Old Guzzi California.
Discussion
It's the last of the carb'/ first of the fuel injected models that I'm concerned with here...
Anyone any experience? I've got a '92 Harley FXR and a '97 Sporty, both have stood up well to the ravages of time (despite living outside on Ilfracombe sea front for a decade) and have been remarkably cheap to run, almost 100% reliable and a real pleasure to own and ride. Used for local runs and trips abroad, one up lane scratching and two up touring etc. Unfortunately, due to health, I no longer find either of them particularly comfortable. The old California looks like a possible replacement but I'm biased (memories of old V50s and Ducati Pantahs) against Italian levels of quality, parts prices etc., any thoughts from owners/ex owners? I know I could ask on a Guzzi forum but it'll be full of Guzzi fans! Cheers.
Anyone any experience? I've got a '92 Harley FXR and a '97 Sporty, both have stood up well to the ravages of time (despite living outside on Ilfracombe sea front for a decade) and have been remarkably cheap to run, almost 100% reliable and a real pleasure to own and ride. Used for local runs and trips abroad, one up lane scratching and two up touring etc. Unfortunately, due to health, I no longer find either of them particularly comfortable. The old California looks like a possible replacement but I'm biased (memories of old V50s and Ducati Pantahs) against Italian levels of quality, parts prices etc., any thoughts from owners/ex owners? I know I could ask on a Guzzi forum but it'll be full of Guzzi fans! Cheers.
Unfortunately not able to get comfy on a Le Mans (or anything with a sporty riding position), rode a Mk1 and a Mk4 many moons back and enjoyed both. Funnily enough tho' I've just got back from putting the Sporty through its m.o.t. and thought "why not just put up with the discomfort until I'm healthy again?", fickle as a girly!
spoodler said:
Unfortunately not able to get comfy on a Le Mans (or anything with a sporty riding position), rode a Mk1 and a Mk4 many moons back and enjoyed both. Funnily enough tho' I've just got back from putting the Sporty through its m.o.t. and thought "why not just put up with the discomfort until I'm healthy again?", fickle as a girly!
Could you get the bars changed on the xl ? Cheers for the replies, I've made a few changes to the Sporty over the years (the same with the FXR); it currently has an XR seat, XLX bars and long shox etc. and is about as comfortable as it's ever been but I'm trying to "compensate" for more than one ailment at the moment... and what's comfy for one is s
te for another. Old folk always used to tell me that health was the most important asset - it's not until you're a knackered old st that you realise the old fogeys were right! Never mind, I had fun getting to this stage...
te for another. Old folk always used to tell me that health was the most important asset - it's not until you're a knackered old st that you realise the old fogeys were right! Never mind, I had fun getting to this stage...Edited by spoodler on Thursday 2nd July 11:20
Very nice, had mine since 2002 but a few of the bits on it are from many years (ten?) earlier when I was collecting bits for a chop that never left my living room! Those bits included the wheels, plain Rev Techs, yours is the only other pair I've seen. Can't post pic's at the mo' but pic' of mine on my profile.
I'm aware of the model yours started life as but couldn't say whether I've seen one over here, when I first got into Harleys I thought an FXR was an FXR, then discovered an FXRP, and a T... and an S..... and...
Yep, mine was a "proper" FXLRC (?), cream and gold paint, extra chrome, weird speedo arrangement, 21" wire front wheel, solid rear etc. I had a previous FXLRC that I was sideswiped off, I bought back the salvage for, I think, about £500 - it was a mess - then rebuilt it using lots of the standard stuff from my current bike, and lots of second hand discarded parts that were going cheap. I then rebuilt the current bike to the spec' I wanted, again using mainly secondhand parts or aftermarket from the States - single fire, cam', Mikuni, Progressives, tank, seat, wideglide and plenty of home made bits and bobs. It handles reasonably well, lifts the front wheel when going for it, returns 60m.p.g. on a gentle run, sounds gorgeous, stops well enough...
The missus still rides the first one (despite nearly being killed on it and it being written off a second time, and rebuilt again on the cheap). If you take into account the insurance settlements the two bikes have cost less than nothing so far, to buy, own, rebuild and maintain over the past fifteen years, more like minus £5000... that's what I call budget motorcycling, not that I'd recommend it as a "business model" - it's partly why I'm suffering now!
Looking at the above, maybe I'm not a bog standard Guzzi type...
Yep, mine was a "proper" FXLRC (?), cream and gold paint, extra chrome, weird speedo arrangement, 21" wire front wheel, solid rear etc. I had a previous FXLRC that I was sideswiped off, I bought back the salvage for, I think, about £500 - it was a mess - then rebuilt it using lots of the standard stuff from my current bike, and lots of second hand discarded parts that were going cheap. I then rebuilt the current bike to the spec' I wanted, again using mainly secondhand parts or aftermarket from the States - single fire, cam', Mikuni, Progressives, tank, seat, wideglide and plenty of home made bits and bobs. It handles reasonably well, lifts the front wheel when going for it, returns 60m.p.g. on a gentle run, sounds gorgeous, stops well enough...
The missus still rides the first one (despite nearly being killed on it and it being written off a second time, and rebuilt again on the cheap). If you take into account the insurance settlements the two bikes have cost less than nothing so far, to buy, own, rebuild and maintain over the past fifteen years, more like minus £5000... that's what I call budget motorcycling, not that I'd recommend it as a "business model" - it's partly why I'm suffering now!
Looking at the above, maybe I'm not a bog standard Guzzi type...
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