Eicma 2012 – California 1400 Moto Guzzi: the concept of luxury motorcycles redefined

With the project California 1400 Moto Guzzi redefines the concept of luxury motorbike, polarizing it into two characters contrasting in style but united in expressing reference technologies and performance.

Emblem of a culture and ability to build unique motorcycles since 1921, the California 1400 Touring and Custom they are assembled by hand in the Mandello del Lario factory and represent, in terms of innovation and style, the turning point in the history of Moto Guzzi, one of the oldest and most noble brands in motorcycling history.

1. FROM THE USA TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

On the roads for over forty years, the Moto Guzzi California is the most famous Italian motorcycle in the world. His career began in 1970 when the Moto Guzzi V7 Police won, after a very tough series of tests, the selection to enter the LAPD (Los Angels Police Department) fleet. For the first time a foreign motorcycle wins a supply order for the Police in America, defeating not only the national manufacturer, but also the best English competition.

The news of these Moto Guzzis in stars and stripes uniform also generates great interest in Europe, strengthening the excellent reputation that the V7 has earned with the 700 and Special versions. From the photographs of the LAPD and Highway Patrol officers, however, it is clear that these are Moto Guzzi V7s that are decidedly different from those normally on sale: oversized saddle, bull's-horn handlebars, platform footrests and a profusion of chrome.

Elements that give the style of the V7 an American-style image that appeals and stimulates enough demand to convince Moto Guzzi to mass-produce it in 1971 under the name California. Since then, seven generations and four displacements (750, 850, 1000, 1100) have alternated for over one hundred thousand units produced: a success.

2. LIFE AS A STAR
Known by all, loved by many and literally venerated by mile-grinders, during its forty-year career the Moto Guzzi California has patrolled the American freeways, escorted rulers and presidents and entered the garages of film stars and rock stars, conquering a place of reference in the history of the motorcycle.

The California represents, more than any other model produced in Mandello del Lario, the values ​​and strength of the Moto Guzzi brand: style, comfort, reliability and performance. A success motivated by a rare quality: knowing how to reconcile the comfort and load capacity of a custom motorbike with the dynamism and performance of a powerful road one.

3. CALIFORNIA 1400: AN EPOCHAL TURNING POINT

Designing the heir to the most famous Moto Guzzi in the world meant taking on a great technological and economic challenge, to replicate, as in 1971, the new reference in the category. An imposing, exclusive motorbike, capable of enhancing the elements of nobility of a symbolic brand of Made in Italy.

Starting from the stylistic intuition of an innovative but recognizable design consistent with the genealogy of the seven generations of California produced to date, the main Moto Guzzi distinctive signs have been redesigned with the most advanced technologies of the leading European motorcycle group, obtaining a series of results such as:

• The largest displacement V Twin ever produced in Europe, capable of delivering an overwhelming torque of 120 Nm at just 2750 rpm.
• The first custom in the world equipped with MGCT traction control and multi-map Ride by Wire technology, with the possibility of selecting three different delivery curves: Turismo, Veloce and Pioggia.
• The first custom in the world equipped with a front light unit equipped with DRL LED daytime lighting, as happens on the most recently designed cars.
• An unprecedented double cradle frame, equipped with an elastic engine support system capable of completely eliminating the transfer of vibrations.
• A new shaft final transmission, at the top of the category for smooth and silent operation.

Even observing any other detail of the new California 1400 Touring or Custom, from the wheels to the instruments, from the components to the quality of the paintwork and assembly, one can understand the extent of the change: these Moto Guzzis certainly represent a turning point in the history of the brand.

4. DESIGN: CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF A LEGEND

Elegant, with a spectacular visual impact, the shapes of the 1400 California communicate the unmistakable class and tradition of Moto Guzzi combined with unprecedented dimensions and technologies. Surprising in the smallest details as in the components, the design of the new California maintains a virtual continuity with its ancestors despite having no elements in common.

