Road test of Moto-Guzzi1400 California Touring 2013 Cappuccino gourmand

history isn't written in words, files or charts. It is enriched by the glory of men, the madness of battles, the freedom of Scotland and the legend of dynasties. Sometimes the steps are hesitant, when the heritage is so heavy that the ancestors have written miles of nostalgia. Such is the case with this brand-new, superb California, whose heritage is so great, so heavy... From 850 to 1100, the famous transalpine custom resonates in the hearts of Italian enthusiasts... and beyond. Passion is not far away, feverish when the key slips into the ignition.
Click. The past sleeps in the bowls, roused from its torpor by modern injectors. The thickness of the oil retains the pistons in the suffocation of starting, the cylinder heads shake under the jolts of ignition... the 1400 coughs, belches, makes the effort to come to life by dismembering its cylinders, then the spasms invade the Calif majesty. The cough fades, the pulse quickens, the pressure rises, the flames invade the gasoline and life awakens within my daily rider. I've just started up the big twin of the Moto-Guzzi 1400 California Touring, in 5 seconds of atypical emotions. It's going to be a thrilling ride, halfway between the road, discovery and amarettos.

we won't be leaving just yet. It was important for me to give you a glimpse into the spirit of this world, both special and tasty. And what better way to get us into the swing of things than with a roaring engine? oil. Above all, this 1400 California doesn't take you for a ride; you're invited on a cruise of asphalt and elegance. It's out of the question to announce these pretensions without a minimum, or even more, courtesy towards this luscious machine.
Let's not try to reconcile tastes and be simple: the Calif is a beautiful motorcycle. The pencil stroke is powerful, majestic and delicate all at once. Beautiful stature, overflowing twin, a touch of cream on this black cake, and gleaming chrome! It only takes a few minutes to fall under its spell. The hand naturally approaches the handlebars, turns away to skim the cylinders, barely lingers on the saddle, and finally caresses the hips protected by metal suspenders. You can't help but appreciate this Guzzi's buttocks: firmly but not excessively filled out, with an elusive roundness, resting on a comfortable but snug width. From one end of the cases to the other, the distance is the same as that of the handlebars. If the ends fit, everything fits! But travel is out of the question, as the delicacy of the styling means sacrificing volume. It's impossible to fit a full-face, and stowing a jet helmet is a contortionist's job. You tuck it in sideways, swivel it around, and it's just not practical. But it's enough to carry your beach gear, a change of clothes for the evening at the ambassador's and Madame's sculptural dress. These belongings have nothing to fear from the weather: a watertight seal is stashed under the suitcase's hood.

since you're going to have to complain at some point, you might as well do it now. From a top-of-the-range model flirting with the upper limit of seduction, we're entitled to nitpick at certain details. The hingeless fuel filler cap looks vintage, but we wince a little. The long-range headlight switch mounted on the steering column looks cheap and hastily added. And I'm not being personal, but that beautiful tank with the cylinder heads puncturing the sides is a fine demonstration of style, but it deserves better than plastic as a material. Alu, Mr Guzzi, ifouplait! I'd like to end this owner's tour with the start-up we experienced a short while ago. It's not great to have to deactivate the circuit-breaker every time you want to start (unless the stop is short - the system takes 30 sec to activate after the machine has stopped).

contact. You press the starter button until you hear a placid, muffled rumble that says it all. It's a pleasure to wait and hear the big transverse twin expectorate before coming to life. The most famous of Italian cruisers awaits me, vibrating with all its being. You lower your buttocks to the saddle, grasp the handlebars to straighten the machine on its balance point with a slight effort, then take a few moments to savor the Guzzi's latent torque: a neck of throttle in the vacuum and the engine sends you a sensitive lateral thrust. The typical Mandello sway is still there, perhaps a little too restrained.
Let's have a chat with this 1400 and its muse. A kick of the boot followed by a virile Klong, a delicate release of the clutch and the Calif takes off on its own. The brand advertised that its mill was mounted in the frame in such a way that vibrations almost completely disappeared once the bike was launched onto the road... and it's true. After a few meters and the revs that go with it, the pounding dies down to make way for the fat, fruity muscle of the twin-cylinder. From the outset, we praise the saddle's welcome comfort, combined with supple but not lax damping. The Calif immediately announces its predisposition to long-distance riding with relish.

I take advantage of the clear horizon to contemplate the large control window that sits between the windshield and the fork crown. Imposing and finely crafted, the instrument cluster offers near-perfect readability, far superior to what you'd expect. The readability is impeccable, the scrolling of information via the commodo is as practical as it is judicious, and the chrome ringing is of the finest effect. It's a pity that the cruise control indicator is the same color as the turn signal indicator. It's easy to confuse the two. Except when it's active - the LED is steady while the bike cruises on its own, offering a delectable sense of relaxation. However, handling of the cruise control is not as responsive as desired; it doesn't respond quickly enough to lock on to the desired speed. And while operating the info via the control unit is a simple and totally indispensable pleasure, the trigger is too close to the indicator control. As a result, you can sometimes activate one while wanting the other. A question of habit, no doubt....

