Moto Guzzi California Vintage Day 3 — Cool vs. “Checkbook Cool”

This is the third in a series of articles about living with and riding a California Vintage from Moto Guzzi.  The previous one is here.

Looking for a Cool Cruiser or Big Bagger?  The California Vintage is “Seriously Cool”

Cool is Fonzi before the Shark Tank.  Cool is James Bond before Roger Lazenby.  Ford before the Pinto.  The Blues Brothers before Belushi died.

While it is most definitely true that some people that ride motorcycles from “The Motorcycle Company” are cool, it’s not because they own Harleys.  They are cool AND they chose to ride Harleys.  But there are people that are cool and they choose to ride Vespas.  The issue here is the great number of people that buy Harleys and other “lifestyle” motorcycles because it will make them cool.  This is “checkbook cool”. No work needed, just add money and you’re cool.

To whom?  Well, definitely to other people that did the same thing and wrote a check. After all, one chink in the armor there, and the whole house of cards could come crashing down!  If, all of a sudden, object that everyone was spending all their money on to be cool all of a sudden isn’t cool anymore, then the now familiar “bubble” in that particular “market for cool” would burst, and you’d have a lot of equipment and associated bits flooding the market, and everyone would be trying to get something else that is cool.  A classic example of this is the Ferrari market just after Enzo died.  It went through the ceiling, then burst as speculators paying exorbitant prices couldn’t find anyone to purchase, and dumping began that, nearly 20 years later, only has about 50-75% of the values at that point.

I’m not saying that the Harley market is going to crash.  I’m also not insinuating that people will stop buying cruisers.  My point is, buy something based on facts, what YOU want, and consider all options.  Too often, I’ll be talking to people that want to get a cruiser, perhaps their first one, and they are fixated on the Harley, and ONLY the Harley.  Sometimes you’ll have the Yamaha, Suzuki, Victory or others in the mix, but I don’t hear anyone saying, “What about that big Guzzi“, or “I considered the Guzzi but want the Roadliner“, etc.  The California Vintage isn’t on their radar.  Why?  Lack of logo underwear?  No lifestyle?  What!

The Guzzi is a great bagger for the serious rider.

Guzzi gets in the magazines, but the European editor of one of these really doesn’t like anything without 150 horsepower or a Munich nameplate, and just continuously “bags” on Guzzi to the US public.  Shame on him.  The Guzzi is well-suited to the US buyer and market.  Big, long roads, lots of friends with bikes, a loyal following and a requirement for reliability.  The California Vintage is a freeking bargain.  If you were to load up any other cruiser with great bags, custom seats, windscreen, sportbike-level front fork and adjustable rear shocks,

–you’d be lucky to get under $20-22,000.  

Yet, here’s your California Vintage, with an incredible seat, best-of-breed suspension, mongo bags and nicely integrated screen on the basic platform, standard, for $15K.  Some editors lump it against the sportster because of its weight and engine size, but the real comparison is the big baggers. If your idea of cool is:

• Light and maneuverable
• Reliable
• Heritage and Style without too much bling
• Comfortable Two-Up seating, but not barcalounger
• 43mpg
• Something Different
• An incredibly open and friendly owners’ group
• You want a great commuter cruiser.
• Oh, and you aren’t buying a hangar queen.  You’re hittin’ the road!

If you think the above list defines “your cool” —

You should consider the Guzzi.  You should ride the California Vintage and see if it’s for you.  Find out when the dealer is going to have rides available and get on the bike.  Fill up the bags.  Bring the white helmet and sunglasses, and you’re CHP – 1972.  Retro with some serious riding chops, that’s the California Vintage.  The California Vintage leaps into the modern world from 1972 like Bob Beaman’s long jump.  It may not be your bike, but it’s worth your consideration.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Your First “Big” Cruiser

I’m going to go out on a limb here and recommend the California Vintage if you’ve never had a bagger before.  Reason for this is that it’s light.  Some of the really big bikes are incredibly difficult to get in and out of parking spaces, let alone get around parking lots.  They are not easy to get the hang of, and can be downright dangerous to someone that doesn’t have a lot of experience, or doesn’t ride much.  The Guzzi is well-suited because it’s conservative geometry and low center of gravity allow a less-experienced rider to easily get around a parking lot, and build serious confidence on the open road.  Sweepers and bumpy turns become no big deal in no time, and the linked brakes and featherweight controls allow the rider to stop on a piece of newspaper.

It’s a very easy bike to ride, but if you ride a lot, it’s very rewarding as you’ll just be able to DUST some of the big cruisers through the twisties.  They may pass you as they blow by at 130mph, but if you’re like me, that just doesn’t matter, as I don’t ride much with anyone that is trying to die or attract too much attention from John Q. Law. The Cal is your friendly neighborhood happy speed bike that is the cruiser that sport bike and sport-touring types should buy.  It’s the cruiser for the rider that is going to reel in some big miles next year.

Next post — Comparing the California Vintage with the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail.