Moto Guzzi California Jackal reviews

I had wanted a Cali Touring for about ten years but my Triumph Thunderbird 1600 was just such a great bike I could not dream of parting ways with the incredible pull of that big reliable parallel twin... FInally in the tenth year I noticed the value of the T bird dropping fast and said well it is time SO I sold the moist trouble-free bike I had ever owned and stepped into Italian ground! It just so happenned that I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic It is not a Jackal it is a California Touring with windshield and hard bags, cruise, three engine maps, but there was no choice for the Touring: Leukemia at Stage 4 so the Guzzi was on hold - maybe permanently! Well I ended uo feeling better and on the day of the first negativ biopsy I ordered a Nero Gentleman (Black and Gold) from a dealer in TX who had a leftover 2018 with 1 mike on the clock and had it shipped to NJ... I don't recommend the shipping bit. Some do it flawlessly and some are shady...My bike arrived without mirrors and with a cracked right plastic wind deflector...the dealer showed me photos of a perfect bike leaving the dealership... Anyway the damn thing rode and handled like a sport bike! A 730 lb sport bike... 70 in twisties was a joy to behold! BUT it IS TOP HEAVY be forewanred!! I tried a slow 12 mph turn at an intersection and the bike could not negotiate it at that speed and went wide... I struck an SUV just enough to push me down and the bike landed with full weight on my right leg breaking the Tibia and Fibulla.. I am just learning to walk again... this happened SEP 4, 2021 today is March 18 2022... Take a slow rider coourse and master this animal or beware its bite! Show less

I've had many bikes over the last 32 years, from the Honda CB200 to the BMW R1150GS. Until owning my Special Sport I've never owned one for more than a couple of years and most of them, not even one. I do thousands of miles, so I soon get to know my bikes. I usually pick them for distance work, so there are a few features I must have but not without compromise. I soon get to know them and because I like to 'crack on' I soon get to know their limits too. So, with some authority on the subject, I'd like to say a few words about my special sport. I've had it for three and a half years now and I've no intention of ever selling it, so that tells you something. Here are some bullets: It's not the fastest but it can easily break the law in any gear, regardless of load. It's sublimely comfortable and stays comfortable for hours. It has the most natural seating position of any bike I've ever seen, let alone owned. It's reliable as long it's properly maintained; it has never let me down. It's economical at 45 miles per English gallon, no matter how I ride and because it sounds so amazing, I tend to get on with my rides. It can take as much luggage as any other bike I've owned, including the GS and with much less impact on handling. It handles unbelievably well for a bike of it's style and I've surprised many sports bike riders on it. It looks stunning (most of the time) and it's timeless, so ther's no worry about looking out of date (if that matters to you). It's very easy maintenance and cheap to do. I do all my own, so it's really cheap and I know exactly what's been done (You can't trust many humans when it comes to money). It'll bob across fields loaded with camping gear with no problem, as long as it's dry and because my feet can rest flat on the ground, I feel very confident fully loaded, off and on road. I can move it around easily straddled across it and because of the excellent side stand, I don't worry about how and what I'm parking on. I get all the protection I need from its simple screen, though I usually don't have one at all; only during the bug season(Yuck!). It's an absolutely perfect bike for me and ticks most of the boxes, most of the time. Downers: It's a pig to clean and because the materials used to build it aren't so good, cleaning better be something you don't neglect. I've had my wheels replaced with stailess ones and I've reworked the electrics for English weather. I've also got rid of the grey paint on the diff and coated it with black, smooth Amarite. Looks great! Things have fallen off it in the past. The naff chrome look plastic bits on the mud guards have long gone but I've replaced them with real McCoy. At tickover, the engine sounds like a bag of bolts but I know there's nothing wrong. Apparently it's just the way they are but I'm determined to sort that out later this year. In one word though, this bike has something in bucket loads that makes it stand out from the rest; heart. I love it. Show less

