The small world of the motor bike, the aficionados and the amateurs of beautiful work expected it since a long time… And for all, 2013 will be the year of the delivery.
Radically reconsidered, the news Moto Guzzi California 1400 planks it without fault, an approval of first order but especially a character which did not forget anything of its origins, far from there. First test of a great success!
Fifteen years. Yes, it is long. Because it is well in 1997 that the last major change of California appeared. Since then being hardly altered with the wire of various more or less happy variations, the great lady of Mandello del Lario did not cease losing this will have that it however had indeed imposed a time, a reputation which made so much for the image of the manufacturer.
Because Moto Guzzi, for much, it was Cal if’ and Le Mans, the other models dividing the crumbs that the two tenors wanted to then leave them well… It obviously completed time if one looks at the sales figures of the last California Vintage, but a style of motor bike and a name, which any of them did not finish with the history, far from there. We are on November 20th, 2012, and it is in Cannes that the manufacturer invites us to take part in a resurrection.
Skillful mixture of tradition and modernity
Because of rebirth, this event has all the signs. The news Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 makes a success before even its first turns of wheels; it is splendid. The blow of pencil of Miguel Galluzzi wins unanimous support: as well by its line, this skillful mixture of tradition and modernity, as by its proportions, or even the concern of the detail, the news Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 allured without turnings.
Even the quality of manufacturing is with go, nothing does not exceed or if little, no wandering wire or parts ugly comes to sully this fair promises with mechanical freedom… Precisely, time had just gone up on board. And there still, one is at years light of the ex-reference of the mark. The ergonomics of Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring is nearly perfect.
For which has already some knowledge of this category of the customs GT, the Italian plank it without fault. Broad, the saddle is also positioned with a very reasonable height, so that my 178 cm do not have any evil to pose the two feet on the ground, legs bent (there remains margin!). The orders and the footboards fall naturally under your soles, just like their counterparts with the handlebar.
The passenger will also appreciate a particularly accessible space, low foot rests and a girdled broad base of a generous handle. On its side, the instrument panel, reduced to only one central screen LCD meter, which delivers information in an aesthetic and practical way, posed on a superb aluminum frame also receiving the headlight.
In short, of atypical (even antiquated) in its ultimate Vintage version, California news approaches 2013 with arguments which will reconcile without any doubt the greatest number with this interpretation of tourism version Mandello del Lario. For as much, if it was the object of a true basic work, the beautiful Italian did not forget from where it came, far from there.
Phew, one is of course Guzzi!
Starter new the twin is banned, trembling on its mounts and hammering nicely the palms posed on the large handles. If the rattling of the dry clutch disappeared (he was completely reconsidered), the least gas blow does not continue any less to lean the motor bike on the side, torque reaction helping… Phew, one is of course Guzzi! And how to forget it because besides by each stock spent time with it brings to you back to this obviousness.
In particular, it is not needed to squirm to admire its engine, it is, right there under your eyes, its lids of cylinder head overflowing on each side of the tank, and plating its conduits of admission against your calves. And what to say bags to the soft forms, girdled their protective chromium’s, or of the back lights running on the mudguard? Here, each equipment is in its place, integrated and is indicated with the aim of transmit a history… And it is the same for the sound feelings this time.
The amateurs are cherished, and the others are not at the end of their surprises. First, traditional “the kalong” launches the show, following the small slap pings of the push rods in the high engines. Here, not of water cooling to choke the noises of operation, Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 invites you in his life at each time, even intimate.
At low speed, the whistle of the pinions of limps accompanies each turn by wheel, whereas the shock absorbers of couple limit the possible ones to blows with the go-around. It is not transparent as on most Japanese women, they are still even a little rough.
Less than 2000 tr/min, the Italian twin hardly appreciates to roll up on the last reports, unless accompanying with the clutch. The true surprise comes immediately afterwards. Of the three engine ways of managing available, I select from the start the “Swift one” and frankly turn the handle on the first occasion…
Sensations available at any time
Ouch! It is the heavy one! From 2000 tr/min, Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 leaps ahead pushes the buttocks fixed against the pad of the saddle and drew you on the arms. Admittedly, V max can sleep quiet, but the large customs competitor, they, would make well take seed of it.
Because in spite of the most 300 kg of the animal (we will check under test soon), V Twin of 1400 Cm3 does not have any evil to highly propel California without too much drawing of the reports, and this at usual speeds! In short, does not need to mislead the law to benefit from it, these feelings are available at every moment.
