lencap's Californa 1400 Custom Thread

[lencap]

Greetings - After several medical issues, and officially joining the senior citizens club, I've decided to return to motorcycling by returning to my most passionate marque - Moto Guzzi.  This will be my last motorcycle and I want to make the best decision I can.  Your help is much appreciated.

I'm getting a reasonable deal on a brand new leftover model, so depreciation while a consideration isn't really a concern since I'm not planning to resell it (unless health issues force it).  Despite that, I want to have the right machine, not just get a good deal, so I've included some info that may help you guide me.

I've ridden for 40+ years, owned dozens of motorcycles largely centered around BMW and Harley, but also a 2001 MG California and a Griso.  I enjoy both of them, but had lots of little frustrating issues including poor parts quality that needed replacement (rusting parts, trim falling apart, etc.), and more annoyingly mechanical/electronic failures (Griso computer went out, twice, odometer reset to zero miles, etc.).  Given my history with Moto Guzzi you may wonder why come back to a California, but the answer is simple - the overall feeling of a Guzzi isn't duplicated by anyone, and with the new updates (ABS standard, throttle mapping, Traction control, etc.) I feel more secure given my advanced age and lingering health issues (6 arm surgeries being the primary issue).  My arm rehab is finished, I have some "deficits", but I wouldn't return to riding if I felt unable to handle the bike.  The Custom is quite heavy, but seems to be low in the chassis weight, similar to HD.  I actually prefer the heavier bike - more comfort and stability.  I'm far beyond the days of riding my Ducati 916 like it was on fire, and all I want is a comfortable, stylish, enjoyable mount.  That's the reason for the Custom - at least for me.

I considered the Harley Fat Boy - but it's more expensive, has a really wide rear tire (which I find affects handling), and generally is just "OK", not a machine with passion.  I also looked at the BMWs, but the R1200R has morphed into a higher seat height (I'm 5'8") and has more weight in a forward tilt position, not very good for my arms.  (I found it interesting that the Moto Guzzi marketing material specifically targets those two brands, and the "40+" age demographic as target buyers for the Custom - seems made for me).  Triumph T120/T100 are interesting, but both have a more forward lean design, again not great for my arms.  They do have a more traditional foot position, a feature I favor (still get out of the saddle when the road calls for it - old dirt bike habits die hard).

So, finally, my questions and concerns:

1)  The Custom has a longer reach to the bars, but using the site http://cycle-ergo.com, the ergos seem manageable.  The dealer also said it's possible to swap the bar for the Touring model which should give me a far shorter reach.  Has anyone made that switch and if so, how do you like the touring bars?  How do you feel about the standard bars, especially for shorter riders (I'd prefer to keep them).  How about the forward footboards?  I'm not too concerned about the reach, especially having owned a Harley Heritage & Deluxe, but the forward placement prevents me from getting out of the saddle when needed (non paved roads, wet grates on bridges, railroad crossings, etc.).  Any comments about foot positioning on the Custom are very welcome.

2) I've read about cracked headers, typically after 10K miles or so.  As a former Guzzi owner I'm not surprised, but is this an issue that many people experienced?  Seems as if a local welder may be the solution if needed in the future.

3)  Any problems with all the electronics?  My prior history with new technology on Moto Guzzi bikes hasn't been very encouraging.

In addition to the specific questions, any tips/tricks or other comments are most appreciated.  The dealer suggested, and I agree, that to take the bike back to my home after deliver (about 180 mile ride - that's the closest high quality MG dealer near me), I should use local roads, vary speed and gears, drive conservatively (thinking of rain mode mapping for the trip), and not drive aggressively.  All reasonable comments, and not unlike other break in procedures on bikes I've owned. 

Any other thoughts are welcome, especially comments pointing out issues and other things to consider.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[LowRyter]

I've test ridden them.  The only negative to me is the feet forward riding position but it's not a severe as most Harleys.

If you arms are sore, I'd say hang on, you might put in T mode.  Because the thing will really take off on V mode.  It's a goer and great motorcycle IMO.

