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	<title>Moto Guzzi California Motorcycles &#187; California Vintage</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/tag/california-vintage/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com</link>
	<description>Moto Guzzi California Motorcycle News, Reviews and More</description>
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		<title>Installing 35W bulbs in fogs on Cal Vintage</title>
		<link>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2010/06/35watt-bulb/</link>
		<comments>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2010/06/35watt-bulb/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>MotoGuzziCalifornia.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California Vintage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lights]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/?p=617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Installing 35W fog light bulbs is a simple way to reduce battery drain on a Moto Guzzi California Vintage. I explain and show photos how I replaced the factory 55 Watt H3 bulbs with 35 Watt H3 bulbs on my 2007 California Vintage.  I have no idea why I waited so long to do this.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotoGuzziBulbChange.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-620" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Moto Guzzi Bulb Change" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotoGuzziBulbChange-300x300.jpg" alt="Moto Guzzi California light bulb change" width="300" height="300" /></a>The good news is that the Moto Guzzi California Vintage comes standard with two very bright auxiliary lights, sometimes called spotlights, fog lights or driving lights.</p>
<p>The bad news is that if you casually ride around town with these on for any significant period of time, you will drain your battery.</p>
<p>Here I show you how I changed these bulbs to reduce battery drain.</p>
<p><span id="more-617"></span></p>
<p>The good old air cooled Moto Guzzi 1064cc v-twin engine that I love, just does not have enough room for a larger factory alternator, so we make due with the rated maximum 350 Watts at 5000 rpm.  I don&#8217;t know about you, but I certainly don&#8217;t ride at 5000 rpm.  I enjoy riding within 2600-3000 rpm range on average. Maybe an occasional shift at 4500 rpm the mood strikes me.  So, with the way I ride my California, the alternator just isn&#8217;t keeping up if I have the two factory 55 Watt auxiliary lights on.  This is a common minor issue with the Vintage, but it&#8217;s easy and can be very inexpensive to resolve.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotorcycleSuperstoreOrder.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-626" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Motorcycle Superstore Order" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotorcycleSuperstoreOrder-300x240.jpg" alt="Motorcycle Superstore replacement bulb order with free MotoUSA   magazine" width="300" height="240" /></a>The most simple way to fix this is to replace the factory 55 Watt H3 auxiliary light bulbs with 35 Watt H3 bulbs.  I&#8217;ll show you step by step below exactly how I changed them on my 2007 California Vintage.  I have no idea why I waited so long to do this.</p>
<p>For me, picking out which H3 replacement bulb to buy was quick.  We&#8217;re a single income family and I can&#8217;t justify spending a week&#8217;s worth of groceries for a set of high tech bulbs.  I went for just the <a title="35 Watt Halogen Bulb" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/35w-halogen-bulb" target="_blank">35 Watt standard halogen bulb</a> for only $6 each.  But, if you are so inclined, or if you ride a lot at night, there are several high performance 35 Watt H3 replacement bulbs that will work great on the California Vintage or any other H3 lamp.</p>
<p>If you want to keep, or surpass, the Guzzi factory brightness while using fewer Watts, the<a title="PIAA Xtreme 35 Watt bulbs at Motorcycle Superstore" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/piaa-xtreme-35watt" target="_blank">H3 PIAA Xtreme White Plus 35 Watt</a> (p/n 70323) bulbs will do the trick since they give off of an equivalent of 70 Watts (for about $42 each from PIAA, or about $39 from Motorcycle Superstore).   A slightly less expensive PIAA 35 Watt bulb is their Star White (p/n 70363) , which gives of an equivalent of 60 Watts for about $27 each from PIAA.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bezel-screw.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-630" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="bezel screw" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bezel-screw-300x240.jpg" alt="bezel screw for auxiliary light on Moto Guzzi California" width="300" height="240" /></a>I have to keep my motorcycle expenses to a minimum so I decided to swap mine over to H3 standard halogen 35 Watt replacement bulbs for about $6 each from Motorcycle Superstore. (They also sell the PIAA Xtreme bulbs for about $39 each).  Total cost for my two standard H3 bulbs with shipping and a new copy of MotoUSA magazine was less than $19.  I considered this a good deal, especially because the automotive parts stores wanted $13 per bulb for the standard H3 halogens.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotoGuzziLampHousing.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-632" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="MotoGuzziLampHousing" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/MotoGuzziLampHousing-300x224.jpg" alt="opening a Moto Guzzi auxiliary lamp housing" width="300" height="224" /></a>To replace both the auxiliary light bulbs, the only tool needed is a phillips screwdriver.  It took me about 15 or 20 minutes to do both.  I took the opportunity to have my 9 year old son help me so he could learn.  He also took all these pictures for me while I changed the bulbs.  It was a win-win deal.</p>
