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| Thatch | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 09:52 Post title : Moto Guzzi California 1400 | | | There has been information trickling out about this bike for a while and while I'm not a massive fan there are a number of interesting bits on it, most notably the new 1400 power plant. In this case it is an air/oil cooled version but they are said to have a water cooled version of this lump as well.
So, thinks I like about the bike...
The engine. Those cylinder heads are beautiful (and the bronze finish doesn't hurt) but it is a bit beefy. I'd like to see it in a more standard frame to see if the scale actually works in other applications.
The wheels are an interesting blend of the look of spoke wheels with a mag.
The rear suspension is nice and gives an interesting high tech feel to a bike that has many old school design cues.
Oh and the exhaust while not my favorite, reminds me greatly of the stock tbird exhaust.
and of course it's a Guzzi, I seem required to like them for that reason alone.
What I don't like about it is ...
sadly, most of the rest.
It looks very heavy, whether it is or not it just looks like a rolling breeze block.
The headlight is a massive mistake.
The lip around the cutouts for the cylinder heads bothers me ... I would of rather seen that just cut in, not flare out and then cut in.
Generally it just seems needlessly long in the mid-section along the side cover. Of course that seat would seem to allow for all sorts of sizes of riders to find their right spot.
and.. I'm undecided on the rear lights. I didn't care for them much at all to begin with, but in some ways they work. That one I'd just have to see in person to know for sure.
I will say this, that I think this could be a really interesting platform for some very custom mods. There just seems to be a lot you could do here if you were so inclined. Off the showroom floor though, it's not for me.
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| Bedouin | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 1,067 | | Location | : | Athens, Greece |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 10:02 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | | Nice catch Thatch!
After owning 2 Guzzis in the past (LeMan and Centauro) I have a soft spot for them.
This is quite an original design without being too artsy ...
I personally think it's a modern reincarnation of the Centauro.
| Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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| Tenzin1999 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 20/08/2011 | | Posts | : | 214 | | Location | : | Canberra, Australia |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 10:16 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Bedouin) | | | Thanks for sharing Thatch. I too have a soft spot for the Guzzi and am more interested in manufactures who make bikes with "character" rather than the normal mass-produced design philosophy. I quite like what Guzzi have done here, but that headlight....sticks out like a sore thumb. Hope Guzzi does well with this bike. 
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 10:25 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | | WTF is that on the front of the bike. I just think it looks like something Honda would do - pretty bland. I do like MG,s of the past and find this interesting but thats it for me. Adjustable shocks look the right way to go though. Cant see if its shaft drive - probs is.
Nice find though.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 10:36 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Bedouin) | | |
Bedouin wrote:
I personally think it's a modern reincarnation of the Centauro. |
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I can see that.
Yeah it's shaft drive Mat. The transverse engine is really only suited for shaft.
Agree wholeheartedly on the headlight. That just doesn't work.
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| Tilinghetuna | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 21/05/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 10:41 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | | The light looks like it's made from an old urinal pan 
I don't really have a personal opinion on MG but to me it's not the most attractive of bikes.
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Tilinghetuna = Settlement of Tir's people
| | Post edited by Tilinghetuna on 15 Mar 2012 - 10:42 |
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| EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 14:41 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Tilinghetuna) | | | There is a Guzzi dealer 5 miles from my house and I have admired their bikes in person a couple of times. I think they look good in the flesh.
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 16:04 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | | In addition to your cons I am not wild about the tractor look of the engine block. Over all I really like the bike. I really like that Guzzi has kept the longitudinal mounted v twin. Very cool look.
The head light, oh the headlight, what were they thinking? It destroys the front end.
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| Bedouin | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 1,067 | | Location | : | Athens, Greece |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 19:14 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: CornerBanger) | | | To be honest, I am of the opinion that the headlight is an all-in-one (or 2-in-one) contraption that I can live with and could possibly grow on me (an acquired taste perhaps?).
Albeit weird ... it could be seen as a distinctive characteristic of the model and does seem to blend ok with the overall look of the bike.
Just my 2 drachma ...
| Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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| zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 19:37 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: CornerBanger) | | | i dont think its a headlight...
i think the instrument consul has tipped forwards 90 degrees and the speedo has dropped out
please please it cant be a headlight
mates got an 1100 MG and that engine vibrates sideways, sideways, sideways as he sits at the lights, imagine that twin popping askew.
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 19:38 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: zolti) | | | second look.... that seems a very loooong wheelbase
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 19:43 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: zolti) | | | zolti wrote:
second look.... that seems a very loooong wheelbase |
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Oh it is... or seems to be at least.
Seems they're releasing a scrambler as well...
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| Bedouin | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 1,067 | | Location | : | Athens, Greece |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 19:50 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: zolti) | | |
zolti wrote:
second look.... that seems a very loooong wheelbase |
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Yes, it looks a bit strange too.
| Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 20:05 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | | Well Thatch, it's interesting I'll say that!
Wheels, pipes and dial on handle bars look good that for me is where it ends.
However throw me the keys and let's see how it rides.
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 20:05 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Bedouin) | | | liking that scrambler
of the two that would be my choice, might get me out in the snow on that.
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| Bedouin | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 1,067 | | Location | : | Athens, Greece |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 20:24 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Bedouin) | | | Bedouin wrote:
zolti wrote:
second look.... that seems a very loooong wheelbase |
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Yes, it looks a bit strange too.
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Then again, looking at AlainD's similarly (sort of) styled Bird (seen at a slight angle), it would appear that it also has a pretty big wheelbase.
| Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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| Eddie | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 422 | | Location | : | Melbourne Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 21:21 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Bedouin) | |
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 21:45 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Eddie) | | | I considered buying a Guzzi instead of my TBird but getting parts and factory warranty service around here would have been next to impossible. I like Guzzi's alot. Not sure I like that tank cut-out, wonder what it does for capacity and range.
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 15 Mar 2012 - 21:56 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Daycruiser) | | |
Then again, looking at AlainD's
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Good eye. What with the similar exhaust and the elongated saddle there is a resemblance. So close and yet so far.
Daycruiser wrote:
wonder what it does for capacity and range.
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With how Guzzi typically runs it's fuel tanks, probably nothing. That elongated body may be partly due to an under seat fuel cell and the tin up front is just for looks. That's just a guess though.
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| mjgt | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/09/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,201 | | Location | : | North Somerset, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 16 Mar 2012 - 09:30 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | | |  Nice looking bike, cept the headlight. good find
| Mick . . .  Keep the rubber side down!!
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 16 Mar 2012 - 11:05 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Eddie) | | |
Eddie wrote:
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This looks cool
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| magpie | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 1,507 | | Location | : | NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 16 Mar 2012 - 11:43 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: mat1600) | | |
I like it !
I could see it in outback Australia !
Magpie
| Magpie - "I dream of a better world.....where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned "
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| Tilinghetuna | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 21/05/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 16 Mar 2012 - 13:29 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: magpie) | | | I can see the appeal for a MG but for me thats just not it. The more pictures people post the more tacky it looks. I can appricate so of it's finer points but the first picture of the headlight but me off and now it looks plastic to me. Horses for courses I guess.
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Tilinghetuna = Settlement of Tir's people
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| TBRider | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 21/10/2011 | | Posts | : | 834 | | Location | : | Foothills, The Mountains, United States |
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| | Posted : 16 Mar 2012 - 17:47 Post title : Re: Moto Guzzi California 1400 (Re: Thatch) | |
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