Congratulations. 

[rocker59]

I liked the Custom bars the best.  They're not that low or that far forward.

Guzzitech has a solution for the cracked crossover problem.

You won't find many complaints about the bikes.  Apparently, they'r pretty good.

[sbaker]

Ride it like you stole it!!!

[lencap]

Wow - I forgot how passionate the members of this board are!  I've been a member of many owner forums, but the ones that are the most enjoyable have a passion on them - like all of you!  Thanks for the replies, especially so quickly on Thanksgiving! 

I am an ATGATT guy, and have taken literally dozens of training classes.  I'll continue to do so.

Seems like MG has come a long way - in the past I would have expected a few negative comments about the bike, not major issues, just things to be aware of.  It's VERY encouraging that everyone is so positive on this bike - it confirms my initial impressions. 

Keep the comments coming, and thanks!

[bad Chad]

I've ridden one, loved it!  Very well engineered from all I have read.

[mjptexas]

The Custom is quite heavy, but seems to be low in the chassis weight, similar to HD.  I actually prefer the heavier bike - more comfort and stability.

700 lbs is a lot of bike.  You do need to be careful as the weight does shift quickly as you lean the bike when stopped.

1)  The Custom has a longer reach to the bars, but using the site http://cycle-ergo.com, the ergos seem manageable.  The dealer also said it's possible to swap the bar for the Touring model which should give me a far shorter reach.  Has anyone made that switch and if so, how do you like the touring bars?  How do you feel about the standard bars, especially for shorter riders (I'd prefer to keep them).  How about the forward footboards?  I'm not too concerned about the reach, especially having owned a Harley Heritage & Deluxe, but the forward placement prevents me from getting out of the saddle when needed (non paved roads, wet grates on bridges, railroad crossings, etc.).  Any comments about foot positioning on the Custom are very welcome.

I found the Cali Custom ergonomics to be just about perfect for me (5'9", 31 in inseam).  The bike out the door was all day comfortable for me.  I did put a Corbin seat on it with the hopes of getting the Mrs. to ride with me occasionally.  That shifted things around just enough that I had to do do something about the bars.  This was my solution from Guzzitech:

http://www.guzzitech.com/store/product/gt-rx-cnc-bar-risers/

That extra inch makes a big difference.  They are easy to install and very unobtrusive.

2) I've read about cracked headers, typically after 10K miles or so.  As a former Guzzi owner I'm not surprised, but is this an issue that many people experienced?  Seems as if a local welder may be the solution if needed in the future.

3 years, 17,000 miles, no issues.  I'm thinking this may have really been a problem with some of the earlier bikes.

3)  Any problems with all the electronics?  My prior history with new technology on Moto Guzzi bikes hasn't been very encouraging.

Zero issues.

I should use local roads, vary speed and gears, drive conservatively (thinking of rain mode mapping for the trip), and not drive aggressively.

Forget about the rain map.  Put it in Touring and forget about it until you have the bike broken in and are used to it.  Then flip it up to Veloce and see what you think.  Veloce wasn't particularly enjoyable with the earlier ECU mappings, but with the latest it's a hoot.  I've had mine in Veloce for the last 2,000 miles.

Here's a picture of mine in it's latest incarnation:


Mine is a 2014 model I bought in December of 2013, so coming up on 3 years ownership.  I'm just shy of 17,000 miles.

Here's a list of additions I made to mine:
1. Corbin Seat
2. Hepco-Becker rack and backrest
3. Hepco-Becker CBows to mount bags.  I only put them on when I need them.  I can get what I need for a day trip in a tail bag I have on the bike.
4. Agostini exhausts
5. Moto Guzzi sport windscreen

Some general comments:

I took the heal shifter off so I just shift with my toe.  gives you more room to move your feet around on the bike.

A lot of people don't like the 'foot forward' positioning.  This was my first big cruiser with floorboards.  It took a little getting used to but I kinda like them now.  Regarding feet forward, I consider the foot positioning to be more standard than feet forward (especially if you consider the Harley definition of feet forward).

