Moto Guzzi California Vintage

Looks so much like an old 70's, early 80's machine, I thought it was a
misprint! WOW. Anybody test rode one of these yet?

Yes. With a few noteworthy exceptions it is not much different than the
other big California- based Guzzis over the past few years, whch is a
good thing. The tranny is much improved, quieter and very easy to find
ALL gears as well as neutral...a real break through! Power, (tq and hp)
IMO is up, even thought they weren't lacking in power to begin with.
Handling is, of course classic Guzzi. You can still toss it around in
the twisties like no other big bike I have ever ridden. PERIOD. Great
standard items such as the hard bags, floorboards, crash bars,
spotlights, etc. The w/s can use some tweakink, as to my knowledge, it
is NOT adjustable and I got some serious head buffeting at highway
speeds, NOT a good thing. That would be the first and probably only
thing I'd chane on it, were I to get one. But I've got my eye on the
Norge, a real work of art and the top of the line model will compete
with any litre-plus S/T on the market IMO.

I like it alot:

I think the front fender stands out a little too much being chrome. It might
have been better for it to match the bike color, but I've always liked Guzzi's
lines and retro look. They make a nice looking bike.

I wonder if having the pipes end so far short of the end of the bags would cause
any discoloration of the bags over time? I'll have to eyeball some tour bikes
to remind myself what they look like.

The front chrome fender is all part of the retro look of their own
classsic T-3 police bike they are emulating.

My bias becomes obvious when you see my bike:
http://www.ajh.ca/images/my_04_stone.jpg