The Moto Guzzi California Vintage -- quintessential.
During the month of October 2008 I had the opportunity to spend 7 days with the Moto Guzzi California Vintage. I Had never spent time with a “big bagger” like the Cal Vintage Before, and I was shocked that I was such a great handling bike.
I found it to be an excellent value for it’s equipment level, arguably close to the 40% less in price than a comparably-equipped Harley Davidson Heritage Softail. Below are the links to all of the reviews in order:
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage Review – Day 1 – Can’t get off the bike! – First Impressions, an initial long ride, my introduction to floorboards.
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage – Commuting and First Impressions — Going on my 160 mile commute in the big bagger.
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage Day 3 — Cool vs. “Checkbook Cool” – What makes the Moto Guzzi California Vintage “Cool”.
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage – Day 4 – Vintage vs Harley Heritage Softail — A BARGAIN! – Comparing the Moto Guzzi California Vintage to a Harley Davidson Heritage Softail.
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage – Day 5 – The Mental Health Day. – Taking a day off from work and riding down the PCH until life sets in.
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage – Day 6 – Time to take ‘er home. – The last day. Heavy traffic commute and final thoughts.
Below you can find the pictures that I took of the bike. There were no bad angles. As an extra bonus, There’s a picture of the 2009 California Vintage in WHITE!
- Moto Guzzi California Vintage, Point Dume Beach, 11/22/08, 10am.
Unmistakeable California Vintage Seat
The 2008 Moto Guzzi California Vintage
California Vintage Instruments
17 inch Mac Laptop fits inside!
Moto Guzzi California Vintage under the Hollywood sign.
California Vintage in White
Nice work Dan. With your writings serving as a portion of my inspiration I purchased a new Cal Vintage. At 49 this is the first new vehicle I have purchased. I picked it up on Jan. 3 and thanks to Chicago weather haven’t put a single mile on it untill today. (3-14) Yes….that was the thought as I saw it for the first time and it was the last thought today as I was putting it away….simply yes. My first Guzzi was a 1972 Police Eldorado purchased in 1986, a great machine. A Vintage is the natural progression. When fired this morning it hesitated and spit, hmmmm…this isn’t good I thought. After several restarts I took the fuel cap off and a good deal of pressure that had built up released. After restarting ……silk. It’s quiet but has a little throat. The seat and I are gonna be good friends. The brakes are incredible. I’m 5′-10″ with a 32″ inseam, the floorboards and leg room suit me. I will be putting a few more miles on it prior to airing it out but there is more than adequate power to maintain your dignity in any group you wish to hang with. No knee dragging yet either but it inspires confidence and it’s as solid as a Fleetwood Brougham. You can scarcely do a proper restoration of an Eldorado for the price and if you take the same money to Harley…….can you say Sportster? It may be hard to tell, but I like it. The Eldorado will remain as royalty in my stable but I’m dreaming of urban nights and twisty Parkways on the Vintage. Mick Mayersky
Hey Danilo,
With all the talk about how light the bike is, maybe I sat on an odd one today. Mind you, it didn’t have the bags on it, and I had just gotten off of a Sportster. I’m 5′7″ with a 30″ inseam, and am worried more about whether or not the bike has a higher centre of gravity than, say, the Road King Custom I was thinking of buying. Do you know of a way in the adjustability of the suspension to lower the bike, or if anyone makes a lowering kit that doesn’t negatively affect the handling? I work at one of the top Harley-Davidson dealers in the country – I’d love to show up at work on the Guzzi!
I’d talk further to Jim at Rose Farm Classics (www.rosefarmclassics.com), as he sets bikes up for the factory and has as much knowledge as anyone I know. Craig Field is another guy, up in Seattle at Moto International.
First, I’ve never seen a Cal Vintage with the bags off of it, so you have my suspicions up a little there, so it might be an “odd” one. The Cal Vintage will have a higher seat height than a sporty for sure, but l have a 32″ inseam and easily flat-foot the bike. The suspension should be adjustable downward like you’re saying, but I can’t verify that for sure. One of the reasons it sits higher is that it gets the cornering clearance it needs for the twisties. Harley publishes their “lean angles” for different bikes, and I remember the Heritage was 29°. You can bring a Vintage a LOT farther down than that.
