Comments on: Moto Guzzi California 1400 named Best Cruiser

By: Ron Braithwaite

Ron Braithwaite — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:45:09 +0000

Well, I am so glad to hear that you love your Vintage so much that you are keeping it! And the reason for that is I can’t afford a 1400 Touring, so I found a very low (6200) milage 2007 Vintage online and just wired the money and arranged for Federal to ship it to Portland OR. It will get here on 7/28 or 7/30 and I have butterflies just thinking about it. This will be my 10th Moto Guzzi, starting with a 67 V700 I got in 1972 and kept for 6 years (I still kick myself for selling it).

By: Roy Rojas Wahl

Roy Rojas Wahl — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 04:35:43 +0000

John, Bob – As you may know, I owned a Vintage for 1.5 years, and now own the Cali 1400 Touring since I bought it March 2013 (1st on East Coast the dealer keeps telling me). John – while all I read from Bob is correct – don’t get desperate when you’re on the Vintage – it’s still a great bike, and I am still somewhat in love with it and proud that I had it! If I had to sum up the difference between the two, I ‘d say the following: The Vintage is a serious motorbike, a legend and a classic tourer. The 1400 in contrast is pure fun, pure adrenalin, and an incredible handling miracle for a bike of that size and power and weight. But if my Vintage wouldn’t have been totalled by a rogue car driver, I’d still be on it, and very proudly so! Cheers and enjoy, Roy

By: Bob Hadden

Bob Hadden — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 22:37:34 +0000

John. I rode a Cali 1400 Custom a couple of months ago and I have to say that it was everything I’d hoped for. It is very strong, handles well, and feels rock solid. I rode a new Black Eagle immediately after getting off of the 1400. Wow! What a difference. You sit more into the 1400.. and more on the Black Eagle. The power difference is astounding all the way through the RPM range. The 1400 is much smoother (due in part because of the rubber mounted engine) and though the Black Eagle was more “flickable” the 1400 is very easy to maneuver once you get underway. I put about 15 miles on both bikes and ran the 1400 up past “your under arrest” speeds. It is very stable at these speeds. There was a strong breeze that day, but the 1400 was not affected at all by crosswinds whereas the Eagle was. I didn’t get to ride a Touring model yet, but I believe I’d be very satisfied with the Custom. I’d throw a set of nice bags and a small windshield on, send the seat away to get modified so my wife could sit behind me (the driver portion is fine), and I’d try to figure out a way to replace those ugly (in my opinion) mufflers. This thing is screaming for some more big Guzzi sound! I have really enjoyed my Titanium, but honestly, the 1400 blows it away! Bob