Ever wondered why Cali 1400’s are so heavy?

[Turin]

106 lbs. and 15 oz.

[not-fishing]

As a three score plus four year old native Californian I must say that most Californian's are 45 lbs overweight and I hope to rectify that with at least one Californian -----me.

[jas67]

That said, if you haven't already, you GOTTA ride the 2018 Heritage. It feels MUCH smaller and lighter than the previous model did and also feels smaller/lighter than any Cali 1400 variant I've ridden.

I have to agree.    I really liked riding the 2018 Heritage on a demo ride last fall, it certainly feels lighter going down the road than it is.   I really can't compare it to the Cali 1400, because there were several years in between riding them.

[Muzz]

 

[reidy]

Pete

Are you going to keep us in suspenders or are you going to tell us the weight of the rubber mounting?
I know you can't tell us the total weight increase because it is compounding. The rubber mounts require a stiffer frame that weighs more therefore other things such as brakes are made bigger to give the same stopping power and the suspension is beefed up to carry the extra weight and the list goes on. 

Steve

[Chuck in Indiana]

Pete

Are you going to keep us in suspenders or are you going to tell us the weight of the rubber mounting?
I know you can't tell us the total weight increase because it is compounding. The rubber mounts require a stiffer frame that weighs more therefore other things such as brakes are made bigger to give the same stopping power and the suspension is beefed up to carry the extra weight and the list goes on. 

Steve

That is *exactly* what happens when you add weight and complexity instead of simplicity and lightness.. 

[Groover]

When is the final weigh-in? 

[TimmyTheHog]

man the suspense is killing me...

So what is the final weight :P

[Hittman]

Herrow?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Herrow?

<blowing into mike> Is this thing on?

[John A]

<blowing into mike> Is this thing on?

 

[pete roper]

Sadly, I have a job and a life. I also can’t be arsed by being told I’m wrong by ignorant whenever I say anything.

It also depends on what parts you think of as being related to *Excess* weight.

My guess without nuts and bolts is 20kg. Add in the stupid subrame and it’ll be closer to thirty.

Mind you that’s what you’ll get if you decide the eschew technological advance in favour of appearance. The Cali could of been so much better.

Pete

[lucian]

The Cali could of been so much better.

Agreed, but for what they are , they're pretty damn good. I'm keeping mine since I couldn't give it away.

[pete roper]

You see I disagree. I really wanted to love mine, so did Jude, expecting something comfortable and, we’ll, ‘Cruisy’. Instead we got a wallowing barge that felt like something from three decades ago only much heavier, worse handling and uglier!

These are my and my opinions alone but I simply can’t understand the attraction of the big Calis.

I can, easily, understand the attraction of the smallblocks although i’m Waiting for either a truly innovative interpretation of the old platform as they did with the big blocks or alternatively a completely new platform completely divorced from the past.

Right now I’m far more interested in what Energica are doing that what the spivs running Guzzi are doing. That saddens me no end.

Pete

[Zoom Zoom]

Sadly, I have a job and a life. I also can�t be arsed by being told I�m wrong by ignorant whenever I say anything.

It also depends on what parts you think of as being related to *Excess* weight.

My guess without nuts and bolts is 20kg. Add in the stupid subrame and it�ll be closer to thirty.

Mind you that�s what you�ll get if you decide the eschew technological advance in favour of appearance. The Cali could of been so much better.

Pete

It sounds like they would have saved about 60 pounds by hard mounting the engine. That is a lot. Add onto that the 28 pounds saved by the Agos and you have closed in on 100 pounds of weight savings. I never felt an 1100 Cali was bad as long as the TB's were set correctly. No reason to think a hard mounted 1400 would be bad either. Of course I have no idea how a redesign would affect the total weight but...............

Different strokes for different folks and all. I do find my Eldo more comfortable than the EV's I had prior. It is easier to mount and dismount than my Stelvio, which is also very comfortable for me. As I have said many times before, that is about the only drawback I can complain about on the Stelvio, at least for me.

Oh well.

John Henry

[mtiberio]

Sadly, I have a job and a life. I also can’t be arsed by being told I’m wrong by ignorant whenever I say anything.