The stylistic references are in the profile of the saddle, in the chrome handle and the side panels inspired by the T3 as well as a relationship between the dimensions of the tank and the engine in favor of the latter, just like in the style of the V7 and V850 ancestors.

The ingenious tank, made of metal, with a 21-litre central body and two lateral sides, on which the Eagle logo is embedded, shaped on the powerful thermal units of the new 1400 cc engine, contributes above all to this impression. round.

Squeezed inside the V formed by the twin-cylinder, the tank contributes to making the side view noticeably lower and sleeker also due to the marked lengthening of the wheelbase now at 1685 mm compared to the 1560 mm of the latest California 90.

The impression is further accentuated by the horizontal progression of the highly polished silencers which end in correspondence with the rear mudguard, shaped on the impressive 200 tire and equipped with a spectacular dual LED light cluster which also integrates the direction indicators. The front view is no different, with a complex surface front headlight with polyellipsoidal headlight equipped
daytime lighting with DRL LEDs, an absolutely exclusive device, which makes it immediately recognisable. The particular polygonal shape of the headlight dominates the sumptuous front, enriched, according to California tradition, by the inevitable windshield and additional headlights.

After more than thirty years from the T4, the light alloy wheels reappear on the California 1400, now with the original ribbed design. The powerful 200/60-16 rear section is striking, while the front has a more ordinary dimension of 130/70-18.

The 46 mm front fork is another reference to the glorious ancestors: completely sealed by the imposing black "telescopes", it replicates in style the units that equipped the first V7 and V850. The driving cockpit is a perfect testimony to the combination of design and technology that animates the new California. The instrumentation is striking in terms of stylistic refinement and visibility, enclosed in a circular dial measuring 150 mm in diameter with the analogue rev counter scale created along the external circumference and the full matrix multifunction display suspended in the centre. Also new are the covered grips, the bull's-horn handlebar and the electric blocks where, on the right, it is possible, for the first time on a Moto Guzzi, to activate the cruise control.

5. THE “ELASTIC” ENGINE

The history of Moto Guzzi is marked by ingenious and innovative technical solutions. From the "elastic frame" designed by the engineer. Giuseppe Guzzi at the end of the 20s, to the aerodynamic studies developed in the famous wind tunnel, from the 8-cylinder engine to the first transverse twin-cylinder with cardan transmission up to integral braking.

Today, with the new California 1400 Moto Guzzi develops a new idea applied to fixing the engine to the frame, introducing the concept of the "Elastic Engine". The innovation, introduced to obtain a new standard in terms of ride comfort, consists in fixing the engine to the frame through an exclusive system of elasto-kinematic supports composed of a front connecting rod, two lateral connecting rods and a series of rubber pads which they let the engine oscillate, filtering all the vibrations, preventing them from being transmitted to the motorbike and to its points of contact with the rider and passenger.

In addition to guaranteeing benchmark ride comfort, the chassis of the new California has its strong point in its dynamic performance, obtained by seeking maximum rigidity between an oversized steering head and large-section swingarm. Characterized by a high-strength tubular structure, the California 1400 frame is a closed double cradle with typically custom dimensions: the steering angle is open at 32°, the trail is 155 mm while the wheelbase is that of a true cruiser of the free way: 1685 mm. Dimensions that ensure stability and precision in changes of direction and, thanks to the very low center of gravity and the centrality of the masses, also surprising maneuverability on a motorbike of this size.

Sitting just 740 mm from the ground, it is sufficient to reach a pedestrian speed to manoeuvre, with the ease of a scooter, the powerful twin-cylinder from Mandello, which responds to the slightest command of the throttle, leaving the vibrations generated by the engine in the sphere of memories of those who led the California of the past. The more melancholic might feel nostalgic for it, but just leave the bike still on the stand at idle to see it oscillate under the powerful action of the two 104 mm pistons, generating vibrations that disappear when you touch the accelerator control. The motorbike maintains, or rather amplifies, its "pulsating soul" when stationary, transforming it into speed without tremors once in motion.