Fit and finish on the bike is remarkable.  Hopefully MG pays this much attention to details on it's newer bikes.

No 700 lb bike has any business handling as well as the Cali Custom.  Now, it's no Ducati, but you will be pleasantly surprised the first time you get it in the twistys.

The brakes are amazingly good.  The ABS has saved my skin a couple of times when minivan moms on cell phones have turned in front of me.

This is an all day bike.  I've done multiple 500+ mile days on it with no real complaints.  The electronic cruise control is a godsend. 

Some people bitch about the tires.  The rear OEM Dunlop is only good for about 5,000-6,000 miles.  I had two Dunlops on mine and switched to Avons.  They ride nice and handle well.  Verdict is not in on Avon durability. The 200 series rear limits your choices.

What don't I like?  Well, it is a 700lb bike.  If MG does a 'Custom Lite', weighing in a 100 lbs lighter I'll be tempted to trade.  Even though I love the cruise control it is a PIA to set.  The engine shake at idle used to bug me, but MG seemed to tame this a bit with the last ECU flash.

One word on windscreens.  You will want some form of wind protection.  Without the protection you will be hanging on for your life at 80 mph.  I tried some different options and ended up with the Sport screen, simply because I don't like big screens.  Each to their own.  There is a ton written on this subject in the forum so I'd read up on it before doing anything.

Good Luck.  I doubt if you will be disappointed.

[groundhog105]

I give a thumbs up to what mjptexas said.  It has taken a while to adjust to the riding position as opposed to sport touring position but it is all day comfortable and handles much lighter than a 700 lb bike but doesn't have the ground clearance for real aggressive cornering.  I bought it for a more relaxed 2 up touring bike and it works very well.   I have a Corbin seat for mine but prefer the stock touring seat. Overall a great bike.

[lencap]

Thanks again to everyone for the replies.  Just got back from a very enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner with family and appreciate the helpful suggestions.  Tomorrow I'll take the 180 mile ride to the dealership, complete the paperwork and hopefully get home at a reasonable time.  Black Friday traffic can be challenging.  I'll take secondary streets and vary speed/RPMs constantly, stopping frequently. 

I've read the owners manual in PDF format on the web, so I have a pretty good understanding of the electronics, but clearly a long ride will help.  I'll likely stick with the middle settings for traction and throttle, and hopefully won't need the ABS (but very much appreciate having it).  Some people report only 30 MPG (MCN), so I'll respect the fuel warning light until I get more confidence and experience.

I ride ATGATT and have my gear ready for the trip tomorrow.  My old Garmin Quest GPS has a weak battery, but it's superb for my needs - very small, takes up minimal room and is sufficient for the basics.  Weather tomorrow is good - high 60s/low 70s, overcast with small chance of occasional rain.  My gear can handle that easily, and even though I'm a senior rider I am confident in my physical and mental ability.  My last bike was a MV Agusta Brutale 800EAS Italia - a wonderful Italian machine, but clearly something that is "a bit aggressive" for me.  It gave me lots of problems and MV Agusta went into bankruptcy (again) making it 3-4 month wait to get parts.  I realized that it was time to move on, and happily found the California Custom at a (relatively) local dealership.  I'm very anxious to see it in person - I feel like a kid at Christmas.

I've taken the BikeSafeNC class before, and will sign up again for December class.  If you're not familiar with BikeSafe it's the best training I've ever had.  You spend all day with a NC motorcycle police officer, no more than 2 people per officer, have hours of on road and class training all designed to make you a more competent driver.  You can even bring a passenger.  All that's needed is a motorcycle endorsement, a properly insured motorcycle and appropriate riding gear.  There is no charge for the class which starts at 8:30 and runs until 5:00 PM.  The officers are friendly, give great feedback, and welcome questions.  Highly recommended.  It's not available nationwide, but for NC residents it's a great deal.

