Comparo Moto Guzzi Audacity and Eldorado

Menus

• Moto d’Or: Audacity to conquer El Dorado
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• On departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Conclusion

Moto d’Or: Audacity to conquer El Dorado

After presenting its 1400 California in Aquira Nera version then Custom and finally Touring, Moto Guzzi continues to decline its range around the same engine but with different universes between Audacity and El Dorado. So simple cosmetic differences or real models for this historic model which has already sold over 20,000 copies since the beginning of its history. ?

Discovery

If the engine base of the two models is identical, the Audacity and the Eldorado immediately stand out visually. Big custom touring with its chrome and cow horn handlebars, the Eldorado refers to the history of the brand and to the V7 GT 850 from 1971. On the contrary, Audacity with its straight handlebars and real carbon parts of the front and rear mudguard brings the rider into the world of muscle bikes.

And yet, despite traditional lines, the new models incorporate the latest technology from the front headlight LEDs of the Eldorado to the rear headlight LEDs for the Audacity. The huge speedometer in a traditional distant aspect houses behind the mostly digital screen a huge battery of technology with an on-board computer and even multimedia connectivity allowing all engine information to be retrieved on a mobile application, plus navigation information, including the place where the motorcycle was last parked.

Long chrome exhaust for the Eldorado, short almost racing exhaust for the Audacity, every detail confirms a very specific identity to the two models.

And when we talk about detail, we also talk about quality, because the two models fully justify their 18,499 euros with an impeccable finish, from the high engine painted red for Audacity with its saddle with red stitching to the brakes signed brembo or aviation hoses with parts embossed with the Moto Guzzi brand or with the embossed eagle on the tank.

But what always impresses is the enormous 1380 cc 90 ° V-twin with its central block from which the two massive cylinders are extracted, which are as much the hallmark. Who says same engine, says same characteristics normally, which is the case up to identical gear ratios. Only the audacity has a maximum torque of 121 Nm reached earlier at 2750 rpm against 3000 rpm for the Eldorado. Both models then show a power of 96 horsepower at 6,500 rpm.

In the saddle

The feet are almost on the ground for the 1.70 rider with a low seat at 740mm but relatively wide. This compensates for that. And for those who really want to have their feet flat, there is an option at 720mm, often the two centimeters missing to be comfortable. On a flat road, the well-positioned stand allows the motorcycle to be straightened without any particular effort. On slopes, the exercise is a little more sensitive.

In front of them, Audace and Eldorado present an identical round counter, with a digital center framed by an analog tachometer and all the control lamps. Everything is particularly readable … And above all complete with gear indicator light, precise fuel gauge, totalizer, average and instantaneous consumption, clock, average speed, battery voltage and a menu allowing not only access to service information and maintenance, but to adjust the backlight level, the language or the type of consumption display (l / 100km, km / l, or the same in Anglo-Saxon notation).

Small and aesthetically pleasing mirrors are easily adjusted, but offer reduced rear vision with huge blind spots, requiring proper side checks.

Contact

Audacity and Eldorado snort violently, swaying from left to right. These are not vibrations, well attenuated with the mounting of the engine elastically independent of the frame but a real feeling of balance linked to the huge side cylinders. Those who like character will appreciate ‘the good vibes’.

With the Eldorado, the position is custom, without excess, almost natural even if it forces you to have your back a little rounder than usual. Low-speed maneuvers are made easier with a handlebars offering a good grip with an excellent lever arm. We could almost forget the 314 kilos dry of the Eldorado (299 kilos for the Audacity) thanks to an excellent overall balance. The turning radius is despite everything limited, it is still necessary to provide a little space and a somewhat wide road to do it all at once, but without as much effort as one might imagine..

Audacity plunges you into a more manly world. You have to lean your bust forward to grab hold of a wide, straight, wide handlebars. As a result, the arms are physically more stretched and the ease of taking a curve made more difficult..

In the city

The 1400 is an example of goodwill … capable of even rolling into sixth and last gear at 50 km / h at 1500 rpm without knocking! The first allows just as much to stay on a trickle of gas or even at idle at 12 km / h without hiccups and without playing the clutch..

However, it is the second gear which remains the ideal gear in town, especially in the rain, neither too violent like the first nor too soft. And as in absolute terms the second accepts to climb to 110 km / h (on national), in fact we hardly touch the reports on either of the two models..

After an almost disconcertingly easy engine, there is still a limited turning radius, which makes gymkhana difficult between cars. The wide handlebars need to be careful for tight interlocks and the slalom between several lines between stationary vehicles causes noticeable fatigue when you still have to maneuver the average 320 kilos (depending on the tank and the model). Eldorado and Audace are then very close to the handling of a very large custom, whatever the brand..