The news doesn't end here. The fork is also new, with 46 mm stanchions which, despite the coherence of its custom style and generous 120 mm travel, betrays its aptitude for high performance by the presence of feet for the radial attachment of the four-piston Brembo calipers .

A traditional solution was instead chosen for the rear suspension, where a pair of chromed rear shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload act while the choice of the wheels goes against the grain for the category. Distinguished by the original "millerighe" design, the wheels have a diameter of 18' at the front and 16' at the rear, the latter, thanks to the 6' section rim, houses a spectacular 200/60 tyre. -traffic lights”. After thirty years, the California 1400 abandons the famous integral braking, definitively overcome by the advantages offered by the latest generation ABS and by the power of a braking system never seen before in this range of motorcycles: Brembo radial calipers with four
opposing pistons that act on a pair of 320 mm perforated floating discs at the front and a 282 mm rear disc worked by a Brembo floating caliper with two parallel pistons.

6. 1380 CC: THE LARGEST V2 IN EUROPE

Before the new California 1400, the actual displacement record achieved by the transverse 90° V-twin was the 1225 cc of the MGS01, essentially a custom-built circuit car. The new California engine, an evolution of the popular "Quattrovalvole", goes much further and, using the same stroke of the 1151 cc engine, reaches a volume of 1380 cc through a record bore of 104 mm. However, this is not a simple act of mechanical hypertrophy but an engine completely redesigned from the external layout, to the internal organs up to the management electronics.

Aesthetically it appears like an aluminum sculpture, essential in shape but expressive in mechanical content: the size of the groups shows the significant cubic capacity while the polished and silk-screened Moto Guzzi valve cover and the dense finning express the great manufacturing care. After the 750 cc small block, this 1380 cc big bore is also powered by a single Magneti Marelli throttle body, in this configuration increased to 52 mm in diameter and equipped with a motorized drive, which replicates the advantages in terms of fluid dynamic performance, obtainable from the single Y-shaped manifold, now combined with new long intake ducts which increase torque at low revs.

The electronic management of the multimap ride by wire engine makes its debut on a Moto Guzzi, and in the custom segment. This technology allows you to choose between three engine management maps: Tourism, Fast and Wet. The different maps allow the driver to choose the character of the engine
that best suits the driving style, the route or the environmental situations. By differentiating the delivery of the engine torque and the management of the engine braking, in fact, the control unit is able to give the California engine all the sweetness necessary for maximum comfort, aggressiveness for those who prefer sporty driving, or control necessary on wet surfaces: in the latter situation it is a very providential support given the ability of the engine to unleash a 120 Nm of torque to the ground at just 2750 rpm. and stretch up to 6500 rpm. to get the last of its ninety-six horsepower (71KW).

The dynamics of the vehicle are kept under control by the presence, for the first time on a custom, of the latest generation traction control (MGCT), which can be set on three intervention levels to increase active safety without compromising performance and driving pleasure. .

The new heads have four valves per cylinder, controlled by an overhead camshaft per bank, through a system with rocker arms and rollers, to reduce friction losses. The modernity of the engine is also expressed in the presence of double ignition, to guarantee perfect combustion, and in the presence of two lambda probes which make the mixture in the cylinders uniform in all operating conditions with consequent improvement in consumption and harmful emissions.

The new larger finning of the cylinders contributes to the general efficiency of the engine, enriched by the "brushed" finish of the external edge and the generous sizing of the oil radiator, equipped with a thermostatic electric fan, which reduce the average operating temperatures, in addition to the new filter box redesigned to accommodate the robust breathing of the Mandello twin-cylinder. The result is that the California engine, despite the generous increase in displacement, expresses 15-20% lower consumption depending on the conditions of use, compared to the 1200 cc "Quattrovalvole" engine.