I'll ride it until the 900 mile service before making any changes (handlebars, etc.), and will check back on the forum to improve my knowledge. 

Thanks again for the help, and please keep the comments coming.  I'm very happy to return to the Guzzi family, and very much appreciate the members of this forum.

[AH Fan]

Congrats on the new goose ............ agree with many of the positive comments here.
Would like to add a few of my own after running over 20,000 K on my Cali custom set up like a tour model.
With the gunfighter factory seat big mileage days are what this machine is all about........... loves to romp and play with the other V twins out there and when it moves you pull the trigger and leave them all for dead.... really.
The only negative experience I ever had with mine was front rotor warpage............ because it handles so well you may find yourself playing in the twisties a lot faster than you should be with a very heavy machine chasing down much lighter and nimbler sport tour machines.......... it feels that good though.

Enjoy.     

[stephenm]

The fuel warning light will appear with 5 litres of fuel remaining, about 75km range left until dry on my Touring. The kilometres travelled since the light came on will count upwards from '0.' So if you look down and see the light, and, say, 8km, you have about 65km of fuel left, not 8. With a new engine, your fuel consumption will be a bit higher, but this will improve over the next 10,000km.

Expect the bike to flop into low speed turns (in carparks/U turns) until you adapt. You get used to it quickly and it is no longer an issue.
I find it a lovely stable platform, and the handling is generally sweet and neutral.

Stephen

[Kiwi_Roy]

Congratulations, I look forward to your trip report.

[tris]

Ride it until the fuel level light comes on
Refuel
Repeat until your credit card calls enough!!

That should get you tuned in to it

[elvisboy77]

Congrats on the new bike!  What part of NC are you in?

I am in Durham, bought my Eldorado from Scoot Richmond.

You are going to love that 1400!

[stevet]

Well done, enjoy your new bike!

Bring home a couple oil filters, and change the motor oil when you get home.  Get that factory fill, and any manufacturing/initial wear metal out of the engine.  I've done this with all my new bikes, replace the oil in the first 100-200 miles, and the oil in the drain pan has the prettiest metallic sparkle to it...  I then change it again at the first rec. oil change interval, still some sparkles in the oil but much cleaner looking than the factory fill.

A small investment at the beginning for long term engine health is my rationale.

Have fun!
Steve.

[LowRyter]

congrats on the purchase.  Give us a ride report.

[twowings]

Sweet! Enjoy it and post a plethora of pics...

[Lcarlson]

I concur with the foregoing comments, and would add the following: in the past, the most common adjective applied to Guzzi's in the motopress was "quirky", even when the review was positive. Most Guzzisti don't mind having this judgment applied to their rides, but with the Cali 14s, Guzzi no longer earns it. These bikes are thoroughly refined, modern motorcycles that lead their class by almost any measure.

[Zoom Zoom]

Congrats on the new ride. I might add a couple things as well.

There is a service bulletin for the shop to check a (green) wire that is part of the charging system to verify it has been disconnected. Evidently, it is a third wire that ***might*** lead to overcharging. They ought to be aware of it and probably already checked it. Ask anyway. Mine was not connected when my dealer inspected it. They have to lift the tank to check it.

You mentioned some concern on fuel economy. I have always gotten 40 and above. On the highway with the cruise set, I run at 45mpg. That is gallons put in the tank against GPS miles ridden. My bike did 47.5 once. I was astounded! I can only assume the temps and other conditions were perfect. The light comes on with 1.6 gallons left.

John Henry 

[bad Chad]

Related question.  I have a friend who bought a Cal 1400 Touring new this summer from Downers Grove Vespa/Guzzi.  I asked him after he had about 300 miles on it when he was going to take it in for it's initial service i.e. 600-900 miles?   He said is dealer said there wasn't one!

That dealer has since been dropped, or dropped the Guzzi line.  Is he right?  No service called for?

[Lcarlson]

Related question.  I have a friend who bought a Cal 1400 Touring new this summer from Downers Grove Vespa/Guzzi.  I asked him after he had about 300 miles on it when he was going to take it in for it's initial service i.e. 600-900 miles?   He said is dealer said there wasn't one!