I have been riding for over 35 years. My favorite bikes were the BMW GS 1100, Harley FLHT, Yamaha TDM, and Suzuki V-Strom. Well, I now have a new favorite. I purchased a 2002 Guzzi Special Sport a year ago from a little man that complained the stiff suspension caused him pain. It was perfect for my 250 pound butt! This is a do anything bike. It handles like a sport bike, and will run away from my son on his Ninja on mountain roads. It is a better touring bike than the FLHT, plus it is faster. It gets the same gas mileage as my wifes 450 Nighthawk. It is a better off road bike that my V-Strom or GS 1100. I am selling all my other bikes as I spend 90% of my riding time on the Goose. My Special Sport tips the scales at 545 pounds, but feels it weighs only 350. Folks, this is the perfect all around motorcycle. Never any problems at all. Show less

Purchased this bike in 2005, only had 141 miles on it. Have owned all types of bikes throughout my long 52 yr life. Great all around bike. A tremendous bang for the buck value. Handles very well in curves. Am loving every minute riding it. Distinctive looks and great engine sound. Can not say enough about it. Show less

I GREW UP ON HARLEYS. OVER THE YEARS, HARLEYS CHANGED AND HARLEY RIDERS CHANGED. BACK IN THE DAY HARLEYS WERE SPECIAL. NO MORE NOW - THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO I GOT MYSELF A GUZZI STONE. WHAT A BIKE! THE PRICE WAS RIGHT, THE BIKE WENT AS FAST AS I COULD STAND, AND I WOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO RIDE FROM WASHINGTON TO NEW YORK. I TELL YOU THE BIKE LOOKS GREAT, IT RUNS GREAT, AND IT GET LOOKS EVERY WHERE I GO. I HAVE A HARLEY AND IT IS ALSO A GOOD BIKE BUT THE BIKES ARE NOT THE SAME. IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO THINK YOU ARE A BAD ASS, GET A HARLEY. IF YOU WANT A BIKE FOR THE PURE MOTORCYCLIST, GET A GUZZI. YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE GUZZI! Show less

I bought my Guzzi three and a half years ago after 20+ years of no riding. I was attracted to the uniqueness and Italian style, as well as a heritage that matches any other brand. I have been thoroughly pleased with nearly all aspects of the ride. I get very favorable comments nearly every time anyone sees it. Whether it's young kids, middle aged women in SUVs, hot rodders, or tourists, they all say 'what a cool ride'. I ride every day from April through October and weekends during the remainder of the year. It has only let me down once when my battery died. Otherwise it is extremely reliable and solid. The performance is very good and rarely have I wished for more. This bike is very flexible. I have gone on many errands picking up all kinds of large items. I have a backrest/rack that handles everything. In fact, I occasionally look like I'm in Thailand with a week's worth of groceries on the back. The only complaints are clutch adjustment, speedo cable, and slow parts delivey. Other than that, it is an excellent and unique motorcycle. I could take it to 100k miles and I couldn't be more pleased. Show less

The Stone just turned over 8000 miles. The tail light assembly was replaced under warranty. The engine ticks a little sometimes but runs better now then when it was new. I really like this bike a lot! My BMW is a better motorcycle but I like my Stone more. Bike uses no oil between changes. I'm running Shell Rotella 5w-40 and UFI filter. Next summer I'll run 15w-50 oil in it for the hot weather. Alaska Leather sheepskin makes the seat bearable now. Show less

I can not beleive Harley can stay in bussiness, while these bikes are available, everything that Harleys need is on these, great performance, brakes (once you get used to them} handling in a pretty package, A real class Bike Show less

