Moto Guzzi California EV reviews

Just got back from a 3,300 mile trip on my brand new Guzzi California EV Tour. Really love the bike and it was a great ride (other than seat burn)on the trip. Absolutely no problems and it ran like a champ as long as 12 - 14 hr and 600/700 mile days. Really fun cruiser that thinks it's a sport bike and is happy to behave that way. Sounds like Grandpa's threshing machine when you start it up, but it loves to rev and moves very quickly through the gears. Shifts at 5,000 RPM (now that I'm out of break-in period) are a blast. I agree with one of the other writers as it is a bit quirky, but in a very positive way. Looks like a HD to the untrained eye, but it's a distinctive cruiser that's different from everything else in McCruiser land. One magazine writer referred to it as a Sopwith Camel of motorcycles, and that's a great description, as the bike is a bit of a throw-back, but with modern mechanicals, electronics, fuel injection, etc. I really like my Beemer, but this Guzzi has it's hooks into me. The Tour addition comes with upgrades that I think are worth it. Including the beautiful Lafranconi pipes. Great, distinctive sound. You get V twin vibration, but it's not an issue, and I'm used to my smoothie blender 3 cylinder K bike. Handle bars are nicely damped, but handling has never been an issue in terms of pushing on the bars and getting good response. Mirrors do have fair amount of vibration, but don't consider it an issue. Shifting is smooth and clutch action is really nice. Both depts are better than my K bike. A few false neutrals here and there, but not an issue. Only negative I can think of is sometimes hard to find true neutral, but that's really a stretch to call it a negative. Besides that, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the seat, stay stock or get after market. Overall comfort is really great on the bike (6'2" and 230). Floor boards are really nice, but have never been a factor in aggressive cornering. I will consider removing the lower fairings and installing high-way pegs because of a bad knee that needs occasional flexing. Heated grips were nice for early AM and night I rode on Blue Ridge Parkway. Even fully loaded with a big Mag's bag for my camping gear, both saddle bags full and another dry stuff sack for clothes, it handled high speeds with stability. (I was running solo, so don't know about two up.)It loves long sweeping curves, and I found plenty of them on the run through TN and NC mountains. The bike attracts a lot of attention because it has a classic look. People gave me compliments at the gas stations, as well as at the rally. Styling attracts the older crowd mostly, but I've even gotten a 'sweet bike' from two young dudes. to this old guy, the Cali looks like what a motorcycle should look like. I test rode mine and then tried to stay away from it. But the bike and the dealer kept working on me til I caved in. Glad I did, as I don't regret it one bit. I camped with Guzzi riders at the rally and met some great people. Some of them were riding 20 - 30 yr old bikes as well as some new ones. Guzzi is obviously a small player in US, but maintenance is pretty simple and if you do it, they tell me the bike should last a long time. With the new hydraulich valves, they do one time maintenance on them at 1,000 miles and that's it for the life of the bike. The rest is fluids/filters and the like. Show less

This is a great bike it will easily out corner every other cruiser type bike. I ride with an insane amount of torque. I have had them all and this is the most satisfying bike I have owned. If you're not the type of person that requires a Harley Davidson to pump up your ego, and you actually want to do some serious miles, this bike is a great alternative. plus it's almost maintance free just change the oil and adj the valves now and then. Try it...you will love it. Show less

Not the model Guzzi I own, but hardly "outdated". No other cruiser comes with such hi-tech furel injection, suspension and brakes. Not to mention that this is the bike that won the Cycle World "Cruiser Shootout" a coupla years back, beating out 13 other cruisers from all the majopr companies. Show less

Did you ever want to own a classic bike that was made today? Here's your chance. The engine has been in almost constant production for 20 years in one form or another (updated with hydraulic valves in 2003). The bike is a good looking (subjective) and comfortable ride, but the forward foot boards may take a bit to get used to, as will the rear brake pedal for non cruiser types. All is all a world of fun and character for a reasonable price. Show less