like the heated version of that seat but I'd have to send the seat out and have a custom cover made to eliminate the white stripe. I've used these guys before on my Ducati and MV and their work is supurb...

http://www.luimoto.com/?p=461

They don't currently make a cover for the California, but they're willing to do custom work. Guess I could be the guinea pig...

[Kiwi Dave]

btw, I will file a grievance report with national geographic as they report that kiwi bird is extinct.

You're not getting confused with the Moa, are you?

[Poncho]

You're not getting confused with the Moa, are you?

my friend she loves those s'moas, the girl scouts sell each year.. you'r not saying they killed em off?

[Jerryd]

I'm confused about the mileage? I thought most owners were experiencing only mid to upper 30's at best?

[Kiwi Dave]

I'm confused about the mileage? I thought most owners were experiencing only mid to upper 30's at best?

This is not a stock bike, Guzzitech reflashed ECU, Power Commander and Autotune.  Plus mufflers and H-pipe with opened air box lid.  The Autotune can be programmed to deliver any air-fuel ratio at any throttle opening and engine speed.

To be fair, I haven't experienced such good figures after bring the bike back to New Zealand.  However, yet to experience a summer with it here, and in my experience higher ambient temperatures appears to be the main reason for  achieving great mileage. I expect to achieve figures close to those posted above as temperature warm up here.