It also depends on what parts you think of as being related to *Excess* weight.

My guess without nuts and bolts is 20kg. Add in the stupid subrame and it’ll be closer to thirty.

Mind you that’s what you’ll get if you decide the eschew technological advance in favour of appearance. The Cali could of been so much better.

Pete

I have heard an estimate that the HD Sportster gained 50 pounds when they went to rubber mounting. So 60 sounds about right.

[blu guzz]

With respect for those with different opinions and speaking for myself only, I like to have some weight under me when I tour.  I also find the Cali Custom to be a "sporty" cruiser.  I define that as a bike that can be fun to hustle through corners when the need hits, but in the main is a quick, comfortable, solid feeling ride.  This bike hits those requirements spot on for me.  I just took a short to mid length trip of 300 miles in each direction.  The Friday ride over was fabulous weather and temp. and on the relatively straight back roads, I just set her for about 55 mph and enjoyed the burble of the exhaust and the beauty of the day in great comfort.  I spent 8 hours on the ride (with stops) where on the slab, Google said I could get it done if 4.5.  I have no doubt I could have hammered the bike on the slab at 80 for 4.5 hours also, had I chosen to.  While at the rally, we attacked some curves with gusto, no problem here either. The weather was not so nice on the Sunday ride home, so we picked up the pace.  No problem with that either.
I have had HD's and a Victory and this handles better than either while having far more soul than the Victory.  I think I'll keep her.

[LowRyter]

a couple of points.

1. for that type of bike it is definitely the sportiest in the category.  If you're looking at Harley, Victory, Indian, Japanese V twin (OK, I've only ridden the Kaw), this tourer has them with handling, power curve, weight, brakes, and equipment. 

2. Having said that, it's still a feet-forward cruiser.  Not radical but equal to the "sportiest" Road King.  That sorta has taken the shine off it for me.  But at least the dang thing seems to be pretty reliable.


Now if what I am reading here, that 75lb could be cut just by engine mounts and minor mods, add some mid mount controls, purposeful styling and sign me up.  1400 RT let's go.  As a 600 lb tourer it would be a fantastic ride.

[Lcarlson]

With respect for those with different opinions and speaking for myself only, I like to have some weight under me when I tour.  I also find the Cali Custom to be a "sporty" cruiser.  I define that as a bike that can be fun to hustle through corners when the need hits, but in the main is a quick, comfortable, solid feeling ride.  This bike hits those requirements spot on for me.  I just took a short to mid length trip of 300 miles in each direction.  The Friday ride over was fabulous weather and temp. and on the relatively straight back roads, I just set her for about 55 mph and enjoyed the burble of the exhaust and the beauty of the day in great comfort.  I spent 8 hours on the ride (with stops) where on the slab, Google said I could get it done if 4.5.  I have no doubt I could have hammered the bike on the slab at 80 for 4.5 hours also, had I chosen to.  While at the rally, we attacked some curves with gusto, no problem here either. The weather was not so nice on the Sunday ride home, so we picked up the pace.  No problem with that either.
I have had HD's and a Victory and this handles better than either while having far more soul than the Victory.  I think I'll keep her.

Agree. The Cali is a cruiser and some weight is needed to provide the luxurious ride feel that you buy a cruiser for. Mid-size “cruisers” just don’t deliver that. But you’ve got to want a cruiser in the first place, and that’s not for everybody.

[Kev m]

It sounds like they would have saved about 60 pounds by hard mounting the engine. That is a lot. Add onto that the 28 pounds saved by the Agos and you have closed in on 100 pounds of weight savings. I never felt an 1100 Cali was bad as long as the TB's were set correctly. No reason to think a hard mounted 1400 would be bad either. Of course I have no idea how a redesign would affect the total weight but...............

Well, keep in mind that your 1400 (like the neuvo smallblocks) has only a single throttle body and as such I don't think it will ever be quite as smooth as a well synched dual throttle body in this application. I certainly do notice more vibration in the handlebars of my V7 than I do anything else in the fleet. Which is interesting if you think about it.