<p>Located on the bottom front of the chrome bezel is a single stainless steel  screw.  Loosen the screw slowly to avoid stripping the screw head with the driver.  After removing the screw, pull the bottom edge of the lamp bezel outward while  pivoting at the top of the lamp housing.  Lift the top of the bezel up over the raised lip and now it is only connected by 2 wires.  <a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/rubberboot.jpg"><img class="alignright  size-medium wp-image-634" style="border: 2px  solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Moto Guzzi Light Housing Rubber Boot" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/rubberboot-300x240.jpg" alt="Removing the rubber boot from light on Moto Guzzi when changing H3  bulb" width="300" height="240" /></a>Hold the lamp assembly to avoid excess strain on the two wires coming from the rubber boot.</p>
<p>Carefully peel the rubber boot away from the rear of the lamp assembly to expose the wire connector.  For whatever reason, my California Vintage has a red/orange boot on one light and a black one on the other.  Anyway, slide the rubber boot back down the wires toward the lamp housing shell so that you can get to the covered connector on the white wire.  The connector is a locking type, but all you need to do is pinch it with your fingers to get it to release the blade on the white wire.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bulb-holder-wire-clip.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-635" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="bulb holder wire clip" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bulb-holder-wire-clip-300x240.jpg" alt="wire clip for H3 bulb on Moto Guzzi" width="300" height="240" /></a>Next, you will see there is a small metal wire clip that is sprung into place to hold the metal flange on the H3 bulb into the receptacle.  Using your fingers, just spread the two ends of the wire gently to release it, but try not to permanently deform this wire.   Once opened, it can be hinged backward out of the way.</p>
<p>Lift the old H3 bulb out from the receptacle holding it by the white wire.  Be careful not to touch the bulb if it is still good.  Touching the bulb will shorten the life of it due to the natural oils on your skin.  Obviously, don&#8217;t touch the new bulbs either, just hold it by the white wire or maybe the metal flange.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/connectH3bulbwire.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-637" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="connect H3 bulb wire" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/connectH3bulbwire-300x240.jpg" alt="connecting the H3 bulb wire on Moto Guzzi California Vintage" width="300" height="240" /></a>Install the new H3 bulb in the same way, with round flange cutout to round side and flat cutout to flat side. Next, swing the little wire spring clip wire back over the bulb flange and cross the two ends of the wire spring clip over to lock them into their holding places.</p>
<p>Next, plug the blade on the white wire into the connector on the blue wire and make sure the little detent finds the hole on the blade so it locks.  Slide the insulating cover back over this connector.  Slide the rubber boot back towards the new bulb, being careful that the black wire and blue wire pass back through the hole of the boot.  Work the rubber boot into it&#8217;s original place on the rear of the lamp reflector.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/installingH3bulb.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-640" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="installingH3bulb" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/installingH3bulb-300x240.jpg" alt="installing H3 bulb on motorcycle light" width="300" height="240" /></a>Place the lamp assembly back into the rear lamp shell by hooking the top of the bezel on first and swing the bottom closed.  Check that the screw hole lines up properly and that the ribs in the lamp lens are straight up and down &#8211; correct as needed.  Turn on the lamp top make sure it is working, then turn it off,  insert the screw and tighten it down.  Repeat these steps for the other lamp and you&#8217;re done.<a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/replaceH3bulb.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-638" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="replaceH3bulb" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/replaceH3bulb-300x224.jpg" alt="How to change H3 bulb on Moto Guzzi California Vintage" width="300" height="224" /></a></p>
