1400 Aduace

[Murray]

This will undoubtedly upset a few but I rode one a few weeks ago needless to say I won't be buying one, probably ever.

1400 Audace.

Ok so I’m not a cruiser rider the number of times I have ridden one can be counted on one hand, and fewer of those were of the feet forward variety. So when I booked my bike into the local shop for a service I asked for a loan bike. Been a small shop this isn’t always available and possibly not to all customers its also a bit of a shot in the dark. Sometimes you will get a bike thats on demo, other times you will get the more traditional loan bike in the shape of a t4 or T5 (Moto Guzzi it is the only brand of bike this shop does) that no one is quiet sure how far its gone.

Admittedly I only need to go about 15kms to my place of employment so exactly what gets me there is fairly irrelevant.

I was kind of surprised when a brand new demo Audace was pushed out into the front carpark. I’d actually heard positive things about Guzzi’s 1400 cruisers the reviews were also positive. Considering I’d just stepped off Guzzi’s 21year old rather optimistically entitled 1100 sport I know heavy and slow, bikes have moved forward millenniums in that time.

So I swung my leg over retrieved the side stand and started the bike. Then attempted to find the pegs, why are they all the way over there, your legs aren’t straight out like some of these bikes I’m only average height but either the pegs were high or the seat is low I suspect both. It didn’t seem right or comfortable. This thing is W I D E from the tank to the rocker covers the LH rocker cover guard was touching my knee and transmitting a bit of heat through it it was by no means unbearable and nothing on a modern sport bike but it was certainly there according to the temp indicator on the instrument cluster it was about a 34 degree (celsius) day when I returned the bike in the afternoon.

Worse was the lack of control, I’m not the sort of rider that weighs the pegs much, unless carrying on at the track or similar situation. However what I got was a lesson in how much I do use the pegs as once that facility was taken away just about all low speed control exited tricking up to a set of lights or a stop with your feet on the pegs became a wrestle. Suddenly why it looks like a number of people struggle to control these things at low speed  become apparent, the control layout and seating position are fundamentally flawed.

Riding around the engine was smooth remarkable smooth and felt like it had reasonable acceleration until I realised I had to flip gears to get to 70kph even if running to redline, its geared short really really short. Yet despite having perfect primary balance it shook like buggery at the lights to the point of wanting to take both hands off the bars to avoid this not something I like to to in traffic or is recommended. Way more than the afore mentioned 1100sport which is solidly mounted and motor is tuned for performance (hur hur) rather than smooth running.

It has been suggested that this is a deliberate the fuel injection been programmed to hunt at idle in an attempt by some mouth breathing marketing type to ensure it has the right about of character. Except it is completely out of character with the rest of the bike why bother with rubber mounting the motor at all if you are going to pull that kind of garbage, you could save 30-40kg and thats something this bike needs really really badly.

Its heavy, steering it light enough but despite the willing motor and top line brakes there is no doubt the mass of this thing dents all aspects of its performance. Also gets me onto throttle response yes it has three modes traction control abs cruise etc, It was left in Veloce the most responsive of the three modes, why do the other two modes even exist? This is no fireball of speed I’d even go so far as to call it completely docile I rode through some relatively heavy traffic and at no point found it even vaguely unmanageable, it left me wonder just what level of incompetence you’d need to actually think the other two modes are actually required, frankly I can’t imagine it. The suspension seemed competent enough while there was some power in the brakes they were wooden and devoid of anything that would of been described as actual feel. So basically its an overweight underperforming uncomfortable pile of poo that is more marketing that actual bike. The previous 940 Bellagio which was the results of a parts bin special was a much much better motorcycle.

Ok so right now there is maybe a HD rider or two and possible a few triumph thunderbird owners sitting back all smug the Italians tried to make and cruiser and failed. Here however is the real kicker, reading the reviews the comparo’s the Guzzi 1400 is the best one, it has the best brakes the lighter handling the better suspension and the most willing motor. So if this thing is the best just how awful are its direct competitors? How many people actually take these things for a test ride before buying?

Should anyone of Piaggio (Guzzi factory owners) actually see this I own two of them (1100sport and MGS) currently stop making overweight retro !@#$- heaps and something I dunno, I might actually want to buy.

[Kev m]

Nothing personal, but considering your opening paragraph why would anyone care what came after?

It's not a dig and I really don't mean any insult buy it, but you start by saying you don't ride these, and you'd never buy one. So why would anyone who WOULD and who does "get it" care what you think about it?

It's probably why I don't write up test reviews after I've demoed another sportbike. "It's not my bag baby".

[segesta]

To each their own. It is a beast, but its competition is the Road King, not the Diavel. I agree that the 'foot forward' cruiser position is not for me, though otherwise I really liked my Custom 1400.

