![]() Rubber-insulated footrests dull what little engine vibration reaches the frame, and the heel-toe shifter and brake pedal don’t crowd the rider’s feet. Because the cylinder heads jut out sideways at tank level, the floorboards are located more amidships than on most cruisers, which is a good thing since the result is a more neutral, less stretched-out seating position. A broad, flat seat, set just 29.1 inches above the deck (an optional 28.3-inch seat is available), provides a comfortable perch, and the pulled-back handlebar allows for straight-back posture-the perfect combination for long, contemplative rides. Clutching and shifting is a clean, quiet affair, with little of the low-gear clunk common among cruisers.Ĭomfort and style peacefully coexist on the California 1400 Touring. Power reaches the rear wheel by way of a hydraulically actuated, single-plate dry clutch, 6-speed transmission with overdriven top gear and a double cardan-joint drive shaft. Selecting a particular mode also sets the degree of traction control intervention (levels 1-3), or it can be turned off. Turismo (Touring) mode softens throttle response without changing output, but Pioggia (Rain) mode dials it back to 67.2 horsepower and 70.4 lb-ft. In Veloce (Fast) mode, the California’s air/oil-cooled, four-valve, twin-spark V-twin spun its 200mm rear tire up to 87.7 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 78.5 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 rpm on Jett Tuning’s dyno. This is the first Moto Guzzi with throttle-by-wire, and the Marelli 7SM ECU does a superb job of managing engine modes, traction control and cruise control. Throttle response is immediate, torque is generous, bursts of acceleration are a guilty pleasure. Sound and fury may be muted, but the California’s 1,380cc powerplant kicks some serious asiago. ![]() The new, torquey 1,380cc V-twin is a major styling element. At least your fussy neighbors won’t complain. But the California is no more menacing than a Vespa. As much as I appreciate a silky smooth engine, on a big cruiser, especially one made by an Italian manufacturer revered for its throbbing V-twins, I want to feel something. It’s isolated from the chassis by a kinematic support system that uses automotive-type elastic mounts. To reduce felt vibration, the California’s V-twin is not a stressed member of the tubular-steel double-cradle frame, as it was on the previous model. Grab a handful of throttle and the Goose will honk loudly, but otherwise it purrs like a kitten. At cruising speeds, barely a tingle creeps into the grips and floorboards, hardly a bellow emanates from the twin howitzer-size pipes. ![]() Beyond a walking pace, the California’s shudder-n-shake melts away and the engine relaxes into a smooth, quiet cadence. That is, until you ease out the clutch and roll on the throttle. Sounds and feels just like a cruiser should. Blip the throttle and the longitudinal crank twists the bike to the right. Thumb the start button and the big V-twin rumbles to life, rattling the mirrors and sending seismic vibrations through the grips and seat. Long and low, steering theĬalifornia requires effort, but it stays on course and has ample cornering clearance. And in the notoriously analog cruiser segment, the California stands apart with a full slate of digital goodies: throttle-by-wire, riding modes, traction control, electronic cruise control, dual trip computers and an anti-theft alarm. The California’s trademark longitudinal 90-degree V-twin now displaces 1,380cc, up from 1,064cc, making it the largest engine ever built by Moto Guzzi. Classic details like a buckhorn handlebar, police-style windshield, floorboards, driving lamps and plenty of chrome are complemented by modern touches, such as digital instrumentation and LED taillights and daytime running lights. New styling balances the past and present. Like many Californians, Moto Guzzi’s stalwart cruiser-now in its eighth model generation-has been cosmetically altered and technologically enhanced. A civilian version, the 850 GT California, was introduced in 1971 and some version of the California has been in Moto Guzzi’s lineup ever since. ![]() at the time, Moto Guzzi captures a slice of the lucrative police market with a full-dress version of the Eldorado 850, which was more powerful, more maneuverable, lighter and less expensive than the dominant police bike at the time, the Harley-Davidson FLH ( Retrospective, October 2012). Richard Nixon is in the White House, American troops are in Vietnam and the AMC Gremlin is in dealerships.
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