Advice please

[Kiwi all]

After 40 years of riding triumph motorcycles I am serious about buying a guzzi. The bike I am looking at is a 2000 model California jackal. Bike was imported into NZ from Japan and currently has done about 18,000 miles.
I am going to see the bike in the flesh this weekend and have a ride. I am looking for a more pillion friendly bike .
Is there anything in particular I should be looking at or for in this model?
Any advice is appreciated.

[oldbike54]

 As the proud owner of a 130K mile Jackal ,  If the bike fits , go for it . A simple check for any unusual noises or oil leaks should suffice , along with a good visual inspection . These are good honest motorbikes .
 
 Dusty

[normzone]

Pillion friendly will be primarily dependent on the rear seat.

Stock seats are cruel, the aftermarket on my '99 Bassa was cruel...You may have to upgrade the rear seat, or date younger women.

[Mr Revhead]

I've seen that bike on TM. Looks like a good deal. 
Dunno if you've ridden a Guzzi with that engine before, but be aware they are very tall geared! That was the biggest surprise for me.
 

[Aaron D.]

A great bike, simple and reliable with good handling and decent performance.

The 98-02 California series are classic Guzzis. In many ways true heirs to the Guzzi tradition.

[chuck peterson]

Pump up the tires...wouldn't want you to get a bad impression...34-38 fronts, 36-42 rear for a broad range...I can't tell you how many times I've test ridden bikes and tires are low....guzzi idle is pretty lumpy until the Rpms come up...shift higher than your use to, spin it up it gets smoother, stay in a lower gear, 3rd for two laners, 4th for speed limit hi way, 5th is usually close, or is, an overdrive for 75 and above...the harder you ride it the better it gets...shifting early like its a slow rpm chugger will disguise it's nimbleness

[kfz]

Important thing to remember is that test riding a guzzi is normally a bad idea, unless your used to them.  It will feel very strange and it will take a little getting used too.  You'll muck up the gear changes, handling will feel dopey and slow, engine lumpy, etc. Dont judge it on a 10 minutes ride round the block.

most dealers Ive spoken to tend to not like test rides as most potential punters will dislike a short ride. But run the bike for a month or a year and you love em. Take time to learn how to ride them and for the qualities to come through.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[Kiwi all]

Thanks for all the advice, I am fully prepared it will be very different, for the last 3 years my regular ride has been a 1972 Bonneville, hell even the gear change is on the opposite side.
As long as it fits I am very keen on buying the bike.

[bigbikerrick]

I've seen that bike on TM. Looks like a good deal. 
Dunno if you've ridden a Guzzi with that engine before, but be aware they are very tall geared! That was the biggest surprise for me.

One can always put a 7:33 gearset in the jackal, like I did with my aluminum. I hated having to only use 5th gear above 75 mph. Now it cruises nicely in 5th at 65-75, and will easily top 100. Thats all I need, and makes the bike much more pleasant  for in town riding.
Rick.

[bigbikerrick]

Important thing to remember is that test riding a guzzi is normally a bad idea, unless your used to them.  It will feel very strange and it will take a little getting used too.  You'll muck up the gear changes, handling will feel dopey and slow, engine lumpy, etc. Dont judge it on a 10 minutes ride round the block.

most dealers Ive spoken to tend to not like test rides as most potential punters will dislike a short ride. But run the bike for a month or a year and you love em. Take time to learn how to ride them and for the qualities to come through.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

I agree completely with KFZ. Every Guzzi I have test ridden felt like crap at first, when you are not used to them. I think that is part of the character of the marque. I especially remember when I first got my loop frame. ... I was like WTF? is something wrong with this thing? A longtime Guzzisti here advised me " The bike itself, will teach you how to ride it, if you give it a chance"
Rick.

[twhitaker]

Bounce it off the rev limiter a couple times and you'll know what it likes.  I'll be tooling along on the interstate and realize I'm in 4th. Bump it into 5th and it's much more relaxed.

[Mr Revhead]

One can always put a 7:33 gearset in the jackal, like I did with my aluminum. I hated having to only use 5th gear above 75 mph. Now it cruises nicely in 5th at 65-75, and will easily top 100. Thats all I need, and makes the bike much more pleasant  for in town riding.
Rick.

Oh there's different ratios?? How different? That sounds like the perfect thing for my EV. Currently you have to break the law by an uncomfortable amount to use 5th

[boatdetective]

The riding position is quite different. it is a cruiser and the ergos just might not work for you. My white EV was GORGEOUS...but did not fit me.

The jackal is a simple bike and will be easy to get running well. Simple to work on and pretty old school- so you'll feel at home with maintenance.

[krglorioso]

One can always put a 7:33 gearset in the jackal, like I did with my aluminum. I hated having to only use 5th gear above 75 mph. Now it cruises nicely in 5th at 65-75, and will easily top 100. Thats all I need, and makes the bike much more pleasant  for in town riding.
Rick.

What Rick said.  I fitted a genuine Guzzi set of 7/33 ring and pinion gears from Charley Cole to my '03 Stone Touring and it is a splendid alteration.  Buy the bike; see about the 7/33 conversion.  You'll love it.

Ralph

[gfritzmeier]

After 40 years of riding triumph motorcycles I am serious about buying a guzzi. The bike I am looking at is a 2000 model California jackal. Bike was imported into NZ from Japan and currently has done about 18,000 miles.
I am going to see the bike in the flesh this weekend and have a ride. I am looking for a more pillion friendly bike .
Is there anything in particular I should be looking at or for in this model?
Any advice is appreciated.

I also rode Triumphs for most of my 45 years of riding and love my MG Aluminum. Do take others advice on trying it out. I bought mine and started out the 350 mile trip home. After about 75 miles I thought I made a horrendous mistake because this machine chugged like crazy when giving it gas a rpms below 3000. I stopped at a small town dealer who took it for a 15 minute ride and said bike ran the way it was supposed to so the prob was me expecting power at lower rpms.  I cut holes in air box lid and cut of snorkels along with K&N filter. It now pulls a lower rpms in any gear. That changed my mind and I love it. I also is easy to work on and for me that's a plus.  Good luck.