2015–2021 · Tourer · A variant of the California 1400 Touring
Differences between the standard California 1400 Touring and the SE
Italian Soul, American Road
The California 1400 Touring SE is Moto Guzzi's flagship cruiser dressed for the long road, and it is built around the biggest engine the factory has ever made. The 1380 cc transverse 90° V-twin is air/oil-cooled, runs four valves per cylinder and twin spark plugs, and sits in a steel double-cradle frame on elastic mounts. It makes 96 hp and 89 lb-ft at just 3,000 rpm, and a shaft takes that to the rear wheel. Floorboards, a patrol-style screen, integrated panniers and deep chrome set the tone. ABS, three-level traction control, cruise control and three ride modes (Veloce, Turismo, Pioggia) keep it current.
On the road it chooses composure over urgency. The torque comes in low, the big twin settles into a steady rhythm, and at highway speed the bike stays planted in a way that makes long days feel short. It is not a machine for chasing numbers. It's for the rider who wants a touring bike with a pulse of its own and is happy to spend years getting to know it. The honest caveat is in the details. Check the exhaust crossover pipe and the headlight wiring.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 96 hp (71 kW) @ 6,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1380 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 130/70-18 |
| Rear tire | 200/60-16 |
| Wheelbase | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
| Seat height | 29.1 in (740 mm) |
| Wet weight | 743 lb (337 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.4 gal (20.5 L) |
| Top speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
I've heard a lot about the California 1400 over the years. Some of it came from paddock conversations and club nights, some from long talks with owners, and a good share from the messages riders send me after a season or a few thousand miles on one. The pattern is steady. Owners praise the engine, the comfort and how well it handles for its size, and most of the complaints are about heat and weight.
Riders praise the engine more than anything else on the bike. They consistently call it smooth once it's off idle, with enough pull from 2,000 rpm that they rarely need to shift, and they say long highway runs are almost free of buzz. Comfort comes up nearly as often, much of it from couples. Two-up owners mention a plush seat, roomy floorboards for both people, a screen that keeps the wind off without buffeting, and suspension that makes long days easy. Many also talk about the build: the metalwork, the sculpted tank and a fit and finish they rank with premium brands.
Owners repeatedly say the bike steers lighter than it looks once it's moving. The wide bar helps, and the chassis feels rigid and well damped on twisty roads. Most describe cornering clearance as generous for a cruiser, though one Touring owner says the footboards touch down early when pushing the pace. Riders trust the brakes just as much and call them powerful and progressive, with ABS and traction control behind them. Several also point out that ride-by-wire, three ride modes and cruise control came standard at a time when rivals charged extra for them or didn't offer them at all.
The same few complaints come up again and again. In slow traffic, at stops and on warm days, the cylinders throw heat onto the rider's shins and knees, and some owners single out the right leg. Weight is the other one. Riders say it takes care at walking pace, and that the mass limits how sporty it can feel.
Exhaust crossover pipe cracking
The crossover pipe connecting the two headers can crack or break, typically between 6,000 and 15,000 miles. Owners report needing to replace or weld the part. Aftermarket replacements are available.
Headlight wiring short
Poorly routed wiring can chafe against the frame, causing a short and headlight failure. Requires professional rewiring, with reported repair costs around $600.
Where this Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the California 1400 Touring is actually built for.
If the ritual and the sound matter to you, this big Italian bagger stands out in any row of parked twins. It's a deliberate, individual choice, not the herd pick.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Stability at speed, cruise control, real luggage and a low, relaxed seat make big days easy. For heavy loads, only the rear shock adjusts, and plan fuel stops around a 5.4 gal (20.5 L) tank.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It will carry you through a 300-mile day of scenery in comfort, but it's a heavy cruiser, not a sport tourer. If you like a relaxed flow through the bends, it fits.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
