MOTO-GUZZI CALIFORNIA (1997 - 2012) Review

Version: Vintage

Year: 2007

My bike is the 2007 Moto Guzzi California Vintage. My bike has 50K kms on it presently and I have done all the service on the bike myself. Other than routine maintenance the bike has been stone reliable for me. I've used Motul synthetic 10W60 oil in the bike and Mobil 1 automotive oil filters and that combination works quite well for this engine in my opinion. I can get 300kms of highway cruising out of a tank of gas and then the low fuel light will come on and I can usually get another 100kms. The linked brakes on this bike have saved my ass on a couple of occasions in emergency situations. The front disk operation of the bike is okay but using the linked braked system opens up a whole other world of confidence. These bikes can really lean over when you want to pretend you are on a sportier motorcycle. Through a set of curves the only thing holding you back is your own nerve because this bike will lean way over before anything scrapes or scrubs on you. In the right hands a good rider could embarrass some sport bikes on a California.

Version: Vintage

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £100

Best value retro cruiser on the market. I have had a couple and they are so enjoyable to ride. Real old school feel but with some more modern concessions. Get it fully sorted and it should last a lifetime.

Buying experience: I bought private. I recommend buying from a guzzi enthusiast. There are not enough knowledgeable dealers out there these days and the chances are they will do nothing of merit to a bike before selling it on. Calvins tend to be more expensive that the base models. I paid 3k for my stone and 5k for my vintage. Vintages currently selling for 4-10k.

Version: Stone

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £200

Perfect retro bike for retro rider!

Buying experience: Private purchase from fellow ancient enthusiast

Version: EV

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £100

wonderful touring bike, beautiful and rare.

Buying experience: bought privately.

Version: EV80 (80th Anniversary Special)

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £150

This is my second time around!! - I wrote the review below about the Cali Stone (smmudd83_1999). Well, since then I put 38k miles on that bike, sold it to emigrate from the UK to New Zealand, bought three other bikes and I find myself on ANOTHER California again. This one is old: 2001 (18 years old at time of writing). It's the EV80 so it has extra bits on it - twin front brakes and funky linked brake wotsit, sissy bar, expensive saddlebags, touring fairing and screen, footboards, leg shields, adjustable forks...Whatever. The bike is basically the same as my 2002 California Stone. The screen is nice and the panniers make it a good touring bike. Linked rear/front brake is really odd but you learn to trust it. I really missed that old Cali and this one makes me grin. If you don't like it after riding one it's probably because you are 12 and don't know what bikes before ABS, TC, Cruise Control, ESA, Lap Timer, CanBus, quick shifters are all about. Enough of that. Slow down. Enjoy it. Be rattled happy.

Buying experience: I just bought it off a classified. Fresh Japanese import into NZ. No known history. Sounds dodgy as, but you know what? Eff it.

Version: Jackal

Year: 2001

Annual servicing cost: £100

Ok. Ive only given my Jackal 3 out of 5 rating, but thats not what i think it,s worth, i absolutely love my california! I,d rather have my jackal than a free harley. If i won a harley i,d sell it and buy a Guzzi! I have owned around 100 bikes, mostly Jap UJMs. I bought the jackal after my BMW was murdered by an idiot who ran me off the road. I loved the Beemer. It was a great bike, but just another bike. My criteria for a replacement was, must be Cool, must be Big, must be impressive. Th Guzzi ticked all the boxes. I made a few cosmetic changes, chromed this and that, gave it a paint job and,...... i loved my BMW, but I am In Love with my Californoa Jackal! It aint fast, but has pleenty of torque, rumbles like an old V8 muscle car, turns heads all day, every day and has the muscle and street prescence that makes me feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger on wheels! I love it! The California has converted me 100% into a Guzziholic. I bought another Guzzi 11 months later and my next bike is going to be a Guzzi and evèry one after that. I won,t sell any, just get one of every model and love, polish and ride them till I die!

Buying experience: Got mine used and abused, cheap and the best buy ever! I love it!

Year: 1997

I have had several bikes in my time. I say that the 1997 1100 California is not for a beginner or someone that does not have a little upper and lower body strength. This is a top heavy bike that takes a little strength in day to day use. A person under 5'7 can not get both legs down at the same time. The bike is like a large dirt bike with the high profile. Better not lay it down. Sorry ladies but it takes a man to upright this buffalo. I like the punch the engine got, It has good passing ability and a nice rumble that make these HD guys turn a head. When, I got the bike, I asked for something with a little weight. I was shown the Cali 1100. It was like an ugly pet you wanted to give away but feel in love with it.

