Moto Guzzi California Jackal reviews

This is an update of a review I posted in late 2002. I have had my 2003 Stone Metal since August 2002 and now have ~7700 miles on the odometer. The bike has been an absolute joy, trouble free and runs like a scalded dog! As the miles pass, the transmission/clutch, which started out somewhat notchy, has started to smooth out quite nicely. The bike runs perfectly, braking is excellent and handling is excellent as well. I have added the Guzzi Stone Touring windshield, some soft luggage from motorbags.com and highway bars/pegs from mgcycle.com and the bike is a pleasure for touring use. It's also a great around town bike and I ride it to work daily, weather permitting(damned Nebraska winters!!) All in all, it's a fantastic bike and I can't see myself ever parting with it. It does everything I want it to do and does it very well. chris in omaha Show less

its a good bike, light, awesome breaks, confortable (only for the rider) it gets about 130 miles an hour (great)!!!! i beat many harleys with this baby. (about 90hp). affordable price! buy it. Show less

Recently I moved to a farm outside of Australia's Capital Canberra,my Dyna Superglide with Progressive Springs and Koni's on the rear was not up to the secondry roads in my district.I sold the Harley and bought a Moto Guzzi Stone Metal, this bike is fantastic, excellent suspension, real brakes (plenty of kangaroos out here)and flexible power delivery one of motorcyclings best kept secret. Show less

For those of you looking to get a cruiser bike, you've got to check out a Guzzi. There are 3 makes of bikes that pass as cool (Harleys, Triumphs and Guzzies). All the Japanese bikes just don't have the soul that warrants respect on the road. With that in mind, this is the bike (Jackal or Stone) you need if you want a mix between cruiser and sport. I've had mine for a year now and it's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. It's cool. It's different. It's respected (even by hard core Harley owners). In fact, I think it's much cooler than a Harley because it seems that everyone and their brother now owns a Harley. And, it's a helluva lot more affordable than a Harley and more reliable than a Triumph. I know, I checked -em all out. I really like the vertical foot positioning as opposed to the way most cruisers force you to throw keep your feet way out in front of your body. (Triumph Bonnies are also vertical). It was funny to watch the Harley riders taking their driver's license road tests struggling to keep their bikes up because the only balance you have with foot-forward positioning is your head and neck! Not so with the Guzzi. I love my bike and couldn't imagine ever parting with it. If you're looking for a cool bike with Italian flash and styling and want to stand out from the croud, then look no more. Show less

Bought my California Stone metal on 8/2/02. 4 weeks and 1850 miles later, I have loved every minute of rding thus far! The bike is a blast to ride and the power just keeps building as the revs get higher. My long trip thus far was a 500 miler between Omaha and the Kansas City area...mostly interstate and she ran and handled beautifully and with great passing power. After about 300-350 miles of riding my butt got a little sore, but not too bad. The gearbox was a little notchy at first but has gotten smoother with time and miles. You learn to shift very deliberately and positively, especially early on. Average about 40 mpg, with a best tank of 42 mpg and a worst of about 38.5 mpg thus far. Seating position is pretty upright and seat height is fairly high for a cruiser styled bike at around 29 inches....more like a standard. My dealer, Baxter Cycle is Marne Iowa, has been great. Excellent service thus far. They are motorcycle lovers and sell Triumph and Moto Guzzi new models as well as a ton of older British and other bikes. Worth a visit!! My Guzzi has loads of that indefinable "character" and I can't wait to wake up every day and ride it! Show less

The Jackal and the BMW 1200C are the only two bikes (other than that enormous Honda Valkyrie) that give you a crusier set-up but keep your feet back and let you feel like you can ride the curves aggressively. I wind up in chases around the hills with different kinds of bikes and find that I can set a decent pace in front and keep up from behind. I'd like to see a 2nd disk up front as the braking is a little soft when going hot into corners and Progressive's in the back have made a big difference, but like most riders the bike is better than I am and the changes are not really necessary. The essential character of the bike is a wolf in sheep's clothing. At first glance it looks like a cruiser and it will cruise very nicely, but when you wick it up the wool comes off and the howling begins. I suspect that the beemer 1200C is faster because of the superior suspension, but not twice-the-$ faster. Show less

After getting used to the clutch I am very happy. It handles real sporty, but also has the big feel of a cruiser. Show less

I bought my Jackal in June of 2000 and have nothing but praise for this bike. It handles like my old Triumphs and runs like stink. First I had to replace the brick called a seat since then I've added my own personal touch ... like every bike. I've gotten a lot of help from motointernational.com and the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club -- MGNOC.com. Can't say enough good things about the bike. Dare to be different at a bargain price! Show less

I bought my Moto Guzzi Jackal in August of 2000. After 3000 miles I am still in love. This is not a machine for everyone. It lacks the hi tech refinement of the Asian models and is not dripping with chrome like a Harley Davidson, but for me it is something much more. The tonti frame translates to near sportbike handling, the fuel injected V-Twin is powerful and very fast, and the no nonsense, no frills look and gorgeous deep black paint impart elegant good looks. There is not another sport cruiser made that I would rather own. My Asian bikes were all nice, the Harley FXRS was cool, but this Guzzi is in a class by itself. Like I said, the Guzzi is not for everyone, but it is definitely for me. Well built, fun to ride, pleasing to look at and priced right. Did I mention I love this motorcycle? Show less

Photographs cannot do this bike justice -- it is art on two wheels. I am happy just to look at it sitting outside of my living room. My Jackal was not a perfect fit off-of-the-rack, but now fits just fine. There have been little flaws -- it is perhaps not as perfectly assembled as a Japanese bike -- but these were the sorts of things I could fix with a little adjustment. I have spent some time making detail cosmetic changes to suit me, and altering it to fit my smaller 5'8" stature, but other than that the Guzzi seems very well constructed and has been a great ride. This is a very easy motorcycle to work on and modify. Mine is set up for solo cruising, with a lowered ride height, custom saddle, handle bars off of an EV (thanks to Moto International), luggage rack, modified exhaust -- like I said, detail stuff -- and it is red like only the Italians can do. I have no complaints. It is very powerful, seems rock steady at speed, and handles easily on the city streets that I ride, has great brakes, and sounds wonderful. I have an automotive background so the forward facing engine and shaft drive make perfect sense to me -- the feeling of the bike leaning over when I blip the throttle at a traffic stop is sort of a thrill -- and I don't have any complaint with the clutch or the shifting. It starts and runs easily right from the beginning -- even when the temperature was 28 degrees outside -- the fuel injection is set up perfectly. Cooling fins and wire spoke wheels are a must for me, but are a hassle to keep clean if you go out in the rain; that is my only complaint. My Jackal gets recognition and respect from all other motorcyclists, whether they ride Japanese bikes, BMWs, or Harleys, and no more do I long for that Harley Softail FXST that I used to dream about. Moto Guzzis aren't bikes that suit most people, but yes, I am very happy with mine. Show less