I realize that rubbermounting a motor carries a weight penalty but it does work wonderfully, both our rubbermounted Harleys are quite comfy from a vibration perspective, moreso than the V7 and even the Duc, and in theory the Harleys come at it with a greater penalty in terms of engine vibration so the system is overcoming that and more.

So I dunno if a non-rubbermounted Cali 1400 would have been the correct choice for the segment.

Then again, even Harley has some counterbalanced motors and by all indications that method works just as well to tame vibrations. Perhaps that is something that Guzzi should have considered.

[Huzo]

With respect for those with different opinions and speaking for myself only, I like to have some weight under me when I tour.  I also find the Cali Custom to be a "sporty" cruiser.  I define that as a bike that can be fun to hustle through corners when the need hits, but in the main is a quick, comfortable, solid feeling ride.  This bike hits those requirements spot on for me.  I just took a short to mid length trip of 300 miles in each direction.  The Friday ride over was fabulous weather and temp. and on the relatively straight back roads, I just set her for about 55 mph and enjoyed the burble of the exhaust and the beauty of the day in great comfort.  I spent 8 hours on the ride (with stops) where on the slab, Google said I could get it done if 4.5.  I have no doubt I could have hammered the bike on the slab at 80 for 4.5 hours also, had I chosen to.  While at the rally, we attacked some curves with gusto, no problem here either. The weather was not so nice on the Sunday ride home, so we picked up the pace.  No problem with that either.
I have had HD's and a Victory and this handles better than either while having far more soul than the Victory.  I think I'll keep her.

Is Northern Kentuyucky anywhere near Northern Kentucky...?

[rdbandkab]

Waiting for either a truly innovative interpretation of the old platform as they did with the big blocks or alternatively a completely new platform completely divorced from the past.

If this means coming out with a new version Breva (great 2up standard format),  I'm with you.  I would probably ditch the Capo 1200 for a new version Breva >=850cc.

[blu guzz]

no, its a special place, not on any maps.

[moltoguzzi]

There's a lot to like about that new Heritage!

Can't wait to hear more reports.

Thanks for sharing.

Hi, Kev. I want to add a few few more comments on the Heritage. put 1200 miles in 7 days up at Americade, and I'm actually in love with a motorcycle called Heritage. the bike is super stable at all highway speeds, in turns IT DOES NOT lose its composure when going over potholes or rough surfaces, very complaint, it get A+. Brakes, smooth, powerful, yes, powerful, A+. Handling is better than my EV1100 and better than any cruiser or tourer I ever ridden. I have the 114ci which is more than I'll ever need but so much fun to ride that torque curve A+. COMFORT that is where it gets an A+++, ergonomics are perfect for me at 5'10". Had to get used to no heel shifter and I'm getting buffeting with the windscreen on at highway speeds, off for now, may be a Laminar Lip or taller windscreen for the winter and long trips. I also added the matching tour pack which looks awesome on it.
Dont test ride one unless you are prepared to buy. BTW it doesnt splays your legs like the touring frame and it has 4" of suspension travel, the only other softail with 4" of travel is the Fatbob.
ciao

[Kev m]

Hi, Kev. I want to add a few few more comments on the Heritage. put 1200 miles in 7 days up at Americade, and I'm actually in love with a motorcycle called Heritage. the bike is super stable at all highway speeds, in turns IT DOES NOT lose its composure when going over potholes or rough surfaces, very complaint, it get A+. Brakes, smooth, powerful, yes, powerful, A+. Handling is better than my EV1100 and better than any cruiser or tourer I ever ridden. I have the 114ci which is more than I'll ever need but so much fun to ride that torque curve A+. COMFORT that is where it gets an A+++, ergonomics are perfect for me at 5'10". Had to get used to no heel shifter and I'm getting buffeting with the windscreen on at highway speeds, off for now, may be a Laminar Lip or taller windscreen for the winter and long trips. I also added the matching tour pack which looks awesome on it.
Dont test ride one unless you are prepared to buy. BTW it doesnt splays your legs like the touring frame and it has 4" of suspension travel, the only other softail with 4" of travel is the Fatbob.
ciao

Great report, so glad to hear.

I have ridden one as well and get where you're coming from.

Enjoy!