I’d love for you to show up at work on your Guzzi. The community of Moto Guzzi Riders is a real riders’ repository of joy and camaraderie. We ride, then we ride some more, then we talk about our bikes, then we clean them. Not the other way around. Please let me know how it goes.
I think it’s time you rode the bike a little.
The bike that I saw was still being set up out of the crate. If none of the suspension settings had been dialled in, I imagine that could explain the seemingly high seat. I’ve often said (much to the chagrins of my work colleagues) that the Harley-Davidson is a motorcycle of average competence, let down by the pretentiousness of their owners. Perhaps it’s the seven years I spent living and riding in Europe, but I just “feel” something with the Guzzi that I don’t with the other bikes. Incidentally, when I got in to work today, the Road King that I was considering got sold on my day off, and the wife prefers the looks of the Cali anyhow. Is this a sign I wonder?
Indeed. My wife loves the Cal Vintage as well. I also think that the shocks and suspension will “settle” quickly. The bike that I rode had a couple of thousand miles on it, which probably explained quite a bit. You’re going to ride higher, more “cop-like” in the seat, and you might not have expected this. After about 500 miles you’ll wonder why you rode any other way. Plus, the linked brakes are a treat on it — exploring how they work just blew my mind.
Jim over at Rose Farm has taken a lot of Cal Vins back when the riders were chided by their choice. They all went off and spent the extra thousands of dollars to “get into the club”. I just don’t buy this personally. What you ride shouldn’t dictate who you ride with.
The Cal Vin is the sweetest bike. A bunch of us Guzzi riders hanging out a few weeks back pretty much agreed if they could only have ONE Guzzi, the Vintage is the go-to.
A little disappointed, it seems Guzzi dealers in my area of N. Virginia into Maryland are scarce of Guzzi bikes, they seem not to be able to get them in. Found one dealer up near Baltimore that had one California Vintage new and a Brevia sport, the Cal was a new left over 2007 model year, he may only special order them now since Guzzi is erratic on supply, Its now almost in the 2010 model year and I wonder if it would be worth it to get the 2007 or wait. Seems if they equip the Vintage with the new 4valve motor and new shaft drive system they would hit a home run with this bike. Do you think that maybe in the works and should I wait? My other Guzzi dealer is way over in Winchester Virginia and he only has one Guzzi and it too is a left over 2007 model, a pre 4valve Griso. I want to go Guzzi but the fear of Guzzi disppearing in the night and leaving me with a new bike without support is a real concern to me.
Dan, great review of the Cal Vintage. I’ve only test ridden the bike but enjoyed it immensely. Struck me, in fact, as a two-wheeled equivalent of a 55 Chevy.
I’d have only one quibble: your comparison of the Vintage and the HD Heritage Softtail. Though it’s an understandable comparison, I’d have to say that a more appropriate one is with the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, another little appreciated great touring bagger.
Doesn’t have that elusive “character” of the Guzzi, but its 1294 cc V4 is a marvel of smoothness and power for its size. Easily removable windshield and sissy bar, very good luggage, and automotive quality cruise control.
Personally, I can’t bring myself to give up either my Valkyrie or my 1100 Breva for either the RSTD or the Cal Vintage, but if I were looking for a great handling touring cruiser I’d be hard pressed to decide between the two.
Excellent comment. I think I chose the Harley for the comparison because of it’s ‘character’. The Guzzi thrives on ‘character’ in the same vein, although probably pointed at a slightly different audience. The point I was trying to make is that the Guzzi is “better” than the Harley “on paper” and should be considered as an alternate to it. The Japanese Cruisers are a much harder comparison in my opinion, because they are so well-built. One note is that they came along later than Guzzi into the “cruiser” business — Guzzi was deep into the cruiser by the end of the 60’s.
The Japanese Cruisers are going to be “perfect” with most of their attributes, but at a cost. They seem to be aimed directly at Harley. Guzzi seems to have it’s own idea about what a cruiser should be and they aren’t trying to clone Harley.
You can usually lose some seat height with some smaller shocks
and some seat surgery. Call Curtis at Harper Moto Guzzi for the right answer. Also the dealer in Westmoreland, Pa has lowered Grisos and Brevas. Maybe he has some advice.