[LowRyter]

wow.  reminds of a guy I know with an 18 year old Suzuki Bandit that tested a 21 year old Guzzi 1100 Sport and by comparison found the Guzzi uncomfortable and slow. 

Why would anyone have such a slow, heavy and uncomfortable bike?

Is this jest of what I am reading here? 


<no complaints here, just a tongue in cheek comment>

[bsanut]

My Custom DOES take a little getting used to, but I love it.  It's VERY unique, lots of charm, runs and rides just fine.  Ride it every time I'm not on the V-Strom or the Indian.

That was a lot of effort you put in, to write all griping....

Joe

[tazio]

Honest opinions welcome here.
Thanks for your efforts/post.
Some goozies speak to us louder than others for sure.
Sweet to have had that opportunity.
 Good on that bike shop.

[Guzzistajohn]

I'm suprised you even bothered to throw a leg over the bike. I'm not a cruiser guy either, but obviously many are.

[kevdog3019]

I rode a Norge (first generation) after taking my V11 Lemans in for a tire.  I won't say what I thought about it only because it's not my  cup of tea (touring bike that is).  Apples and oranges.  I wouldn't have a positive thing to say about ANY touring bike.  What I did learn is I don't like touring bikes.  It was my first and only.  I have put many miles on a Yamaha V-Star cruiser and I know I also don't like cruisers after that long ride through beautiful country.  I wouldn't ride the Guzzi if you handed me the keys.  I think the OP is in the same camp.

[Cool Runnings]

Trends in cruisers are:

1: Lower the seat (so it looks cool)

2. Place them foot pegs way forward (so it looks cool)

3. Not comfortable and causing many lower back problems.

Ride a pre 1997 Harley and you will note, they actually made them like you were setting in a chair......(aka Vespa). 

[rtbickel]

The "short gearing" that he experienced was the effect of the Veloce mapping mode - its not the gearing at all.  In Turismo, these things have some long legs.

[Arizona Wayne]

I appreciated Murray's feedback, 'cause I would probably have felt the same way.  But I can appreciate a sport vs. touring bike as long as the weight differences aren't too far apart.  In  the past I've made most my sport bikes into sport/tourers and stlll do.  But this `77 Convert I got 6 mo. ago is a tank compared to any other bike/scooter I've ever owned and I just can't get used to it in so many ways, even tho it has the same Tonti frame as  my other Guzzis.    It is amazing how 1 man's trash  is another man's treasure. 

Right now my best sport/tourers are the 750 Breva both for comfort/weight/handling and MuZ 660 single.

[kingoffleece]

I always felt I needed to live with a bike for at least 1000 miles.  Having led several dozen days of demo rides for my dealer buddy and riding plenty of new (to me) bikes over that time has formed that view.

[Murray]

I'm suprised you even bothered to throw a leg over the bike. I'm not a cruiser guy either, but obviously many are.

I needed to attend my place of employment while my bike was serviced it is directly related to what I'm paid, this was what was provided by the shop to do this. No its not a bike I would of normally test ridden.

[LowRyter]

I toast the shop for loaning a brand new bike while the old bike was being serviced given that 90% of the folks here would ride 100 miles just to get a brief test ride.

 

Hard to believe the dealer would give you that POS to ride.   

[Zoom Zoom]

Just out of curiosity, did you happen to notice what level the traction control was set to? I know that by default, it is set to the most intrusive setting. That alone hampers the performance of the bike. The biggest difference I have noticed between Touring and Veloce mode is the engine braking. The throttle may be a little crisper in Veloce, but not much.

Please understand, I'm not trying to convince you to like something you don't care for. It's not your cup of tea, I get that. What I am saying though, is that the 1400 is not the dog that some here are determined to imply it is. I have also noticed that those so willing to berate it are folks that have barely ridden it. 

I feel somewhat qualified to make that statement since I have owned an EV, Norge, V11 LeMans, and currently a Stelvio, a new Eldorado, and another EV, among other things.


John Henry

[Zoom Zoom]

<snip>
Should anyone of Piaggio (Guzzi factory owners) actually see this I own two of them (1100sport and MGS) currently stop making overweight retro !@#$- heaps and something I dunno, I might actually want to buy.

Maybe because you're not the only person writing checks for the bikes they sell............... ........ Just maybe?

You're right though, if you're going to compare the Audace, or any other variant of the current Cali line, there is no way they can compete with those bikes! At least on the track or the twisties.

BUT, when I get back on a bike for my next road trip, having done several, I will opt for the comfort of the Eldo, or Stelvio before I would spend two or three weeks crunched up like a pretzel on any type of sporting bike.

John Henry

[Murray]

I toast the shop for loaning a brand new bike while the old bike was being serviced given that 90% of the folks here would ride 100 miles just to get a brief test ride.

I suspect a reflection of the quantity of my hard earned cash I have put over the counter over many many years.