It's got loads of what is usually referred to as 'character', mostly the good sort. The engine shudders and shakes at low revs and the big V-twin pulls the bike over to the left when you rev it. It will say it's in neutral but it's actually still in first gear (so be careful when you let the clutch out at a standstill). The tacho on mine has bust (but you don't really need it anyway). Unfortunately the paint is somewhat thin and some of the chrome is of absolutely appalling quality. Also, Moto Guzzi seem to have gone out of their way to make this weigh almost as much as the Isle of Wight ferry. Aside from this quirky 'character' the Cali's a wonderful bike. The seat is all day comfy, it takes all your luggage with ease, the handling is truly exceptional for a bike of this sort, all the switchgear is laid out perfectly, and it's also surprisingly quick - breezing past 100 even two up with luggage. If you have a good sense of humour and like a bit of 'character' you'll love this bike.

This is undoubtedly the most comfortable bike I have ridden. Having travelled 600 miles in one day, with pillion with no aches or pains. Brakes are powerful and the overall feel is one of safe. That said, could do with a few more HP at the rear wheel for ultimate sense of security. Finish is fine at the moment but I have taken the time to wax/polish all the shiny bits but am not sure if I would ride it through the winter. Sounds fantastic and you can pack a surprising amount of kit into the panniers. Lighter than many of its rivals but the wide seat etc means sub 5'8" riders struggle while at standstill (like me). I usually achieve 50mpg while touring fully loaded & 2 up. My only gripe is the gear change and have only just mastered it. What would set it off would be a back rest but cannot find one for love not money.

I bought this bike 3 years ago with just 1554 miles on the clock for £2950!!Granted, it was just the Stone basic model with no equipment at all but it was an absolute steal.Maintennace is easy peasy and it's dead easy to work on. Design is antiquated, but that's because they got it right first time 26 years ago! Tuning is easy - although claiming 70bhp, actual power at the wheel is about 61bhp - aftermarket silencers,junked catalyst,air box mod and k&n installed saw 67bhp and more midrange grunt than you could shake a shitty stick at!Then came a power commander and a custom map with an output of 72bhp and an addictive grunty delivery.Economy is 50mpg round town and 60mpg cruising at 60mph.Blasts upto the ton with ease but from there its bit of a struggle. PROBLEMS? Did an 8000 mile trip round europe last summer taking in 17 countries and never missed a beat.Engine and gearbox will last you forever so long as you change the oil and check valve clearances regularly (dead easy job despite oil filter located inside the oil sump). Odd gearchange not for everybody. Quality of paintwork is appalling. Every 1500 miles you need to do a walk around and tighten ALL the bolts or replace with nylocs.Wheels and steel fenders rust easily. Basic models - Stone and Jackal - came with a single disc upfront,which when the bike weighs 1/4 of a metric ton and you're doing a magic ton can seem rather disconcerting.Oh yeah, if you get a pre-2004 the fuel caps have a plastic seal that can warp and get stuck.Quality of aftermarket screens,pannier racks,rear luggage carriers and centre stands are crap yet hideously expensive! PLUS POINTS-indestructible!Will outlast your dads volvo!CHARACTER!love the transverse vibes.Handling.sound!go.stop(ish).Rarity.A brilliant enthusiast following and club support.Aftermarket tuning and customisation is rife despite the rarity.Comfortable.Economical.Rode a Harley and this put a much bigger grin on my face (and I bought this bike when I was 21, definately not over the hill yet!)

I have had this bike for just over three years. When I had just under 3000 KMS on the clock (staying within all break in procedures) I headed out with my wife for a ride from the west coast to the east coast of Canada. Two weeks into the ride I was in Barrie Ontario in the fast lane of a four lane highway doing 110 KPH when the engine sputtered and died! Miraculously I was able to navigate the bike to the shoulder without being hit by the surrounding rush hour traffic. I called my mechanic in BC and he knew right away the issue was the feed line had blown off the fuel pump in the tank (known issue)! I pulled the pump and found the line was crimped on and replaced with a proper clamp, one issue resolved. Another issue I had was a catastrophic clutch failure on the return leg about 200 KMS west of Ottawa (in the middle of nowhere)! I had been adjusting the clutch for slipping problems every 4-5000 KMS throughout the trip, something I had never encountered in 40 years of riding. To my amazement once I was towed 500 KMS to the closest dealer in Montreal I found out there was a recall on the clutch! The factory clutch is a single plate that cannot handle the torque of the engine (poor plate material choice?). After a week of me/dealer/factory discussion, they agreed to replace the clutch under warranty. It took another week to get the recall replacement parts from Italy and four days to have the clutch installed. Fortunately I have a fried in Almonte Ontario so I had a place to sleep (and wait). Unfortunately my wife ran out of time and had to fly back to BC to return to work (school break). In the end I had to leave my bike in Almonte Ontario and fly home to wait out the winter (you don't ride the Rockies in the winter). In the spring my wife and I flew back and finished our ride of a lifetime. I have since put another 15,000 KMS on the bike without a hiccup.

A fantastic cruiser with Italian style and loads of character. Great value for money, handles and performs well for a cruiser and looks great too.