<p>I consider the auxiliary lights to be a safety feature, and I flip them on in the daytime when I&#8217;m on a busy road that has a lot of cars turning in and out of places.  I also run them when I&#8217;m at busy 4-way traffic intersections.  By changing them over from 55 Watts to 35 Watts, I can now use them without worrying so much about the battery.  Of course, I&#8217;ll still not leave them on while idling for very long.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m not sure why the Moto Guzzi factory does not install 35 Watt bulbs in the <a title="California Vintage review: first 1000 miles" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/12/california-vintage/" target="_blank">California Vintage</a> auxiliary lights instead of 55 Watts, other than for Wattage bragging rights, but this is something the factory should be doing.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/HepcoBeckerSpotlightKit.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-696" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Hepco Becker light kit for Moto Guzzi" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/HepcoBeckerSpotlightKit-300x240.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="240" /></a>If you own a Moto Guzzi California, but not one that came with factory driving lights, Hepco &amp; Becker offers a nice looking kit for about $260 USD. Part number is 400.521 for the California, Jackal, Special and Stone.  <a href="http://www.harpermotoguzzi.com/" target="_blank">Harper Moto Guzzi</a> is one of the places that sells these.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the early publicity photos of the California Vintage seem to show this same round chrome tubing bracket like Hepco offers.  I would not be surprised if it was from them as they supplied factory Guzzi accessories for several years.  For some reason, Guzzi changed to the two aluminum brackets rather than keeping the much more attractive (my opinion) chrome tubing.  Since the Hepco &amp; Becker lights come with 55W bulbs, you&#8217;ll need to do the same swap to 35W as I did.</p>
<p>If anyone has tried converting the stock lamps to LEDs or has tried other solutions, please leave a comment to share what you did.  Personally, I&#8217;d like to swap over my clear fog lenses to amber color lenses, but so far I have not found any that are a direct fit.  Does anyone know if there are amber lenses that are completely interchangeable with the clear factory auxiliary light lenses?</p>
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		<title>California Vintage Review: 3000 Miles</title>
		<link>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2009/10/california-vintage-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2009/10/california-vintage-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>MotoGuzziCalifornia.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California Vintage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moto Guzzi Review]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/?p=224</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My impression of the Moto Guzzi California Vintage has not changed over the past year.  Yes, I still do love it and feel very lucky to own this motorcycle.  I have had countless people ask me, in a very puzzled way, why I chose to buy a Moto Guzzi California.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div style="float:right; margin: 10px;">
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<p>In December 2008, I wrote a review of my 2007 Moto Guzzi California Vintage based on the <a title="California Vintage Review" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/12/california-vintage/">first 1000 miles</a> that I owned it.   I&#8217;m now at 3000 miles and figured it would be a good time for an update.  Before I start, I want to mention that I believe there are no real differences between the model years of this motorcycle, at least through 2009, so this review should be pretty valid for all 4 model years of the Cal Vin.  I purchased my 2007 Cali  new during the later part of 2008.  I don&#8217;t ride on any high mileage trips, just because of family and work obligations, so it has actually taken me about a year to accumulate these 3000 miles.  I do realize that some folks ride that many miles in just days or weeks.<br />
<span id="more-224"></span><br />
My impression of the <a title="California Vintage" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2009/10/california-vintage-review/">Moto Guzzi California Vintage</a> has not changed over the past year.  Yes, I still do love it and feel very lucky to own this motorcycle.  I have had countless people ask me, in a very puzzled way, why I chose to buy a Moto Guzzi.  I&#8217;ve also had many compliments about it, most coming from people that never heard of a Moto Guzzi before.  Keep in mind that here in the USA, Moto Guzzi is not a well known brand unless you are talking to real motorcycle enthusiasts, or to those that remembers the Guzzis of the late 1960&#8217;s and early 1970&#8217;s that caught on in this part of the world, especially as police bikes.  I usually explain that I discovered the Guzzi California several years ago and always had it on my wish-list.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think the Jackal had been introduced, with a low introductory price, and there was an idea that I could almost afford a new Moto Guzzi although I never bought it.  Of course, the engine and the entire motorcycle to me are like a mechanical art, but that&#8217;s just me.  I actually had an Italian co-worker ask me if I am able to keep it running.  Unfortunately, I don&#8217;t have any friends in Italy, so it&#8217;s hard for me to judge that remark.  I guess some people say the same thing about Harley-Davidson motorcycles here in the US, so I didn&#8217;t give it much consideration.</p>
