New Tonti frame 03 Cali for me?

[Sempervee1]

My GF thinks I am a bit round the bend wanting to get an (another even older Guzzi)  EVEN older 2003 Cali touring after all the work I put in on my 07 Norge.  I know little to nothing about the Tonti world.  Looking at picking up 03 Cali touring with floor boards and bags from Original owner that has been sitting unused for 7-8 years with about 25K miles.  Speedo is broke as is the norm from what i understand.  ** Easier to work on then Norge?   How is overall reliability compared to the CARC models?  I am a GuzziDiag kinda guy and love the idea of FI, tubeless tires and floorboards again for comfort.  My Norge is not as comfy as I once was with this "older" body of mine.  I asked for service records and proof of the recall on Hydro valve.  I know little else at the moment.

 

[audiomick]

First of all, I don't have any direct experience with the California models. Nevertheless..

I'm active in a German Guzzi forum, and read nearly everything that gets posted there. More than once, I've seen the Cali EV described as the best of them all. It is "the pinnacle" of a long line of constant developement over several decades, if you like. The motor got spruced up a bit more for the Sport 1100 and V11 models, and the CARC models were, to an extent, the start of a new chapter.

The Tonti frame means that, even though it is a chopper, it has the same genes as all of those legendary sport models like the V7 Sport and the first round of Le Mans models. It is allegedly a chopper that can really go round corners, unlike most other "cruiser" brands.

My impression is that it should be a little lighter on the maintenance side of things than the CARC models, but I don't think there is much in it. As far as I can tell, reliability should be good if the maintenance has all been done. You might have a few issues initially with aged rubber bits if it has been sitting around for a while, but then again, you might get lucky. That's the same for any older vehicle that has not been used much for a few years.

If you think California Dreaming is the way to go for you, I'd say "go for it". The California riders in the German forum all absolutely love them.

Edited October 11 by audiomick

[Sempervee1]

Thanks for your input.  I am a bit intrigued with the idea of owning one, always have been.

Edited October 11 by Sempervee1

[docc]

26 minutes ago, Sempervee1 said:

Thanks for your input.  I am a bit intrigued with the idea of owning one, always have been.

Let's ask the other inmates on the ward if this really crazy.     

[Sempervee1]

Seems that there being 3 fixes for a valve problem that simply did not need to be hydraulic since adjusting is so simple.  Why it was over in 2 years of making.

[Tomchri]

1976 California T3, it had start growing on me, maybe in 10years  . A bike looking that way,never caught my eyes before. No, for real must be a comfy bike exept for the cost on new boards some times.  Pretty cruiser. Go for it, and let’s here what you think.

Cheers Tom.