That dealer has since been dropped, or dropped the Guzzi line.  Is he right?  No service called for?

Per the manual, first service is at 1500 km (about 900 miles).

[lencap]

Greetings!

The new Cali is in my garage!  The trip home was somewhat eventful - what I'd call "Guzziness".  I arrived home well after dark, and found that I had no headlights or dash lights.  Quite frustrating.  A near panicked call to the dealer - they were there late delivering 11 motorcycles! - revealed a switch on the back of the right handgrip that has a two setting switch.  The upper setting kills the headlight and dash lights, apparently for countries that don't require daytime running lights.  The lower setting restores the headlights and dash lights to full time use.  Oddly, if the switch is in the "kill headlight" setting, it doesn't revert to providing any forward lighting until the switch is changed.  So if you didn't know that Guzzi put a switch in a place that is totally inconspicuous, and if you haven't yet read the owners manual, since you just picked the bike up, and if you're riding home in the dark, be sure to move that switch to the lower position or you won't have lights.  Even more odd, the headlights and dash lights come on when you move the ignition key to "on", but they go out after you start the bike!

It's good to see that some things don't change at Moto Guzzi....   

Here's the bike, just before taking it off the showroom floor:





I'll give a full "ride home" review in a new post.

Thanks for everyone's help.  It's quite a machine.

[lencap]

Greetings -

First, my thanks to everyone on this forum.  Based on your comments, suggestions and observations I'm now the owner of a new California 1400 Custom.  You can find my posts about the decision process on this site, if you're interested.   In summary, I'm a senior rider looking for a motorcycle that will be "the last one" I ever buy.  I've owned an earlier model California (2000), and a Griso, so I have some history of Guzzi ownership.   Most of my prior motorcycles (several dozen over the years) have been largely tilted toward BMW and Harley, with repeat ownership of Honda and MV Agusta along with BMW and Harley. 

From this site I was able to read Moto Guzzi's marketing information intended for their franchise sales teams, and noticed that they target BMW and Harley riders for California ownership.  They also focus on the "40+" aged rider, and a rider who "appreciates quality and style".  Seems they wrote the marketing material with me in mind.

Given my prior Moto Guzzi ownership I expected a "nice" machine in the new California, but also feared the dreaded "Guzziness" of the bikes.  My earlier California had a nasty habit of rusting many parts, and even having a few wear out quickly or fall apart (peeling paint on transmission and engine, "chrome" made of plastic that didn't hold up, etc.).  The Griso was more of an issue - the computer went out, twice, requiring a wait for parts, lots of angst and general frustration.  It also had issues with "quality control", especially repeated electrical issues, and some hardware problems.

With that in mind, as I pulled out of the dealership for the 180 mile ride home (I wish there were more dealerships, but that's another post) I didn't know what to expect.  The bike is striking in person (mine's grey/silver), and at first look it seems far better put together than my earlier bikes, but I didn't know what to expect.  Most of the forum comments from my initial post were very favorable, so I made the decision to buy the bike.

In a word - thanks!  It's an amazing machine, at least with 200 miles on the odometer.  BUT, and there's always a BUT, the ride home wasn't uneventful.  I left the dealership in mid/late afternoon, trying to get home before scattered showers arrived.  I didn't make it - it rained lightly in several areas, not enough to be a major problem, but distracting as I wanted to get into the "zen" of the ride.  The rain didn't start until after sunset - and that's when the "Guzzienss" became apparent.  I noticed that I had no headlights and no dash lights - none!  That was beyond annoying as I had a long way to go and expected rain.  A frantic, and not overly civil, call to the dealer expressed my "concern".  To his credit, he answered the phone after business hours, and asked his tech to help find a solution, calling me back in 10 minutes.  Kudos for his customer service (I don't know the policy of mentioning dealers by name, so i've left that out, but I'll add it if it's appropriate -- good dealers need all the support they can get).