<p>So far, I have no regrets about owning a Moto Guzzi, and no regrets about owning the California Vintage.  Has anything gone wrong with hit?  The only major thing to go wrong in the first 3000 miles is that I had a <a title="Changing a Valve Cover Gasket" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2009/06/valve-cover-gasket/">valve cover gasket leak</a>.  It was no real trouble to replace it myself, and the problem was solved for less than $20 US dollars.  I wrote a &#8220;how to&#8221; about the changing the gasket with photos if anyone cares to see how that is done.   I really do not expect this to be a common problem, and based on some forums I sometimes read,  I don&#8217;t expect that it was the fault of the Moto Guzzi factory either.  Most people try to reuse the valve cover gasket and get away with it, but sometimes it can get damaged if not re-installed very carefully. No harm was caused and the leak was caught within just a few minutes of when it began.</p>
<p>Another strange occurrence during the first 3000 miles was that I found my tail light/brake light cable was disconnected under my seat.  I don&#8217;t know how long I rode like that (yikes!) and I have no idea how that got disconnected.  I simply reconnected it and used a nylon cable tie to secure it.  The seat locks in place, and you have to use the ignition key to open it.  Maybe I did it by accident when I was cleaning, who knows.</p>
<p>That disconnected cable is additional proof that it really pays to do your T-CLOCS check, as taught in the MSF experienced rider course.  If you never took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, you should get yourself signed up, no matter how many years you have been riding.  I leaned a lot in the experienced rider course and I really do use what I learned there.  Ok, enough about that, on with the review!</p>
<p>The 1064cc fuel injected v-twin of the California Vintage has a nice healthy sound and a very good kind of vibration.  Without the vibration or mild rumble, I don&#8217;t think it would be quite as thrilling to ride, but would still be good.  If that sounds crazy to you, then a v-twin might not be your cup of tea.  So, with this good kind of v-twin engine vibration comes a bit of care to make sure things are kept tight.  I&#8217;m a mechanical engineer by trade, and for years I worked on impact wrenches and other tools that like to rattle themselves apart, so I am used to keeping an eye on fasteners.</p>
<p>About the only loose fastener I did find was the large nut at the shift lever pivot (by your left ankle).  The shifter started to develop a little extra side-to-side play in the foot lever and I simply tightened it back up.  It was an easy task that required a hex wrench to hold the stud from rotating and an opened end wrench to torque the nut.  I always check that now, but have never had to re-tighten it again so far.  That happened at about 2300 miles.</p>
<p>The only other thing that has happened is that one of the front wheel weights became a little loose, but didn&#8217;t fall off.  I noticed this one day when I was cleaning the spokes.   The weights have some sort of adhesive back that is supposed to keep them on the wheel and they have no other mechanical means to secure them.  I was lucky that it did not come off when I was riding.  I suppose that could happen on any motorcycle, or car for that matter.</p>
<p>To me, the sound of the V11 engine as it hits 4000 rpm is something really special.  The factory Lafranconi Italian-made exhaust system is quite good.  It gives a substantial sound, but is not annoyingly loud.  It has a good, mild sort of back-pressure popping cackle to it when you let off the throttle.  I really like it because it is not screamingly loud.  Obviously, some riders like their bikes really loud, but personally, I compare it to music., where at some point, the music no longer is enjoyable if you turn the volume up too high.</p>
<p>I often can&#8217;t hear my bike when I ride with my Harley and Victory riding friends because of their loud aftermarket pipes, but the tachometer (standard on the Vintage) helps me make my shift points which I usually do by ear.</p>
<p>Many riders like to customize their motorcycle.  I was attracted to this <a title="Moto Guzzi California" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com">Moto Guzzi California</a> due to its looks,  but also due to the fact it comes with so many practical features factory installed.  For example, locking hard bags with chrome guards, chrome fog lights, chrome luggage rack, chrome engine guard, 12V accessory outlet, steering damper, tool kit, and more.  The only accessory I installed so far is the <a title="Mounting a Givi Top Case" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2009/08/top-case/">Givi trunk</a> that I wrote about previously.  To that, I have since added the mating backrest pad from Givi to make it a little more comfortable for my young son,  as he sometimes likes to lean back against the trunk when we go on our rides around town.</p>
<p>Last, but not least, here in North Carolina, they require an annual safety inspection for motorcycles and cars.  Unfortunately, my local Moto Guzzi dealer is not a state inspection station due to some crazy rules the state has about the facility layout, so I had to bring my Vintage to a different place for this.  I chose the local BMW-Ducati-Triumph-MV Agusta dealer because they deal in European motorcycles.  In fact, that criteria didn&#8217;t really matter since it was just an inspection, but it made me feel more comfortable.  I&#8217;m happy to report all was well and it passed the state inspection with ease.  I can now renew my registration and legally ride on for another year.</p>
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		<title>California Vintage Review: 1000 Miles</title>