I got my Jackal in Sept 03. I bought it from a woman in Glenwood Springs, CO she brought it to KS for me. I got this bike ready to ride with a full fairing type windshield by National Cycle and it came with the detachable OEM hardbags. She even threw in some heated grips that I installed, they're nice to have on chilly days. I am really glad I bought this bike. The Guzzi's are great handling bikes, it is a true sports cruiser or as close to a sport touring bike that gives you the best of both the cruiser and sport bike worlds. I have friends that have cruisers and I wanted one, but didn't want to give up the handling. When I test rode a left over Jackal at the local dealer here in Wichita, I fell in love with the bike. I want to put a touring seat on it like the EV has. I feel it will make it more comfortable on long trips. It's red and I am glad because people check it out all the time because of its "bobber" styling and retro looks. The brembo brakes work great, even the rear one will slow you down on it's own. The engine has good grunt to get you going and the bike does seem to cruise great around 80mph. Lately I was considering getting a new Harley Sportster XL1200R with the new rubber mounted engine, but I just can't part with my Jackal. The previous owner rode from CO to Canada to AZ and everywhere in between without any problems. The same for me, no problems, other than I had that kickstand kill switch diabled. I am going to retro it up some more to make it look like a vintage bike. I really considered sending it to Mark Ethridge of Moto Guzzi Classic in CA to have it converted to look like the El Dorado of the early 70's. The El Dorado's were good looking bikes. The bike would be a Jackal in El Dorado clothing. If you want a cruiser that handles like a sport tourer, has great OEM add on accessories, and sounds great with the right pipes, the Jackal could well be the bike you have been looking for. Besides why own a "cookie cutter" bike when you can have something everyone else doesn't have and still get the respect of the hard core harley owners, because the Guzzi is one of the original cruisers that have been around almost as long if not longer as harley and BMW. Besides if I want to go really fast that's what I got my Buell S3 for. The S3 is another story. Good riding to all. Show less

I got an excellent deal on this bike. I live in Orange Couny, CA and the local dealer is apparently the largest in the US. They bought 40 aluminums direct from Italy, so a good portion of the volumne discount was passed on to buyers. I've riden for over 10 years, and my prior bikes included a Honda CM400E (beginner bike), Honda Goldwing (drove cross country in college), and most recently a Honda Nighthawk which my brother gave to me, and I subsequently sold to help purchase the Guzzi. Part of the reason I bought this bike (other than the very good price) was the character. You can see from my past that I was a plain Jane Honda rider, and the Nighthawk is as boring as it gets, even though it's a very reliable bike. I wanted something special. I looked at Harleys, but they are a dime a dozen, and more expensive. The Guzzi aluminum/stone/titanium look is right on in my opinion, so I couldn't pass up the good deal. I've put almost two thousand miles on the bike so far. It has performed without problems. I bought the sport windshield and it's very good at keeping wind off your chest, plus it doesn't ruin the look of the bike. I also purchased the passenger back rest, and it's especially nice since it has passenger hand rails. Next I will get the center stand, which will make it easier to clean (polishing the back rim is a pain when you can't twirl the wheel). The heated grips will probably come after that at some point. The side leather bags are very expensive at around $800, so I'll probably pass on those. I bought a $100 4-piece touring set that I can attach to the back rest so I'm all set for light touring. The ride is on the sporty side and the bike has very good clearance. The disadvantage of this bike vs. the touring Guzzi's is that the rear shock is not adjustable. I would like the ability to 'futz' around with it a bit, but it's really not that bad. Plus, Guzzi does have a "king and queen" touring seet on their web site that I might look into, although it costs about $500 and is intended for the touring Guzzi's (although my dealer said he could install it on the Aluminum). My only gripes are the following:

Sometimes the gas cap is difficult to remove. I believe this is called "vapor lock", and it may only affect bikes in California due to emissions requirements. Apparently there is a way to fix this and I'll need to do more research. It would suck to get stranded because you can't fill up, although I've always been able to remove it after some struggling.

For some reason the tachometer fogs up after riding a few minutes, then it goes away. This doesn't happen to the speedometer, which has the same type of housing. Very odd, but not a big deal.

The clutch is a bit tempermental at times, but I've heard it gets better over time, and it's not bad by any means. I guess I'm used to the Japanese shifters which are a bit more predictable. I've found that using the heal shifter is very useful, and it's convenient as well since you can just stomp on it. At first I thought I wouldn't like the heel/toe shifter but I've grown to like it.

The fuel light comes on too early (I think). Supposedly it's a 5 gallon tank, but my fuel light comes on after about 120 miles. When I fill up the tank it takes over 2 gallons. One of these days I'll carry a can of gas with me and find out the true range of the tank. A fuel light coming on with over 2 gallons in the tank seems a bit early to me. Well, that's about it. It's a good looking, torquey, sporty, great handling, character filled bike with shaft drive and fuel injection, at a great price (at least for me). And the best part is there isn't one at every corner. Thumbs up!

Show less