The solution was not at all obvious.  Behind the right handgrip, low in the mount near the right mirror, is a two position switch.  If the switch is in the top location it shuts off the headlight and dash lights entirely!  When switched to the lower setting full function is restored.  As a brand new owner, who hasn't yet cracked open the owners manual, and who is riding the bike for the first time, I would never have found that switch on my own, and would have struggled to get home, especially as the rain began.  The dealer's manager explained that Moto Guzzi is a "world bike", making one model that serves all countries.  As such, it accommodates countries that don't have DRL laws, or require riders to control their own lighting as they see fit.  It's good to see that some things don't change at Guzzi, but it's enough to remind me that, at least for some people, Moto Guzzi remains "an acquired taste".

The ride itself was wonderful.  The bike is amazingly smooth at anything above idle.  I rode in Turismo mode, with the traction control set to "2" - the middle setting.  The bike responded fine to all commands.  The seat is well padded, but after an hour I needed a break.  I'm 5'8" (barely) with 33" arm sleeves.  The bars are a bit of a stretch, especially after 6 arm surgeries since 2007.  I knew all of that going in, so I wasn't surprised.  Perhaps some small risers, Guzzitech is sold out for now, may be in my future, but overall I was very surprised to find that despite the stretch the bars were very comfortable.

The switchgear on the left grip takes getting used to. The "MODE" selector is directly over the turn signals, and it's easy in the dark to hit one when you want to hit the other.  Again, this is my first ride, so I'll give myself some time to develop muscle memory, but it happened several times.  At night in the rain I don't want to signal a turn when all I really want to know is my range until empty. 

I also found the lever to turn on the high beam very inconvenient.  It's not a simple thumb press, but requires you to stretch your finger, or even take if off the grip, to engage the headlight.  Then, when you want to return to low beam you repeat the process again, but the reach is distracting, taking attention away from the road itself.

The biggest letdown is the weak headlight.  I've owned several Harleys with the "DayMaker" LED headlight.  It's wonderful, with the possible exception of being a bit narrow in illumination the path during turns.  The LEDS provide a very bright, wide beam when riding on the highway at speed, or even in remote non-lit roadways in most towns.  I have similar lights on all of my cars, and especially at my age, have grown addicted to them.  The California relies on old light technology, seemingly out of place on a modern bike with traction control, throttle mapping, and ABS.  Unfortunately with the heavily styled headlight (ala the MV Agusta Brutale that I also owned), it's not easy to upgrade lighting.  This is my single biggest initial disappointment.  I don't ride at night on every ride, but I do ride at night enough to notice poor lighting.  On a positive note, I laughed when I noticed that the low beam pattern on the highway at night resembles that of a bird in flight - perhaps a subtle "Guzziness" relating to their heritage symbol.

Style is a personal choice, but for me the bike is wonderfully "Italian", radiating art in even the most mundane areas (look at the graceful transition from the engine to the transmission casing, the flowing lines hiding the rather long length of the bike itself, the detail around the headlight (even though I don't like the illumination I admire the art), and countless other areas.  This is where most Italian machines impress (yes, it's a heritage thing - I'm Italian, first generation American).

I've read some reports of poor mileage, but I don't have enough riding to know yet.  I will say that I was also frustrated with the fuel gauge.  It stayed near full for the first 70 miles or so, then began to drop quickly.  It's hard to gauge (no pun intended) how much fuel is in the tank, especially when the gauge isn't linear.  When it got down to two bars it was very dark, I was wet, and there weren't a lot of places to gas up.  I pulled into a station, filled up and the pump clicked off after less than 3 gallons.  Was the tank full, did it just stop by itself?  Hard to tell since it's my first ride, but with only two bars left I expected to need far more than 2.6 gallons of gas on a 5+ gallon tank.  Another bit of frustration since my ride to my son's house is nearly 100 miles, and my daughter is closer to 200 miles.  Knowing how much gas is left isn't a mental exercise on those rides - its information I'll need.

