Here are four months, the services of Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring astonished the world requiring by the toured. Naked under the sun Monegasque, the second version of Moto Guzzi 1400 has malicious pace and good bottom. Under Custom name, Moto Guzzi California 1400 loses 20 intrinsic kg and its protection, but not its qualities.
For much, the California spirit, it is tourism incarnated by a motorcycle with satchels, high windshield and handlebar horns of cow, slipping with 75 mph on a highway of California! In 1968, this same state had equipped the police of Los Angeles with Moto Guzzi V7. In 2013, Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring would surely stick to the needs for the Chips.
It is in Monaco, and not on West Coast, that the factory of Mandello decided to reveal us the Custom version of its news Moto Guzzi California 1400. For memory, the historical model had almost not evolved for about fifteen years. By modernizing its services without to disavow its codes, the last grinding of Caliph is posed in direct competitor of Big Twins Harley-Davidson, which it exceeds in terms of technology.
With the adjustable cartography and the anti-skid one in series, this old Caliph new embarks new equipment in the category. And this package, we find it in integrality on a visually low-fat Custom variation!
A skilful variation
Built around enormous V-twin of 1,380 Cm3 cooled by air and oil, California Custom takes the aggressive form of a low to wrinkle current. Immediately returns to me to the spirit the other European part to the attack of Americas at the end of last century. With its 1,170 Cm3 and 61 small horses, luxurious BMW R1200C had broken the teeth there! But Moto Guzzi advances other arguments.
Parked in front of the hotel, about ten California seems to expect the passage of Formula 1 in the turn of Firmament Loews to which they cope. Among they, only one Touring, with half intruder. It is the occasion to detail the differences. Incongruous, that which jumps initially to the eyes is the abandonment of the history bandages white girding the tank.
In a style openly power cruiser, Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom makes the dead end on any shape of protection or bag shop. The additional headlights disappeared and the gray rims with fine branches transferred with the black. The handlebar appreciably low agrees with a saddle a little less thick and especially shorter.
One discovers two shock absorbers whose separate bottles are fixed by necklaces chrome at platinum’s of momentary rest-foot. It is, for me, the only error of taste on this admirable motorcycle. The suspensions offer 10 mm more than those, equipping Touring. The absence of satchel puts forward the long silencers whose end is cut in bevel. That, it is for the visual one: go, does one go there, or?
Embarrassments passed with approval
Sat on “my” dragster of street, I contemplate the single and daring dial which is used as instrument panel. It is necessary to start the engine to select the modes of control. Among three proposed, I the selected Swift one: a biker that has belches … and then, it does not even rain. For ABS, it will be ONE and for the anti-skid one, the intermediate choice.
A flick on the handle of accelerator wrinkles by wire and the engine shakes me from left to right the helmet. What would be Guzzi without torque reaction? It is necessary to benefit from it, because in action the phenomenon will disappear, as well as the rare vibrations felt with the stop. Thank you the flexible assembly for the engine within the framework.
The voice of enormous twin is also muzzled. No noise of admission, little coming from the exhaust: the castrating standards were right of the generating sounds of emotions. But where is the large vapor thus vapor of Dell’ garden of 40 and the Francois flutes? I pour a tear…
Custom preserves essence
Compared to other mastodons – not of name please – Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom behaves downtown honorably. No matter what equipped with a broad handlebar – which exceeds fortunately cylinders – it threads without too much evil between Bentley, Aston Martin and other Ferrari which encumber the streets of the principality. It is true that it lost 20 kg compared to its Touring counterpart!
In spite of weaker unit cubic capacities, the twin-cylinders of yesteryear modes refuted very low. The current ones make “almost” velvet leg. Thus, Moto Guzzi 1400 California practically goes down to 2,000 rpm without knocking. A happiness, because the handle of clutch is rather beefy!
After Cape d’ Ail and a few kilometers of coast where California Custom will feel like a fish in water this summer, the slopes of Turbine transport us towards more peaceful places. Very quickly, V-twin with 90° open vis-a-vis the road reveals its character, which I say his temperament! It tractor draws extremely as of 2,500 rpm, then flies away to 4,000 rpm to go to tickle the 7,000 rpm with an incongruous spirit.
Cheerful engine, high quality services
With raised mode, the engine finds a little of its voice, but one quickly takes the practice to roll up on the higher reports to use the box only as starter of turn to help itself of the engine brake. Obviously, the order is a little slow and the clearance of the double selector connects important for somebody coming from a more conventional motorcycle, but it is an example of the kind.
It is however frequent that one does without there; not very inclined that one is to be raised the foot of broad platinum to actuate it. And then, in the event of over zealousness of on the right lever or late catch of the back brake, ABS takes care of the grain…
Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, the roads of the back-country nice offer a varied playing field, even for a motorcycle which would have a priori, to choose the straight lines of the seaside. Because Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom is controlled with the short-nap cloth of the ground.
A position typified all the same
The very open broad handlebar and definitely lower than that of California Touring confers on Custom a less natural position, but far from being radical. Passed the small reserve induced by the enormous back tire of 200 mm, the setting on the angle is made in a natural and healthy way. Once posed, the motorcycle remains stable. Even at good rate, the part cycles is not divided. Forget the old models… for those which knew.
And at exit of curve you release without reserve. Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom does not widen, the Traction-Control avoiding, if you activated it, any drift even on slipping ground. If the back clearance of the suspensions is increased by 10 mm, the shocks however are more firmly felt on Custom. So that its height remains to 740 mm, the saddle is indeed stuffed. Moto Guzzi proposes even an option saddles low (720 mm) for submission to the dwarves of garden and the masochists!
Without being really sacrificed, the passenger is not with the festival. Exit the large saddle and its arch of maintenance: there, it is service minimum. No matter what reduced, base remains ergonomic and the rest-foot advanced without exaggeration. But for the long ways, it will be necessary for you a loving and devoted partner under penalty of rupture. The more so as with a little practice, this Moto Guzzi encourages raising the rhythm. Even if the gauge is imposing, that the tank forces to draw aside the legs and that the heat of the cylinders is still felt with the calves, it remains one crowned toy!
And nothing to waste, the manufacturer proposes a broad panoply of accessories in order to personalize it. With satchels, a windshield and reserved upper works, it will be even possible of re transformed the model in Touring. Then, ultra custom or distorts WP, return so that I mentioned to you above: it is with you to choose!
Assessment: The beginning of long series?
While not hesitating to equip its Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom with same qualities which the version Touring, Moto Guzzi displays its ambitions. The new products are shown succeeded, finished well and effective while perpetuating tradition, the DNA specific to the brand.
Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom is displayed at about 17,350 €, that is to say 2,000 € of less than California Touring, and 3,500 € of less than one Conceited Servant boy for whom the price admittedly does not seem a shelf. Following the example of Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi seeks to forge a new image while opening with many variations around its V-twin of 1,380 Cm3.
One already imagines a maxi-GT entirely ducted, a roadster strengthened, or a barded chromium cruiser, a machine minimalist with small tank and with long fork… Many possibilities have which; if she at competitive prices is Proposed – not everyone is Vaccinated HD – could regaled the blazon and ignite the sales of a brand the bad spirits Said, there is little, dying woman.
