Motorcycle.com

It's All In The Dealer

I ORDERED my 2009 California Vintage ("CalVin") through the local dealer (MPH Cycles) sight-unseen. MPH is reputedly one of the best Guzzi dealers in the country. Price wasgood, too, as they didin't have to floor-plan it.

Now have nearly 2000 miles completely trouble-free, mostly commuter... miles.

The popular saying amongst Guzzi owners is that the first 5,000 miles is troublesome, but the next 100,000 will be trouble-free. I believe I lucked-out with both a good specimen and a great dealer, so I may have skipped-over the troublesome parts.

Re: problems in previous posts:
Lean running at start-up: check with the dealer for a revised computer "map". MPH remapped mine at prep.
Electrical problems: many of these are traceable to poor prep at a mediocre dealer, and loose connectors or bad switches.

Generally, this is a fantastic motorcyle IF you get it from an excellent dealer. Hang around the service folks at your dealer. If they aren't exceptionally qualified, go someplace else. Read Full Review

Guzzi Displeasure

I purchase my 2009 Cal Vin with great optimism. Unfortunatley, I've had mine in the shop three times in 8 months; all electrical and quality problems. The ride is not that great as I read and heard. Performance in not...lacks power and throttle response. The bike is not very nimble or rider frie...ndly to me. I am six feet all and my knees hit the cyclinder pads and my feet have no room to move on the left floorboard. Service is hard to locate if you're not in a big city. Mabye I just got a lemon? Then again, maybe i did not. Read Full Review

California Vintage--Problem

I've put 1,500 miles on my new California Vintage, and I'm disturbed by how poorly it continues to perform when cold. For the first ten minutes of riding in 50-60 degree weather, it hesitates and sputters when I lay on the throttle, sometimes to the point of almost dying. Sadly, it accelerates mor...e slowly than a VW bug.

After ten minutes of riding, the performance improves remarkably.

I've had the bike in the shop twice now for diagnostics, and the mechanics are stupefied.

Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Thanks,
wrypfeiffer@aol.com Read Full Review

Junk

I bought this bike online for a reasonable price.[from a very reputable dealer].He promised a money back satisfaction guarantee.It was shipped to my house,and was absolutely beautiful...end of love affair.The tach didn*t work,I took it out for a 10 mile drive,and found the left rear turn signal hang...ing by the wires.there were numerous loose nuts and bolts.The right panier was put together with screws that didn*t even thread into the retaining nuts.The clutch lever had 3/4 inches of play..on and on and on...It always smelled of gas as well.I used to ride a 78 Guzzi t3..and had no..zero..issues whatsoever.The Califonia Vintage was a huge letdown...full of bugs and pathetic quality control.BUYER BEWARE.I was lucky.My dealer gave me a full refund. Read Full Review

My Lemon?

I have been a Guzzi *freak* for 20 years.I decided to by me a brand new 2009[in 2011],and really treat myself.Well,it was a nightmare.First to say,I tried out my buddy*s guzzi..the same bike[ cal vintage.].,and wasn*t really sure if I liked the overall feel....but I figured it was just the typical e...ccentric thing that you get used to.Wrong.The tach never worked,nuts and bolts were loose everywhere,the shift lever was difficult to use..very poor design....quality was very poor,and any warranty work would require a 4 hr drive each way,as all guzzi dealers in the daytpna area went belly up.No wonder..this was a piece of junk,or did I get a lemon....the dealer gave me a full refund...never again.I am now in the process of restoring my 78 Guzzi T3...a really nice bike. Read Full Review