Overall, I don't want to end this by sounding negative about the California.  Far from it.  In all honesty after one ride my initial impression is it's the finest motorcycle I've ever owned!    It's a rolling work of art (at least to me), seems worlds better "put together" compared to my older California and Griso, and has all the safety things I'll need as I, hopefully, continue to age -- ABS, throttle controls, traction control, etc. 

The weaknesses are the lighting, some ergonomics in seating position and switches, and not much else.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure there is a fix for the lighting, or the switches, but I should be able to address the bar reach if needed.

Again, thanks to all for the helpful comments/information.  The members of this forum are passionate - that's what makes this forum special, and I'm very grateful for it.

Here's a picture of my as of yet unnamed California just before taking it out of the dealership for the ride home:




free image hosting

[oldbike54]

 Name ? Wanety ?

 Dusty

[elvisboy77]

which dealer?  they have a lot of guzzis!

[tiger_one]

That is funny right there, makes me want one!!

[Lcarlson]

Greetings!

The new Cali is in my garage!  The trip home was somewhat eventful - what I'd call "Guzziness".  I arrived home well after dark, and found that I had no headlights or dash lights.  Quite frustrating.  A near panicked call to the dealer - they were there late delivering 11 motorcycles! - revealed a switch on the back of the right handgrip that has a two setting switch.  The upper setting kills the headlight and dash lights, apparently for countries that don't require daytime running lights.  The lower setting restores the headlights and dash lights to full time use.  Oddly, if the switch is in the "kill headlight" setting, it doesn't revert to providing any forward lighting until the switch is changed.  So if you didn't know that Guzzi put a switch in a place that is totally inconspicuous, and if you haven't yet read the owners manual, since you just picked the bike up, and if you're riding home in the dark, be sure to move that switch to the lower position or you won't have lights.  Even more odd, the headlights and dash lights come on when you move the ignition key to "on", but they go out after you start the bike!

It's good to see that some things don't change at Moto Guzzi....   

Here's the bike, just before taking it off the showroom floor:





I'll give a full "ride home" review in a new post.

Thanks for everyone's help.  It's quite a machine.

Actually, that switch on the right side doesn't just kill the headlight, it simultaneously causes the eight LEDs that flank the headlight to switch from their decorative dim setting to full brightness, whereby they become highly visible running lights. They are definitely more conspicuous than the low beam headlight, without blinding or annoying other traffic like the high beam.

[Arizona Wayne]

WOW, that sounds like a fairly hair raising 1st ride on your new Guzzi. Dark & rainy, no frontal weather protection.   I don't even like that when I know where all the controls are.   Glad to hear you made it home.  I would think nowadays you would have a bright headlight.   Maybe the rain effected that?  I hardly ever ride at night any more.  Tell us who the dealer is since they did you good when you needed them. 

[rocker59]

Fail on the part of the dealership who sold you the bike.  They should've walked you though all the switchgear (and other features) before sending you off for a ride into the night.  They should've shown you the DRL/Headlight switch.  Hard to believe they didn't show that feature to you, but it sounds like they may not have really known, themselves.

As far as the switchgear goes, it's pretty standard Italian stuff.  Anytime you get a new/different bike it takes some adaptation.  You'll learn the switchgear in time. 

I don't know about the "weak" headlight.  I think this is the first time I've read that complaint.  I've not ridden a Cal 14 in the dark, so don't really have any help to offer, there...


BTW, I've merged your two threads.  Lets keep all the talk about your new Cal 14 on one thread.

[Zazu]

I don't know about the "weak" headlight.  I think this is the first time I've read that complaint.  I've not ridden a Cal 14 in the dark, so don't really have any help to offer, there

I've been riding a Cali 1400 Custom for the past year and I echo all the positives mentioned in earlier posts, love the bike. However, if it has only been said once before, let me be the second to declare that the headlight illumination is very weak. I've rarely riden the bike at night, but late in the riding season riding in to work early mornings means a 30 min ride in the dark. I'd love to find a solution if there's a simple fix.

Dan