		<link>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/12/california-vintage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/12/california-vintage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:07:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>MotoGuzziCalifornia.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California Vintage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moto Guzzi California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moto Guzzi Review]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/?p=44</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To summarize the Moto Guzzi California Vintage so far, it is like a best friend.  I somehow feel as if I have always had this motorcycle even though I have only had it a short time, but it's always exciting to think about and to ride.  It is smooth, comfortable, and easy.  Not everyone has one and it is not the same as any other motorcycle.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/moto-guzzi-california-vintage.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-61" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Moto Guzzi California Vintage" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/moto-guzzi-california-vintage-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>The Moto Guzzi California Vintage, when first introduced in the US market, was not easy to find then, and they are still not exactly easy to find today.  Moto Guzzi dealers are not all that common here you know.  Fortunately, I live within 20 miles of a dealer that I visited occasionally over the last 10 years as I continued to dream about having another motorcycle.  I didn&#8217;t want just any motorcycle.  I wanted something unique.  Something that could last a lifetime and still be special.  I studied motorcycle magazines and read reviews for all sorts of bikes, but only a few got me interested.  I visited every motorcycle shop that I could find, but nothing really struck me as the one I had to have until I met the Moto Guzzi California Vintage.</p>
<p><span id="more-44"></span></p>
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<p>The first time I ever visited a Moto Guzzi shop several years ago and studied actual Moto Guzzi motorcycles in person, I remember that I really loved the engines and the gas tanks.  I also remember that the Jackal was just being introduced and I had read the reviews.  They offered a special low-priced version in the US market that made it very tempting for me back then.  I didn&#8217;t have much money, but I remember it was a stripped-down model that I felt I might regret getting, and worried that I would end up spending even more than the top model to upgrade it over time so that it would have all the proper accessories and features that it should have.  So, I did nothing and continued to dream about someday owning a Moto Guzzi.  I visited that shop at least a few times a year ever since then, just to peek at used bikes and to see what the new ones looked like.</p>
<p>Fast-forwarding to 2008, I started to get very serious about finally getting a motorcycle.  What got me going was the California Vintage.  I took the family out with me to visit some other shops, but nothing clicked as usual.  When we walked into the Moto Guzzi shop and saw that California Vintage, we knew that was it.  In fact, my wife said &#8220;this is the bike&#8221; the instant we walked in the door, but she had no idea it was the one I went there to see.  That was amazing.</p>
<p>I now have 1000 miles on it and felt I had enough experience to share my thoughts about the California Vintage.  It has a few little quirks, as people seem to enjoy saying about Italian motorcycles or Italian vehicles in general.  I actually don&#8217;t really mind most of these quirks and I think that most Moto Guzzi owners also don&#8217;t mind them, well, at least most of them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-shift-lever.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-70" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Guzzi California Shift Lever" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-shift-lever-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Having never owned a motorcycle that had a rocker type, or heel and toe shift lever, it took me some time to become totally comfortable with that.  I have never had to adjust the shift lever, it just has been a mental thing.  For a while, I wore small boots that are actually car racing shoes so that I could feel the foot levers better.  This helped me get used to how the shift lever and foot brake lever mechanically felt.  My feeling is that to ride a motorcycle properly, you need to become part of the machine, so I did in that regard.  When I tried wearing motorcycle style boots in the beginning, I could not feel the shift lever or the brake lever well enough to really control them how I wanted to, but now it&#8217;s no problem at all even with heavier boots.</p>
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<p>The brake system is a linked design, meaning the rear brakes and front brakes are actuated at the same time via a proportioning valve like in a car when you use the foot brake.  Don&#8217;t be scared of this idea!  It works great and has for many years on Moto Guzzi and on other brands of motorcycles more recently.  I feel safer having linked brakes and braking is actually easier and smoother in my opinion.  The foot brake lever has been an interesting thing to learn.  It&#8217;s completely natural to me now, but at first, it was not so simple.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve never had a motorcycle that had foot boards, and never gave any thought to how you have to lift your foot onto the rear brake lever when you have foot boards instead of pegs.  