Moto Guzzi announced the all new California 1400 Custom and Touring models will land at American dealerships on April 15. The 2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring will be priced at $17,990 while the Custom version will be available for $14,990. The two new models form the centerpiece for the Piaggio Group‘s efforts to reinvigorate the Moto Guzzi brand. The company has even enlisted actor Ewan McGregor to be the new face of the California 1400 in Moto Guzzi’s new “My Bike, My Pride” global ad campaign.

Check back with us soon for Tom Roderick‘s review of the 2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom as well as his interview with Miguel Galuzzi, head of Piaggio‘s new design center in Pasadena, Calif.

Billed by Moto Guzzi as the most technologically-advanced cruisers on the market today, the California 1400 models are equipped with the latest electronics technology from the Piaggio, normally seen on the Group’s sportbikes and adventure-tourers. The California 1400s come equipped with ride-by-wire technology offering three ride modes, a three-level traction control system and cruise control. Continue Reading »

Norton Motorcycles has received approval from the California Air Resources Board for its Commando 961 lineup. The 2013 Norton Commando 961 SE, Café Racer, Sport and SF (Sport Factory) are now certified for the state of California.

All Norton Commando models are powered by 961cc parallel twin engines. The air-cooled SE, Café Racer and Sport models claim 89 hp at 7700 rpm and 59 ft-lb. at 6000 rpm while the air/oil-cooled SF model recently unveiled at the NEC Motorcycle Live Show in the U.K. claims 89 hp at 6500 rpm and 66 ft-lb. at 5200 rpm.

All four models use twin 320mm front disc brakes from and four-piston calipers from Brembo, but all except the Sport model use radial-mount calipers. Brembo also supplies a 220mm disc and two-piston calipers for the rear brake. Continue Reading »

Photographs of the final production touring version of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 have emerged, just days before the bagger’s impending debut at the 2012 EICMA show.

The 2013 Moto Guzzi California 1400 will come equipped with ride-by-wire throttle, switchable maps, ABS, traction control and cruise control, making it perhaps the most technologically-advanced Moto Guzzi ever developed.

Powering the California 1400 is an air/oil-cooled 1380cc V-Twin engine mounted longitudinally in Moto Guzzi fashion. The engine is based on the previous California’s engine, but with a larger bore and the same stroke. The engine has a claimed output of 95 hp at 6500 rpm and 88.5 ft-lb. at 2750 rpm. Power is delivered through a six-speed transmission along a shaft drive to the rear wheel. Continue Reading »

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently received a personal demonstration of Zero Motorcycles’ 2010 product line.

The Governor’s demonstration of Zero Motorcycles comes one week after the California State Government approved an all-new statewide rebate program that provides consumers with a greater incentive to purchase an electric motorcycle. The rebate gives consumers $1500 off the purchase of either a Zero S or DS motorcycle. When consumers combine this with the Federal Tax Credit the total cost savings is $2500.

“Zero electric motorcycles are very important technology and this is great for California because this is an ideal place to ride motorcycles,” says Governor Schwarzenegger. “I love the financial side of these motorcycles because they cost less then one cent per mile to operate and you get a 10% federal tax credit plus a California rebate of $1,500. That equates to a 25 percent price reduction making these electric motorcycles affordable for anybody, and Zero Motorcycles has developed the type of technology that will save us all by reducing greenhouse gasses while utilizing renewable energy.”

If contemporary society has taught us anything, it is that few things are held as sacred. Shameless film and television remakes are rampant while musicians sample (steal) any beats or mixes they deem suitable that will gain their crumby creation attention. In regards to motorcycles, there are times when retro-inspired modern engineered creations work, like the Triumph Thruxton for instance. Then there are times when they don’t, such as the case with the Confederate B120 Wraith.

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Several new laws have been passed in the California Legislature and ratified by Governor Schwarzenegger that will come into effect starting in 2009, one of which will pertain to motorcycles.

The definition of a motorcycle has been expanded to include three-wheeled vehicles; they now have access to the high-occupancy lanes regardless of occupancy. The new designation will also delete the weight limitation and the separate definition of electric motorcycles to officially include them under the new motorcycle definition.