2007 Moto Guzzi California Vintage

I bought my Guzzi late last summer on a whim after a couple of years of online and showroom study of many makes of motorcycles. In the first few weeks I had to have it towed to the shop after it stalled on the highway; it seems that fuel lines were not suited for the ethanol we use in our fuel here ... in the US.

I priced Harley, Suzuki, Honda, Victory and on and on, comparing each bike to what I wanted in my new commuter and the California beat them all hands down, price, reliability and quality.

I ride my Guzzi most every day to the office and have more than 20k on the odometer now and I must say I have loved every inch I placed on the road.

There is ample space for anything I need to carry from my wife or daughter to the groceries I pick up on the way home from work.

I read a post earlier on the 09 Guzzi that was sputtering when it was cold, mine did the same before the fuel lines were changed...

The one thing that I love about the Guzzi beyond the style is that I am able to see ahead in traffic and in the hot Texas sun it is always a comfortable ride.

This is not my first bike, I have owned 3 Harley's in my life and I now proudly park my Guzzi next to my all original 1973 Sportster 1000 in the garage at night.

Well, I have passed the 300 mile mark on the odometer and here's what I think so fare about this beauty: first, I am 6 foot tall and seem to fit perfect on this bike. The windshield does a good job and is not too big. The tachometer is handy and I try to keep the engine revs at 2800 rpm or higher ... where it seems to like it. You can feel and hear extra power roll on at 4000 rpm, but have not pushed too far past 4500 since it is new. Adjustments to the front forks are easy and can be done while riding. I have done this to help smooth out rough sections of road. Brakes (Brembo) are very strong and easy to control. The foot pedal controls front and rear brakes at the same time and took a little getting used to, but feels natural now. The heel and toe shifter also took some getting used to and is also natural now. Handles like a sport bike and is easier to manage than you might think. The side bags tilt forward to open, but don't have a linkage or strap to limit how far they open, so I have learned to be careful not to let go or they fall over onto the bar in front of them (I'm a little disappointed with the plastic hinge on these and some day may try to replace it with a proper chrome one that won't fall open all the way). Overall, I really love this motorcycle and plan to keep it for as long as I can ride.