As it turns out, with a Moto Guzzi California Vintage, you do have a foot peg, but it&#8217;s only for your right heel.  Sounds weird, right?  To help you operate the foot brake lever, there is a short little foot peg (heel peg) about where your right ankle is.  As you begin to prepare for braking, you raise your right heel slightly and rest it onto that little peg while your right toes are still on the foot board.  To push the brake lever from that position, you simply raise your toes onto the lever while your heel remains on the short peg.  This actually is very easy to do, and it becomes second nature, but it takes a little getting used to.  Of course, you can easily just push the brake lever without doing this, but it is more comfortable and easier to have fine control of the downward pressure on the lever when you use the heel peg.  Earlier on, I had a little trouble feeling if I had my heel on the peg and not the brake linkage.  It&#8217;s totally natural now, but was strange at first.<a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-brake-lever.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-66" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Guzzi California Brake Lever" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-brake-lever.jpg" alt="" width="214" height="143" /></a></p>
<p>Another thing that is a little different on the Moto Guzzi California is that it has a short little choke lever on the handle bar next to the clutch lever.  I knew that Moto Guzzi has had electronic fuel injection for many years, so I was a little puzzled when I first saw the choke lever.  It acts like a fast idle device that helps you start and keep it idling when it&#8217;s cold, a choke.  It works great, but now it tends to vibrate itself to the off position right away unless I hold it.  It probably can be tightened, but I don&#8217;t have to use it very often, so I never remember to check to see if I can snug it up like when it was brand new.  Not a big deal.</p>
<p>The California Vintage seat is very comfortable for me.  I am 6 feet tall and find the seat height perfect.  I think this motorcycle&#8217;s seat could easily comfort a much heavier and larger person without any problem.  It is relatively wide, pretty firm and actually very comfortable.  My only complaint about the California Vintage seat is that you are really asking for trouble if you take it off.  To remove it, you use the key to turn the lock located near the 12V power outlet on the left side of the bike.  The key lock gave me the impression that the mechanism for the seat would be a good one and perhaps easy to use.  I was very wrong.  The key unlocks the seat, but you have to lift the rear to pop it loose.  There is no hinge, so you have to remove the entire seat from the bike.  I&#8217;m disappointed with that.  For the cost of this motorcycle, and the caliber of motorcycle it is, it should have had a hinged seat for convenience.</p>
<p>Under the seat is a small storage tray to hold the special Moto Guzzi tool kit that comes with the Guzzi California.  I actually don&#8217;t keep it there because I know how difficult it is to get the seat back on.  There is a steel ball on a post that sticks up into a socket in the underside of the seat, and there is a tongue under the front of the seat that fits into a slot under the gas tank.  So to re-install the seat, you tilt the seat down in the front to get the tongue under the gas tank and you try to feel that the ball on the little post is aligned with the socket towards the rear underside of the seat.  But, you really can not feel that.  Then you push down as hard as you can, using your fists or whatever, to try to pop the seat into position.  You are actually pushing down onto the seat to try to engage the lock claw (like in a car door) and that ball into the socket.  It is very hard and very frustrating to do.  At the dealer, it took 3 guys to do this when they were first showing me the bike.  The owner of the dealership had the right touch and he got it back on pretty quickly after the other two couldn&#8217;t get it at all.  I have done it once in six months. I&#8217;m going to install remote connections for the battery so I can connect it to a battery maintainer during the off-season in hopes that I won&#8217;t have to mess with that seat mechanism again.</p>
<p>Some of the things I like best about the California Vintage are the windscreen, the auxiliary lights, the handle bars, the fuel tank, the foot boards, the center stand, and the exhaust system.  The windscreen is not too large and works very well.  It has nice stainless brackets and fasteners and has not given me any problems.  The auxiliary lights are very bright and have classic style chrome housings.  They will start to drain the battery if kept on very long, so I&#8217;ve learned to use them sparingly and only while running at sufficient engine speeds.  It seems the alternator is still undersized even though it was increased for the California Vintage.</p>
<p>The handle bars appear to be the same as on other Guzzi California models. They are a substantial diameter and are at a very comfortable position and angle for me.   The fuel tank is one of the things I love about Moto Guzzi California motorcycles.  The raised shape is absolutely beautiful, the size is right and the locking filler cap is very easy to use with one hand and works well.  The low-fuel light is easy to see and comes on when there is plenty left to make it to a station.  There is no fuel shut-off valve, which worries me slightly, but that&#8217;s just because every motorcycle I ever rode before has had one.</p>