Important news also on the transmission front. The gearbox now has six speeds instead of five while the clutch goes from twin-disc to a new dry single-disc with integrated flexible coupling and reduced actuation load. The final shaft drive transmission has been completely redesigned, responding to the new needs of transferring the powerful torque of the engine with maximum fluidity and comfort, as well as boasting a considerably more modern and technological aesthetic appearance.

7. MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 TOURING:

It is California in its most classic expression, intended for great travellers, those who clock up miles and those who are totally dependent on the motorcycle to the point of being able to do without the car. After all, in terms of comfort, aerodynamic protection and load capacity, the Touring version can also rival the four-wheeled flagships but with that sense of freedom and pleasure of riding that only a motorbike, or rather a Moto Guzzi, can offer .

Sumptuously equipped with a fine two-tone saddle, "Patrol" windshield, additional chrome headlights, 35-litre side cases, engine guard and suitcase guard kit, the Touring is a highly chromed and technological "tourer" which, powered by the largest V-twin ever created before now in Europe, it is able to trot all day with a thrilling sound and, if necessary, impart a bullish push capable of leaving
behind any two or four wheeled vehicle.

The sensorial satisfaction continues even when the California 1400 Touring is stationary, parked outside your favorite venue or in the privacy of your home garage, where you can explore it in the smallest detail. Here you are spoiled for choice, between engine and chassis details or technological devices: among this there is, for the first time in its category, the possibility of choosing the preferred engine response between the Touring, Veloce and Pioggia or select the cruise control which, together with the anti-theft device, are part of the standard equipment of this custom-built car.

However, the sumptuous standard equipment does not preclude the possibility of further modifying the California Touring according to the owner's aesthetic taste and needs by drawing on the most complete accessories catalog ever produced by Moto Guzzi before.

High performance silencers, chromed and billet components, saddles of all types and materials up to the support and the App which allows you to transform your iPhone into an additional dashboard to obtain the most varied information on navigation, performance and technical data .

Particularly refined is the color concept, developed on two evocative graphics: the Eldorado, white with dark ornamental fillets on the tank, inspired by the versions of the California Highway Patrol or Ambassador, which expresses the classic black with white fillets similar to the original versions, type V7 and 850 California.

8. MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA 1400 CUSTOM:

The Moto Guzzi California Custom is not the sporty twin of the Touring but the "bad" sister, the antithesis of temperament, style and vocation. It doesn't pamper the rider with shiny accessories and gadgets but conquers him with the strength expressed by its tough and pure cruiser design: two wheels, an engine, saddle and handlebars. Nothing else but everything created with rigor between form and function, combining it with a typically Italian aesthetic sense, an expression of attention to detail and executive ability worthy of the best interpretations that Made in Italy has ever produced in the automotive field.

Just focus on details such as the two-seater saddle, which features the hot-stamped Eagle logo, the drag bar handlebars with lightened supports, and the new rear shock absorbers equipped with an external reservoir. To increase the expressive power of the design, a minimal graphic layout based on material colors such as mercury gray and basalt black and some clever touches of style converge, such as the black lacquered wheels with the red Moto Guzzi logo and the black rear-view mirrors.

Once in the saddle the differences compared to the Touring emerge forcefully; the new sports saddle and drag-bar handlebar create a low, set-back seat on the rear wheel for a perfect metropolitan show-off. You travel enveloped in the sound of the 1380 cc big bore, ready to unleash the 120 Nm at 2750 rpm or sail in overdrive, at just above idle speed, trying to listen to the beats of the 104 mm pistons of the majestic V-twin of 90° made in Mandello del Lario filtered by the innovative elasto-kinematic fixing to the tubular frame.

Bucolic spaces where the rider dialogues with his mount, in the velvety gait of a motorbike with a deep soul, capable of lavishing powerful accelerations as well as preceding at parade pace, to follow with his gaze the reflection of a flowing image along the glass surfaces of our cities surrounded by the characteristic sound of the engines made in Mandello.