this road, this straight line is long, long.... and I don't care. You feel good on this Guzzi, buoyed by the comfort and breath of the twin. The windscreen doesn't distort your vision, and protects you well up to a certain speed. The air is deflected right up to the eyebrows. Above 110 km/h, the breeze tickles your forehead (so to speak, the helmet is still there ;-). another 10 cm would be just the thing. Some customers won't ask for so much...
Smooth, well-calibrated suspensions have no trouble convincing you of their suitability. You'll feel right at home on the long running boards, which also spare you from the usual vibrations. The peace is there, and so is the desire for cruising - there's nothing to complain about, the California is happy to take you for a ride in the most Italian of bliss.

if Guzzi can give lessons to many American cruisers, its dynamic potential can also make them look like wobbly wheelbarrows... and even swell with pride in the face of sportier machines. Between two mountains and three valleys, the desire to play will be followed in a surprising way by our hostess of the day. I'm not going to talk about the top speed, which a German confere has delicately pushed beyond 180 km/h, but about the ballerina steps with which the 1400 California moves. On the handlebars, it almost seems to twirl between bends. Astonishing! How can such a behemoth be so obvious and so easy to ride? The effort required to engage the handlebars is minimal, the trajectory almost takes care of itself, and the chassis is as serene and neutral as you could wish. Of course, the 340 kilos don't go away, and hold back the dynamism somewhat. The Calif accompanies you into the bend, but doesn't dive in.
Then comes a series of zigs that allow me to appreciate the zags. I ease off the throttle, which allows me to change mapping by pressing the starter. A short interlude in "Pioggia" mode reassures me of the engine's devotion in the event of fleet conditions. Power doesn't really drop off; it's simply distributed with more latency, more caution, like horses holding their hooves on the riverbank.
In "Turismo" mode, which will certainly be the most used, the transverse twin reveals its most beautiful face, where the quiet force always seems inclined to lift the chair without laziness or haste.
Now we're going to distract ourselves a little and hammer it. Not that we want to, but does all her technological arsenal do so much for her? Who can do more can do less. Veloce" mode engaged, eyebrows furrowed, right hand nervous and teeth sharpened, I take Calif out of Santa Monica to clear her lungs in Watts.
She grunts! Once the sportiest mode is engaged, Miss Guzzi doesn't radically change her face, but she reveals herself to be more surly. The connecting rods are more willing to attack, the oil seems thinner, the desire to tow more assertive. Taking into account the Calif's size, you can allow yourself a real dose of mischief without ever getting hit. You rock, you open, she hums, you follow, she nods without flinching. The transmission is a total success: the drive shaft makes itself totally invisible, under acceleration, braking and acceleration... unruffled and transparent. The Calif doesn't even flinch during hard deceleration. The rear end seems to digest the residual torque without wanting to get ahead. The only time this big custom-GT wobbled was on a succession of small bumps that put the suspension to the test. Negligible, since it's not used for its intended purpose: would you ride a California on the Moto Tour?

you could spend hours relaxing on this seat, the rider as much as the passenger - the rear seat is more natural than the front.the rear seat is more natural than the front, with legs set squarely in place and a firm foam base that's as supple as it is comfortable. But the clock is ticking, and the tank is running low. Let's go back to "Turismo" mode, ignore the niceties and forget about fuel consumption. Well, not quite. Two flicks of the switch and the digital window announces an average of just over 7 liters per 100. We've still got enough to open up a little, and the frontier is still a long way off. The 1400 Calif goes downwind like an ocean liner doped with enriched uranium. We're stalled at 160 on a sweeping curve, with neither apprehension nor glorification, and the Guzzi doesn't move a muscle, demonstrating unsuspected stability.

the few remaining km before the finish allowed me to think back to an old custom test ride. I remembered a dreadful gearbox, decelerated lumberjack brakes and a very uncertain confidence. None of this exists on the Guzzi 1400 California. The gearbox requires a certain amount of willpower, but handling is satisfying and there's never a false neutral; true neutral, on the other hand, isn't necessarily easy to catch. With the most serious braking equipment, and knowing that the transmission won't give us any twists, you flirt with the brake lever as serenely as you press insistently to stop this mass of metal and charm. The feel allows you to tease the rollers a little, and when it's time to get the jaws really biting, it feels like the Brembos are stopping an aircraft carrier. The efficiency is there, but the weight puts it into perspective.

by completely recasting the California while retaining its spirit, Moto-Guzzi offers us a Custom-Touring machine that's close to flawless. More than a pleasure to look at, it also knows how to win over its crew. Here, the twin is more than an engine, it's a guide to sensations. Moderately at ease in town, and even less so when manoeuvring, the beauty can't always make you forget its weight. But when it takes off, it hides. When she grunts, the driver smiles. When she cruises, passion follows. Its quality, finish and handling make it a truly premium product, and the price is in line with this philosophy. It's easy to understand after a ride in a 1400 California Touring, and it won't be so easy to forget the temptation it offered you.

M.B - Photos by Richard P.

special thanks to the team at Run Motos Chambéry for producing this test ride
- The website: runmotos.fr
- Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/RUN-MOTO-Chambery/330010097022187