<p>The foot boards seem to be perfectly damped to get rid of vibration and I&#8217;m always amazed by how they don&#8217;t vibrate.  They are not insanely over-sized like on some other brands.  Some people have written that they think they are mounted a little to high, but I think they are good where they are.  On my Vintage, the front edge of the left foot board rubs just slightly against fairing that is mounted on the crash bar and causes a little vibration noise at idle.  I could probably resolve that by adding a small washer to space the fairing forward just a little, but I have not been annoyed enough to do that yet. ( Update:  Since writing this, I added the washers and the problem is solved.  It was an incredibly easy fix).<a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/cali-vintage_19.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-69" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="California Vintage Pannier" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/cali-vintage_19.jpg" alt="" width="122" height="92" /></a></p>
<p>Even though the California Vintage comes with a long shiny chrome police-style kick stand, I like to use the center stand most often.  How many baggers come with a center stand?  It is incredibly easy to put this Cali up on the center stand in one smooth, easy motion.  The kick stand tends to slide on the pavement, and while I know it can only slide so far, I just done&#8217; feel confident using it.  I do like the way it looks though, especially when I see older California models with their poorly painted and rusty looking kick stands.  I&#8217;m not sure if the Vintage&#8217;s chrome kick stand would fit older Guzzi Californias, but it would make for a nice upgrade for them.  One thing about the center stand, you need to watch out for your pants on your left cuff so that they don&#8217;t get caught on it while riding.  There is a foot lever that sticks up behind your left heel, and I have had my pants hang onto it before.  That&#8217;s a scary feeling when your getting ready to put your left foot down at a stop.  As with all motorcycle riding, we need to make sure we wear the proper clothing so these sort of things won&#8217;t happen.  The Italian-made Lafranconi exhaust note is just perfect for my tastes.  It is not loud, but is deep and mellow. The sound of power really comes to life at about 4000 rpm. I can&#8217;t imagine it sounding any better.</p>
<p>The California Vintage handles really well for me.  The tires are not big according to today&#8217;s standards, but neither is the entire motorcycle.  At 1064cc, it has a smaller engine than most bagger motorcycles and weighs significantly less than most others in it&#8217;s class.  The stock Lafranconi exhaust is tucked in nicely and won&#8217;t drag or scrape anything.  There seems to be sufficient spacing between the bottom of the panniers and the pipes and there is no sign of heat damage or discoloration under there.  Another nice thing about the exhaust is that you don&#8217;t have to do anything special to avoid hot pipes because they are well shielded were needed and are out of the way.</p>
<p>I have not messed with the steering damper, but it&#8217;s there if I need it and I like that.  Really, how many other baggers do you know of that come with a an adjustable steering damper?  Speaking of adjustable, the adjustment knobs on the top of the fork tubes are great and easy to adjust while riding.  I like a mildly firm front compression adjustment, but when I have to cross really bumpy railroad tracks, I lower it back down and float right over them, then I simply turn it back up.  I really like having that adjustment within such comfortable reach.  I love that Moto Guzzi keeps some of the sport-bike features like that on their California motorcycles.  The rear suspension is adjustable for damping and compression, but I never have felt a need to adjust it.   I have heard people talk about Moto Guzzi motorcycles and their shaft drive system causing some jacking motion.  I think they are talking about something from decades ago, but they seem to still talk about it like some urban legend.  Moto Guzzi does not put the CARC system on their California models, and I don&#8217;t see why it would be needed on this motorcycle anyway.  Maybe an expert rider or racer would feel differently, but I don&#8217;t run this motorcycle full throttle and am not interested in modifying the engine for additional power, so I&#8217;m fine with the stock shaft drive and rear suspension combination as Moto Guzzi designed it in Italy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-gauges.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-68" style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px;" title="Guzzi California Gauges" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/guzzi-california-gauges-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The gauges are clean, simple and I like their style.  In bright sunlight, the neutral light can be hard to see if the sun is hitting it just right, but aside from that, I really like the gauges and am glad Moto Guzzi stayed with the classic look they have.</p>