The deliberately minimal aspect of the design further enhances the presence of technological contents that cannot be found in any other motorcycle produced by the competition. The California Custom, like its traveling sister, is equipped as standard with cruise control, with MGCT traction control that can be set to three levels of intervention, and, thanks to the presence of Ride by Wide, it is also possible to adjust the engine response
according to three modes, respectively "Tourism", "Fast" and "Rain".

And if the California Custom "rider" can choose the character of his motorbike according to the type of route and use he can do the same to adapt it to his personality, drawing on the most extensive accessories catalog ever produced by Moto Guzzi.

9. MOTO GUZZI ACCESSORY LINE:

SELECT THE BEST TO MAKE IT PERFECT AND UNIQUE
There is only one way to make a unique motorcycle like the California Vintage SE even richer and more luxurious: customize it with original Moto Guzzi accessories.

Leather side suitcase kit
The side cases, designed by the Moto Guzzi Style Center, are available covered in real natural leather by specialized craftsmen. The product thus obtained marries the original line of the motorbike, offering refined customization using quality Italian leather.

Leather saddle
For those looking for a luxurious finish, a saddle covered in real natural leather by specialized craftsmen is available. The leather type, style and quality replicate those of the side cases.

Luxury fiberglass trunk
Large fiberglass trunk (60 LT) painted in the same color with chrome locks and opening handle incorporated into the upper half shell. It has a large and comfortable back cushion for the passenger covered with the same material and color as the saddle. Its interior is finished in velvet and is equipped with
mirror and object-saving net.

50 liter trunk
Spacious quick-release trunk, capable of accommodating two full-face helmets. The upper shell is painted in the vehicle color and features a comfort backrest for the passenger finished with the same material and color as the saddle. Internally there is a document pocket and an elastic object holder.

Internal bags for suitcases and trunks
The internal bags have been built to have the same shape as the suitcases and trunks that contain them, they can be easily detached and carried using handles and shoulder straps. The set of bags was made with high-performance materials and innovative techniques that guarantee its waterproofness and resistance to all atmospheric agents.

Tank bag kit
The kit consists of a water-repellent leather band that covers the central part of the tank on which the leather tank bag can be fixed in order to guarantee additional load capacity for the most demanding Guzzi rider. The bag can be easily removed from the vehicle via two quick releases. This kit was designed by the Moto Guzzi Style Center to ensure perfect integration with the vehicle itself. The materials used have been tested to react perfectly to the most severe weather conditions.

Roof rack
Designed in chromed tube by the Moto Guzzi Style Centre, this luggage rack expands the load capacity of the motorbike, allowing the mounting of dedicated accessory cases thanks to the special fixing provisions.

Low windshield
Similar to a windshield, it protects from the wind despite being small in size. It contributes to the customization of the motorbike because it is perfectly integrated into the original design.

Windshield deflectors
Air deflectors to be applied to the lower area of ​​the windscreen to increase the protection and driving comfort offered to the rider.

Slip on “sound” exhausts
For those who want to "hear" the roar of a real "custom", slip-on exhausts have been created with a style similar to the standard exhausts but with a dedicated finish and specific end cap.

Exhaust bottoms
They are special caps to be applied to the standard exhaust to personalize the style of the vehicle. The external casing is made of mirror-polished stainless steel while the internal terminal is made of billet aluminum with a polished finish.

Black chrome handlebar
To allow exclusive customization of your motorbike, a black chrome handlebar is available. This handlebar is developed by our test riders to maintain the optimal riding position for controlling your motorcycle.

Rearview mirrors
Special approved rear-view mirrors made from billet aluminum with a shiny anti-scratch finish.

Aluminum grip kit
Special knobs made from billet aluminum with anti-slip rubber inserts and glossy finish.

Rear brake fluid reservoir cover
For those who like to change the look of their motorbike by customizing it with finishes different from the standard version, a rear brake oil tank cover is available. It is made of billet aluminum and completely covers the body of the brake oil reservoir, thus leaving its functionality unchanged. It is easy to install and has a glossy finish that contributes to the California "custom" design.

