All Tests – California 1400 Touring Test: Cruising machine! – Increased road capacities

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California 1400 Touring test: Cruising machine !

All Tests - California 1400 Touring Test: Cruising machine! - Increased road capacities

Alluring at will, the California 1400 by Moto Guzzi seduces at first glance with its new design combining tradition and modernism. In-depth technical review, it perpetuates the legend of the Mandello del Lario eagle. Test !

Increased road capacities

As soon as the horizon clears, the California can finally unveil its new assets, starting with excellent road holding, in a straight line as well as in curves apprehended at good speed. !

Firmly rooted on its Dunlop D251 tires – specially designed for large-scale customs – the California 1400 Touring traces its course with ease, responding with remarkable vigor to the slightest request of the throttle grip to the electronic Ride-by management. -Transparent wire.

The "Turismo" mapping mode offers an excellent compromise between acceleration and engine braking during deceleration, which is particularly appreciable on the winding ledge roads taken during this test. A few taps on the starter trigger select the "Veloce" mode…

The response to acceleration is then much more frank and the available cavalry (96 horsepower at 6500 rpm, or 22.6 hp more than the California 1100) land with an astonishing vigor that takes you very quickly beyond legal speeds.

In "Pioggia" rain mode, the lowered power and the torque delivered in a smoother and more linear manner minimize the risk of skidding when re-accelerating on a wet road as well as any untimely triggering of the traction control..

Once the bike is well in hand, and regardless of the driving mode chosen, the California 1400 generously rubs its running board protectors at each frankly negotiated turn, which testifies to its still low ground clearance (165 mm). However, it is possible to save the plastic pads with practice and by significantly modifying their trajectories … everyone will have fun as they wish. !

On the way back, we take a few fast stretches and some beautiful series of turns. The opportunity to better test the handling of the California 1400 Touring at high speed in curves, especially when passing an unexpected constraint.

Once again, the Guzzi is doing very honorably given its relative overweight. It takes advantage of its new chassis, which shows rigidity while retaining a certain flexibility which allows the motorcycle to absorb shocks without reacting too abruptly..

The fork works perfectly and allows the front axle to maintain precise guidance in all circumstances. The combined rear shock absorber is also effective, but reacts more harshly to big shocks and repeats them sharply in the back of the driver, whose senatorial position (with the back straight) accentuates the feeling. Motorcycle loaded on the angle, you can still feel the work of the chassis, which results in a slight undulation, quite manageable and perfectly natural.

The large windshield offers effective protection to the driver, without the whirlwind effect felt on some of the previous models. MNC, however, did not have the opportunity to test its efficiency on the highway at higher speed.

The “cruise control” system turns out to be functional and easy to set up from the right stalk, very practical so as not to inadvertently exceed the legal speed. In this more manly use context, we are surprised to regret the increased efficiency of the previous combined braking, especially for a driver with little experience..

More seasoned pilots will have no trouble getting the most out of this new braking, by themselves applying a subtle mix of the two brakes depending on the circumstances and the driving style chosen. Be careful, however, to excess optimism on dusty or wet roads because the activation of the ABS significantly increases the braking distance.

A stop at the pump tells us a little more about the consumption of the machine: left with full, the reserve indicator flashed for several kilometers when we stopped, 183 km on the odometer (partial). Verdict falls: 16 liters of supplement, or a real average consumption of 8.74 l / 100 km (against an average of 7.8 l / 100 km displayed on the dashboard).

In this context, the maximum autonomy of the California 1400 is therefore established at 234 km, which is not much for a machine with some road claims. Be careful, however, on this last point: the – wise – owners should do better than the – dissipated – journalists…

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