On the highway

A simple rotation of the right grip manly propels Audace and Eldorado to 110 km / h in second gear, the only necessary gear on national. The third then takes over to make it possible to already exceed the legal speeds. Bubble-free, we then cling to the handlebars of Audacity. With a less typical position, the Eldorado can offer a good twenty kilometers per hour better in terms of comfort even if it is possible to titillate the 200 km / h at the cleat. Stable, the two models fit naturally into a large curve, without deviating or widening. It is then the moment to activate the cruise control of the right stalk and to take advantage of the landscape..

On departmental

Back on departmental, the Eldorado regains its ease on small roads. It will find its limits only on small mountain roads when it is necessary to chain hairpin bends, with a real work not to be carried away by the 320 kilos and to tighten a trajectory without overflowing on the wrong side of the road. Boldness finds its limits much sooner and doesn’t need the pins to require work and effort to pull it off. It is then that we realize that this is not an instinctive motorcycle forgiving everything and directing itself almost exclusively by looking. You have to anticipate, prepare, work a trajectory and stick to it … While arriving quickly enough to the limits of the average biker (me) to no longer be able to accelerate the pace.

The Eldorado does it despite a more massive appearance much more easily and allows a more sustained pace by accepting to be more roughed up to finally better register in curves, tackling including the pins more quickly..

Finally, you have to choose your driving mode, the electronics adapting to the mood of the pilot or quite simply to the weather. Because Eldorado and Audace share the same "Ride by Wire" system, with three settings from the traditional rain mode here called "pioggia" to Turismo and Veloce modes, the latter being the most sporty..

It should be noted that the Veloce mode corresponds better to Audacity, especially since the model already reaches its maximum torque earlier than the Eldorado. In the end, the sensations are there with powerful and manly accelerations. The Eldorado’s philosophy will better adapt to the "touring" profile offering an excellent balance between power, pick-ups and daily driving pleasure..

When in rain mode, it removes about 25% of power, which associated with traction control, allows you to stay in line without needing to constantly dose. Because otherwise, even in tourism mode and on strong acceleration, in the wet, we manage to drive the rear significantly when the cavalry arrives and there is really some under the right grip..

Braking

Brembo brakes, dual Abs, traction control with the Moto Guzzi traction system, the braking offers feeling and power, so much so that you have to adjust the braking, especially of the front brake even if the ABS takes care of the grain. Because in the wet, with the power and torque available very early on, combined with a not insignificant weight, easily lead to gliding beginnings, always smooth, but requiring a minimum of control. On the other hand, front fork and rear shock absorbers work excellent together, not causing any particular lift-off, even in the event of heavy braking..

Comfort

The suspensions associated with a comfortable saddle ensure excellent comfort, whatever the quality of the road, smoothing out irregularities very well. In the initial configuration, only the passenger’s folding seat will limit the possibilities of two people going very far with long distances..

Consumption

During the test, the average consumption displayed by the on-board computer was 8.4 liters per hundred, with an instantaneous consumption that could rise to 16 liters in the first gears to drop to around 5 liters per hundred in the last gear. , particularly flexible. With a 20.5-liter tank, the whole thing offers an autonomy varying between 250 and 300 km, depending on the driving rhythm..

Be careful when filling the tank: the tank cap comes off, because it is not mounted on the cylinder..

Convenient

Do not expect any space under the saddle for any of the models. On the other hand, Moto Guzzi has just released a huge catalog of accessories, with no less than 4 different universes to meet all tastes and also all budgets. Customization pieces that can go to the toe clip, you will also find side bags as well as the entire collection of branded clothing up to a complete line of really well-designed fiber jet helmets..

Moto Guzzi assures us, the accessories were designed at the same time as the development of the models and not once the model was finished. This makes them parts counting in their own right in all possible customizations of the 1400. And it is not the 230 pages of the catalog that will contradict me. !

Then there is the multimedia application available for mobile which allows you to obtain all the engine information, plus a GPS, plus the manual, plus information such as the adjustment of the shift light or an ecoride indicator or the most useful "seeks it. my motorbike "because automatically recording the last place where the motorbike was stopped. Count all the same 160 euros for the system to which it will be necessary to add 60 euros of installation; not very expensive if we compare to the prices in the car.

Conclusion

Quality finish, unique look, Moto Guzzi embarks with its two models in two universes as rich and varied, inviting another way of travel. It is no longer a simple motorcycle, but an art of living and sensations, free from the choice and desires of the biker. Those who want a machine that is useful, that is to say easy to drive and able to take far on a duo trip will choose the Eldorado which returns to tradition in a modern way. Those who want a muscle bike as much as a bike show where the important thing is to have fun on weekends with a motorcycle that delivers real sensations and an art of living very far from the fluff with friends in the mountains will choose Audacity . And the two models being at exactly the same price at 18,499 euros, the choice will really be based on the emotion aroused by seeing them and on how to design the ideal ride. Or, by dint of hesitation, the biker eager to travel even further will return to the fully equipped California Touring for barely 900 euros more, another winged alternative for the Mandello eagle for a trip to the cities of Gold…

Strong points

• engine with 3 maps
• look
• cycle part
• price / quality ratio

Weak points

• practical aspects
• consumption

The Audacity technical sheet

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