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<p>Let&#8217;s talk about the side bags or panniers as some like to call them.  I think they are elegant and nicely made; however, I am disappointed with Moto Guzzi&#8217;s choice of hinge for the lid.  Why on such a fine motorcycle they chose plastic hinges for the pannier lids, I really don&#8217;t know.  I can only think it is because they wanted to keep the cost low.  They blend in nicely, but act flimsy.  The lids open from the rear of the motorcycle and tilt upward towards the front.  They don&#8217;t stay open on their own due to gravity, so you have to use one hand to hold it open or else it will fall towards the front of the motorcycle and bounce several times against the nice chrome bar in front of it.  When this first happened to me, I instantly thought I ruined the lid.  Fortunately, I caused no damage or scratches.  It needs a linkage, a cable, or something to limit how far it can open just past top center so it will stay open without having to hold it.  The black plastic hinges are probably durable enough, but they make the pannier lid wobbly open.  There are obviously better standard hinges on the market that Moto Guzzi could have specified to join together such beautifully sculpted pannier pieces.  Anyway, the Southco brand locking latches on the rear of the panniers are a better grade and are plated metal, but they are not adjustable.  One latch clamps a little better than the other, but since they are non-adjustable, there&#8217;s not a lot I can do about that.  The looser fitting one actually has popped open a few times while riding.  Both times, I didn&#8217;t notice it until later.  I now make it a habit to lock them with the key before I ride.  At least the panniers lock with a key and they do look good on the California Vintage.</p>
<p>Starting the California Vintage&#8217;s beautiful v-twin engine has always sounded a little like the battery does not have enough juice.  It always starts, but it sounds to me like it is cranking a little slower than it should.  Someday I hope to compare that to another Guzzi California, but there&#8217;s not a lot of them around.  The Moto Guzzi Norge, on the other hand, fires up instantly without even hearing it crank.  It actually amazed me to witness that. My Vintage cranks with a lumpety-lumpety-lumpety sound before it fires.  The sound does seem to match the bike, but still it always sounds like it might not start.  It probably is just a weak battery since my motorcycle, while purchased brand new in 2008, is a 2007 model.  They are all the same, but I imagine the battery was probably more than 1 year old before I put into service, but I have not tested it because of the seat mechanism as I explained earlier.</p>
<p>To summarize the California Vintage so far, it&#8217;s like a best friend.  I somehow feel as if I have always had this motorcycle even though I have only had it a short time, but it&#8217;s always exciting to think about and to ride.  It is smooth, comfortable, and easy.  Not everyone has one and it is not the same as any other motorcycle.  It is not burdened with heavy oversize features to make it look bigger, but it rides two very comfortably.  It&#8217;s light enough to easily push or walk it in and out of tight parking spaces without any problem.  Oh, I forgot to mention that I wish it had a helmet lock, and perhaps an alarm, but with a respectable, classic police-style motorcycle like the <strong>Moto Guzzi California Vintage</strong>, I don&#8217;t think many people will mess with it.</p>
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		<title>Ewan McGregor auctions off his Guzzi California Vintage</title>
		<link>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/11/ewan-mcgregor-motorcycle/</link>
		<comments>http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/2008/11/ewan-mcgregor-motorcycle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:46:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>MotoGuzziCalifornia.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Rides and Events]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The movie star, Ewan McGregor, has announced he is auctioning his special white Moto Guzzi California Vintage motorcycle on eBay November 27, 2008 to raise money and awareness for UNICEF.  The auction proceeds will go to UNICEF UK Children&#8217;s Emergency Fund.
Ewan McGregor is an active ambassador for UNICEF in the UK and a motorcycle enthusiast.
You [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!--adsense-->The movie star, Ewan McGregor, has announced he is auctioning his special white <a title="Moto Guzzi Guide" href="http://www.motoguzziguide.com">Moto Guzzi</a> California Vintage motorcycle on eBay November 27, 2008 to raise money and awareness for UNICEF.  The auction proceeds will go to UNICEF UK Children&#8217;s Emergency Fund.</p>
<p>Ewan McGregor is an active ambassador for UNICEF in the UK and a motorcycle enthusiast.</p>
<p>You can pre-register now for the auction to take place from November 27, 2008 on eBay, and have a chance at this very special white version of Ewan&#8217;s California Vintage, which he personally rode from the Moto Guzzi factory at Lake Como in Italy, home to London.</p>
<p>For those not familiar with <a title="Moto Guzzi California" href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com">Moto Guzzi California</a> Vintage, the motorcycle normally is black.  This special white version is certain to be a valuable motorcycle, and even more so in the future.</p>
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Ewan McGregor on his Moto Guzzi California Vintage</dd>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ewan-mcgregor-on-his-moto-guzzi.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8" title="Ewan McGregor on his Moto Guzzi" src="http://www.motoguzzicalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ewan-mcgregor-on-his-moto-guzzi.jpg" alt="Ewan McGregor on his Moto Guzzi California Vintage" width="200" height="143" /></a></dt>
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<p>For more information, visit UNICEF.org.</p>
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