Hydro Cali as Pheonix!

[pete roper]

Got a shameful little secret to share.....

I like Hydro Calis.

I like them a lot!

I've always believed that this was the engine that should of been stuck in the Norge but after they screwed up the valvetrain, the clutch and the steering I suppose it was doomed.

Anyway a few weeks ago a bloke bought his in to us hoping that we'd be able to pass it through rego and get it happening with little effort.

Sadly brake discs like razor blades, (Really! They were down to 3.5mm!) and forks that were completely screwed through having run with blown seals for a long, long time as well as a host of other less serious problems meant that if we bought everything it needed new it was going to be a HUGE expense.

Plan 'B' was part it out and he was looking at a Cali 14. But his missus needed another car and they were doing a lot of commuting etc. it wasn't going to be easy.

I'd contacted my mate Peter in Townsville as he has a Hydro Cali outfit to see if he wanted to buy it for spares but he simply doesn't have room! BUT he did have the forks off his outfit which had only done 7,000km before he stuck the links on and he said he'd part with them if the owner crossed his palm with silver. A deal was done and suddenly things were looking up.

Some cheap Chinese discs that I know work OK on a Griso should be good enough for a Cali, a rear from Metal Gear in Queensland, new pads, a host of bearings, (Wheel, steering head etc.) a new set of rubber and all of a sudden this great chunk of shite is beginning to look like a motorbike again!

It's a 2004, it's got all the good stuff in the motor and driveline, it's not eligible for the fork yoke recall and while scruffy it's mechanically pretty bloody sound. He likes it. He can't afford the new 1400 and for a fraction of that cost he'll have his old bike back all blinged up and ready to boogie!

This sort of job is what makes it fun! Sure we'll make money on it but bugger me they're the absolute BEST of the Calis and far too many of them get parted out!

I lubs me some Hydro!

Pete

[balvenie]

Well done Pete

[kidsmoke]

Interesting to hear. I've read that here before, that a properly sorted Hydro was arguably the most robust trouble free Guzzi. I've never heard you comment on the Tonti Cali's before Pete, so it's good to know where they fall in your hierarchy of Guzzi.

Odd how much light is being shed on these bikes on this board recently - all of the sudden. A host of 'em for sale (not Hydro's but Tonti Cali's) and now this.

good on ya for getting this guy rolling.

[Travlr]

My Guzzi mechanic would agree with you.  He LOVES his dad's hydro.

2 quick questions:

1. Was 2004 the only year for the hydro?  Or the best year?

2. What models came withe hydro motor?  Bassa for instance?  Others?

Mike

[radguzzi]

Agree completely Pete,
Excellent platform.

We have owned two 2004 EV Touring Hydros, the first one from new that we put a bunch of miles on before selling it to Geoff in Canada who proceeded to pile a bunch more on.

I recently purchased another that had been owned by Michigan MGNOC Rep and ride it a great deal.

I have enjoyed all of the Cali models that we have had but there is something about that hydro that just does it for me.

Best,
Rob

[Dilliw]

My Guzzi mechanic would agree with you.  He LOVES his dad's hydro.

2 quick questions:

1. Was 2004 the only year for the hydro?  Or the best year?

2. What models came withe hydro motor?  Bassa for instance?  Others?

In the U.S. the hydro came in the 2003 and 2004 models.  All of the California models (EV, EVT, Special Sport, Ti, Al, Stone, etc)  had the motor.  Some came with a single plate clutch that had issues but from what anyone can tell it was fairly random as to year and model.

Mike

[ccoli]

Just got back from a lap of Alaska with mine, ~5k miles. Behaved perfectly. Have lots of spare bits as I have a hack installed  with leading links and 15" rims.

[oldbike54]

 Yeah , my next Guzzi will be a Hydro , or will be if a good one is located . Great motorbikes .

 Dusty

[rodekyll]

Just got back from a lap of Alaska with mine, ~5k miles. Behaved perfectly. Have lots of spare bits as I have a hack installed  with leading links and 15" rims.

Yay!  You're home!  Did you see any lights, or was it still too bright?

My hydro is my favorite 1100.  It even hauled the trike around pretty good.

[bigbikerrick]

Thats great to hear Pete! I have an 03 Aluminum hydro that had the recall done at 10K miles, and currently at 26K and runs like a swiss watch.... eerily silent valve train, and fantastic torque down low. This bike has been absolutely bulletproof, even the speedo and tach still work perfectly!   I loves me "Hydro" too!   
Rick.

[balvenie]

Yeah , my next Guzzi will be a Hydro , or will be if a good one is located . Great motorbikes .
 Dusty

Onya Dusty

[davevv]

I've had two Californias.

'98EV


'03 Titanium


The Titanium was definitely the better of the two in both comfort and performance.  That hydro motor was great.

[oldbike54]

Onya Dusty

 How ya goin' mate ? We need to catch up .

 Dusty

[radguzzi]

Just got back from a lap of Alaska with mine, ~5k miles. Behaved perfectly. Have lots of spare bits as I have a hack installed  with leading links and 15" rims.

Chris,
Is that 15" rims all around...?  I have been thinking that a 15" rear wheel would be good so I can run a car tire on the rear of the '99 Guzzi Hack.

Any conversion advice is welcome.

Thanks,
Rob

Yeah , my next Guzzi will be a Hydro , or will be if a good one is located . Great motorbikes .

 Dusty

Dusty,
There are a couple for sale right here in the Swap Meet...  I would not hesitate on an '04 (or any Hydro) as evidenced by this second one we purchased earlier this year.

Best,
Rob

[bigbikerrick]

I think its crazy.....10 years ago hydros were  the equivalent of leprosy, these days they are highly sought after, and admired.  Maybe Guzzi should have continued with the hydro development. I think they dropped the ball big time in not doing so.  Thoughts?
Rick.

[EV11Jack]

I think its crazy.....10 years ago hydros were  the equivalent of leprosy, these days they are highly sought after, and admired.  Maybe Guzzi should have continued with the hydro development. I think they dropped the ball big time in not doing so.  Thoughts?
Rick.

I hate to show my ignorance, but can you explain what a hydro is? I'm new to Guzzi's. Currently have a '98 EV11 with 50,000 miles and am loving it.


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[davevv]

In 2003-4 MG built the Cali engines with hydraulic lifters, hence the nickname "hydro".  Initially they had serious cam wear problems.  I don't know how long it took to come up with the solution, but eventually they did and issued a recall to fix the bikes.  As long as they have had the recall done, they are rock solid excellent running engines and still have the hydraulic lifters.  There was also a recall for cracks in the lower triple clamps of bikes in that time period.

The sad part is that after they got the problem fixed and had a great engine with the hydraulic lifters, they abandoned it and went back to the solids.

[Tom H]

Guzzi should have refined the Hydro for the touring/ cruiser style bikes and use the non hydro for the sport style bikes.

I have never ridden a LeMans or Spine class bike, but I would assume that the 850 LeMans has more pep than my Eldo. So again I would assume that a 1100cc hydro would have a little less performance than a 1100 LeMans class bike.

Love my hydro. Now if I can get rid a pesky rattle that develops at about 80mph it would be perfect!

Tom