Sensitive to the stop with the idle, the vibrations disappear mainly while rolling, and while applying limps, it does not pose any concern, Admittedly, it is not faster and opera hat especially with low mode if the movement is not looked after. But as a whole, our first dawdling’s in seaside reveal already a character of more attaching.
One has to make well with a Moto Guzzi engine, – this always answers a little dry to the handle and these noises of operation at present – but adapted this time to our standards of 2013 performances approval. And that, that made all the difference.
The cruising manages end of the inch
After the halt meal of midday with Tropez Saint, we set out again this time directing the back Mediterranean country. With accepting them as the course reserved this ultimate afternoon of test, Moto Guzzi staff seems sure of its blow.
It set out again! Large the windshield assembled for the origin on this Touring version of California does its work very well, making it possible even to roll visor open at the usual speeds and especially, to increase the rhythm without tiring.
Consequently, the cruising manages end of the inch, via the ordering of the cruise control to the right control unit. With 90 km/h, the engine hums around the 2,800 tr/min. The knees hardly skimming the broad tank, the right bust and the bearing glance just with the top of the bubble, the road ravels in a decoration of summer vacancies…
Longer, heavier than his grandmothers, one could have definitively classified the behavior of Moto Guzzi California in the category “large custom”. Because downtown and at low speed, it is well through kind that one rubs: falling direction (but not too), obvious inertia, sequel liner turning radius, nothing exciting good on this side… Then, the increasing rhythm as one move away from the coast, one requests the engine more while turning the handle more frankly.
No sway to report
Soon, the famous Ferine Guard is right more of the shoes of the footboards limiting its ground clearance than it would be liked. For the rest like Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 already announced one crowned “customer”. Healthy, here is the qualifier more adapted.
One guesses it by detailing the sections of the tubes of framework, the reinforcements of the steering column and the assembly of the engine. And it is appreciated as starter turn – with the need on the brakes – or in the large fast curves, even badly covered or in work.
In spite of its large windshield way “pie server” and its side bags, the custom GT draw with the honors from a penetration in the “thick-skinned” air and from a rhythm sometimes well not very tourist… No tracking to announce but a sure directional stability, even if sometimes reduced clearances of the doubled shock absorbed of a rather firm adjustment of the suspensions make you hop on the saddle.
The length of the machine and the choice of the tires – of Dunlop which D251 which according to staff has a better stability than Pirelli, in against part sharper – are also pledges of stability. Here is thus a good news, even if there still, the weight, the ground clearance and the general gauge of this Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 Touring require obviously reserve in turn, not to be made embark too quickly outside.
If the front brakes slow down the machine in a satisfactory way, it is especially with their back counterpart that one manages the rhythm most of the time. One would have appreciated here a little more the corrosive one, the more so as the summer conditions of this test enabled us to test neither the anti-skid one with acceleration (traction control), nor ABS.
Conclusion: The California is finally back!
How not to fall under the charm? The news Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 Touring wins unanimous support around its splendid line and its approval of control worthy of the standards of 2013, while deeply preserving in it the embarrassments of the mark.
It is large and an excellent news for not only the amateurs of this Italian reference of Great Tourism but also a large audience which, finally, will be able to appreciate Cal if’ without having to sacrifice to an ergonomics and a piloting of another age. 1100 Vintage can finally give way without concern (it disappears from the catalogue in 2012), Moto Guzzi California 1400 has all qualities to take over and to regale the blazon of the family.
And they are not besides least paradoxes: drawn in California, in addition offering a very American design and a gauge, the news Moto Guzzi 1400 California Touring will continue to be manufactured in Mandello Del Lario and will undoubtedly record its best sales on the European market.
But more still, the first glance should not mislead the future purchasers: if it at the very least deviates from its predecessors by her gauge strapping man and typified custom, this Moto Guzzi news does not remain less one true about it California in the heart, i.e. road comfortable and effective in a broad panel of use.
Of what to undoubtedly attract many curious and to bring back to the mark of the hitchhikers left under other skies. Posted with 19,350 €, the news Moto Guzzi California 1400 2013 Touring returns finally to a deserved row of motor bike premium, equipped in series with complete and relevant equipment.
What to make forget its ex-nickname definitively: the “Harley of poor” does not exist any more, Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring became an alternative more than serious and developing to the American references.
