All Tests – California 1400 Touring Test: Cruising machine! – Imposing but easy to access

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California 1400 Touring test: Cruising machine !

All Tests - California 1400 Touring Test: Cruising machine! - Imposing but easy to access

Alluring at will, the California 1400 from 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 !

Imposing but easy to access

Despite its imposing size and some 337 kg in running order, the California 1400 Touring delivers easily. Reduced to 740 mm, the low seat height makes it easier for smaller riders to access.

Once on board, young and old alike can easily find their driving position, thanks to an excellent seat and long driver’s steps which allow everyone to find their distance from the handlebars, itself at the right height and well curved in order to fall. naturally on hand.

Perceptible at first contact, the softness of the saddle immediately underlines the premium positioning of this bike, decidedly very engaging. Ignition, then start, after having deactivated the circuit breaker alarm (standard) via the mini remote control attached to the key ring, and the California 1400 snorts to the characteristic sound of its 1380 cc 90 ° V-twin.

After several well-felt bursts of gas, just to check the level of residual vibration following the adoption of a new engine mounting system, we have to admit that the operation has borne fruit. The characteristic reversing torque of transverse twin cylinders is still there, but it is largely attenuated and much less disturbing than before for the neophytes.

The vibrations are also very reduced, without however completely disappearing in order to preserve part of what makes the authenticity and the charm of the Moto Guzzi California !

First at the bottom and the characteristic "klong" of the gearbox reassures us. We are in control of a Guzzi, although it adopts a new six-speed gearbox, the sixth being the essential "overdrive" being used to make long journeys on the motorway..

At low speed, when driving in the city in heavy traffic, the front end of the California 1400 displays a certain steering heaviness, which requires constant compensation on the handlebars to maintain its course..

Fortunately, a few more km / h is enough for the phenomenon to diminish, the machine then showing an astonishing agility for its size. The wide handlebars facilitate rapid changes of direction and easily compensate for the small tendency to engage the front axle when taking an angle..

Second, third, fourth and even fifth gear engaged in the city, the new unit shows great elasticity and accepts cruising or accelerating at very low speed without too much complaint, taking advantage of a torque of the most generous from 2000 rpm, the maximum torque 120 Nm being reached at 2750 rpm.

The gears stack up firmly and precisely as long as you don’t over-knit the clutch and the selector, because the Guzzi gearbox remains a bit slow.

The operating noises coming from the new cardan shaft transmission are relatively discreet and we appreciate its greater ease of use, despite a few jerks still sensitive to acceleration and deceleration, without common measure however with the transmission of the previous model.

Braking is for its part progressive and effective in this urban context, both on the right lever and on the left pedal. It is also very safe, thanks to its Continental dual-track ABS system, a system unfortunately not combined, which was one of the features much appreciated by aficionados of the brand….

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