The review seems to accord with other reviews I've read on the new Norge. Everyone seems to be generally impressed with the engine and chassis tweaks but they all note that the seating ergos will not accommodate long legs. However, slightly disappointed that the vid did not really get out of the burbs and into a true sport touring environment.
S
'Its a fine, fine line between pleasure and pain.' Chrissie Amphlett (RIP)
The Norge 8V or 4V or whatever they have chosen to call it. (God alone knows why they can't settle on a single designation for all the models with the 4 VPC engine!?!) deserves the accolades because it is stellar bike. Really good. It's a joy to ride and simple to work on compared to the earlier models. Why anybody would buy a shitbox BMW that looks like it fell out of an Ikea catalog in prefference I have no idea!
Needless to say all the corn-cob-pipists are getting their panties in a wad over the Cali 1400 prototype which IMHO is quite possibly the ugliest bike ever to leave Mandello and that incliudes the 4V-V75 of the mid eighties which had all the glamour and sex appeal of a broken beer fridge! Why, when there is the new Norge I have no idea??? I think I'd rather stick boiling acid down the end of my dick than be seen out on something like the Cali 1400! I hope they sell squillions of 'em and can't keep up with demand but in all likelyhood after all the hullabaloo about it the curmudgeons and stinges who have been waiting for it for years to replace their poor, tired, worn-out old Cali EV's will baulk at the price, compalin it doesn't come with a Vetter fairing and a stereo and moan about it not having points and carbs.
Fucking hopeless......
Pete
Professional Goat Burster.
Boiling acid down your dick? Now, now.
Bikes:
2007.5 Tuono-Black, with 1102cc's of micah's badness!
2012 Griso-Silver and black, Agostini pipe, some carbon bits.
2006 Vespa GT200-bitubo suspension all around, Malossi big-bore, head and cam, Akrapovic pipe, all put together by Micah.
gone 2002 Caponord-Oyster gray (as faithful as a hound dog)
gone Futura-Red (on the AF1 showroom floor. Get some.)
The more I learn about people, the more I appreciate rocks.
Pete, you rock.
I think you should use my avatar photo too.
As for the Norge and the 1400 Cali - I want both. I will have to choose one. And since I am paying the Federal gov some taxes I don't have to make that decision now.
Ho Hum.
DM
#1 Forum Magic Missile Caster
"Every day is a good day for pie" - jrflanne
"Good things come to those who go the fuck out and earn it" - Mardoch
1984 Moto Guzzi V65
1988 Yamaha FZ750 rat bike
I sat on one of these back in 08 at the Chicago show, this model looks much better. I'm 6'2" so I don't think I would fit it well though based on what I have seen and read.Originally Posted by TheSwede
I think I have to agree with you, it looks like a generation 1 or 2 prototype. The kind you can and start all over on.
But maybe it can be rescued; I think the horizontal floorboords, black cylinders and the bench like saddle are especially high on the "made in a shed" scale. Fix that and maybe it will be better.
But I still don't get how you're suppose to ride it, it looks painful to sit on. Anything above 50 mph looks like you'll blow off, your legs are going to be sticking out at a 90 degree angle.
Hey!
did I detect ABS on this test machine?? The Norge.
I do want ABS!
DM
"Every day is a good day for pie" - jrflanne
"Good things come to those who go the fuck out and earn it" - Mardoch
1984 Moto Guzzi V65
1988 Yamaha FZ750 rat bike
the 1400 it'll be marketed to the cruiser crowd and they don't usually go above 50 mph, so....
-Randall
.....Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed
Not even vaguely interested in the Cali cruiser, but I really like the Norge and the gen 3 Stelvio.
S
'Its a fine, fine line between pleasure and pain.' Chrissie Amphlett (RIP)
I want a bike with a flat seat to suit my wife. She HATES stepped seats so she does NOT like Bandit 1250's. Which I think would be a fine bike for us. Oh well.
I prefer BIG torquey twins. that can make my wife happy too. Yes, this new Cali is rather ugly but it's a Guzzi, it's a twin and it has a flat seat that would make my wife happy. So I can merge onto the freeway like I'm getting launched off an aircraft carrier.
And I would expect the Cali to corner good enough for me to ride in the mountains to my hearts desire.
DM
"Every day is a good day for pie" - jrflanne
"Good things come to those who go the fuck out and earn it" - Mardoch
1984 Moto Guzzi V65
1988 Yamaha FZ750 rat bike
Yupp - Norge & Stelvio now have ABS as standard.
1200 Breva & Sport has it as an option.
I like the POV camera during this review. It says a lot more about the bike than a series of beauty shots of someone going around corners. I also like that he spent time on local roads & the highway. As someone pointed out above, some shots of really good roads would have been good to mix in.
2010 Triumph Tiger 1050
2002 Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans
2008 SportCity 250ie
1999 Honda XR70r
--
That is very good to know.
I am not the "Young Turk" I once was. My last "off" got me five fractured ribs.
ABS suits me peachy.
DM
"Every day is a good day for pie" - jrflanne
"Good things come to those who go the fuck out and earn it" - Mardoch
1984 Moto Guzzi V65
1988 Yamaha FZ750 rat bike
Ouch.
Yeah I like ABS too, if something comes up in front you can just pull the lever and stamp on the pedal and you know the bike will slow as fast as possible.
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