Brushed fork top plate
For those who like to customize their bike, the upper fork clamp with brushed finish is available which helps to increase the "vintage" look of their California.

Horn cover
Two billet aluminum covers are available that cover the motorbike horns. They help increase the "vintage" look of your California with their glossy finish.

Brake-clutch levers
Special adjustable brake and clutch levers made of billet aluminum with customized design and shiny anti-scratch finish.

Front pump covers
Special brake and clutch master cylinder covers made from billet aluminum with a shiny anti-scratch finish.

Tank cover kit
The side covers of the tank, made of aluminum with a brushed finish, personalize the style of the motorbike, making it a true "custom".

Chrome head covers
For those who like to customize their motorbike, head covers with brushed finish are available.

License plate holder kit
Elegant approved license plate holder made of stainless steel with shiny finishes.

Mudguard protection
To customize your motorbike, a chrome tube is available that protects the front mudguard. It is made of chromed tube and connects the external perimeter of the mudguard.

Swingarm aesthetic kit
Special rosettes made from solid aluminum to personalize the style of the vehicle.

Cylinder side protection
Special cylinder side protectors made from billet aluminum finished with mirror polishing, integrate perfectly with the style and design of the motorbike. Complete with supports made of mirror-polished stainless steel.

Injector cover kit
The pair of injector covers made of aluminum with a brushed finish replaces the standard one, ensuring the vehicle a richer, more refined look that is consistent with the aluminum parts already present in the vehicle.

Additional LED spotlights
The small spotlights with advanced electronics and LED lamps absorb little energy but manage to produce a lighting capacity equal to an incandescent lamp of 55 watts for each spotlight. They make night driving safe and comfortable. They come with mounting brackets.

LED direction indicators
The use of these direction indicators allows for greater brightness and lower consumption. They are characterized by elegant lines with a design perfectly consistent with that of the vehicle.

Chromed front light
For those who like to change the look of their motorbike by customizing it with finishes different from the standard version, the rear light body with chrome finish is available.

IGUZZI
iGuzzi is a new device that allows you to easily connect your smartphone to the California (BlueDash technology), transforming it into a real multimedia platform, capable of managing all the information relating to the vehicle and useful information for the trip.

The Bluetooth connection provided by iGuzzi, combined with GPS and Internet functionality, allows the Smartphone to become an integral part of the instrumentation. Customizable in graphics and contents, iGuzzi offers the possibility of accessing many functions, including: on-board computer (averages, consumption, residual autonomy, etc.), additional indications (temperatures, rev counter, levels, operating values).

Satellite navigator support kit
Support made of polished stainless steel with provision for mounting the satellite navigator.

Satellite Alarm
The anti-theft control unit, which can be activated via transponder, tracks the position of the motorbike to find it in the event of theft. An operations center is in constant contact with the vehicle to monitor the motorcycle's anomalies and in the event of theft it is activated to coordinate the Police Forces for the recovery of the vehicle.

There are 36 Operations Centers available around the world that can intervene if the motorcycle crosses state borders. The Apps available for Apple and Android offer the owner of the motorbike the itineraries traveled and to share them with the community of Bikers.

Telepass holder (Italian motorways)
For those who love traveling on the motorway (in Italy) a telepass holder is available which allows you to carry the telepass with you, protecting it during the journey, but at the same time ensuring passage under the portal and automated toll payment.

Garage easel
This accessory is very useful when the vehicle is not in use. It allows you to support the vehicle in the correct position during small care and maintenance jobs.

Motorcycle cover
Custom-made indoor cover to protect against dust to be used when the motorbike is parked in the garage. It is made of a two-tone stretch fabric with graphics dedicated to the motorbike. Available in two versions, with or without top case.

For more information visit the website: www.motoguzzi.it