Moto Guzzi California Jackal reviews

I've had a Ducati 900ss since 1993 and in '98 I bought a used BMW K-100RT so the wife & I could ride together. didn't like the beemer and sold it in July, 2000. I saw the Bassa in the spring of 2000 at my local dealer and made an offer in August. I saved $2200, and got what I consider the buy of the century. It's comfortable , reliable, looks as good as, and runs stronger than any cruiser on the market. It attracts more attention than my Duck and gives me almost as many giggles per mile. It, like the Ducati will last until I can no longer swing a leg over it. A great bike and ride. Show less

After riding a Harley Davidson for six years, it was time to try something new. In August I rode the Jackal for the first time as Moto Guzzis are avialable only now in Canada!. The Guzzi runs rings around my Harley. It handles great, sounds great, and that Italian allure is unbeatable! Definitely a bargain too. Show less

If you want to ride in an upright position on a classic, easy-to-ride motorcycle, the Jackal may be perfect for you. I am 5'10" tall, with a 30" inseam, and the bike is an excellent fit. I wanted the engineering excellence of a European bike. The Jackal delivers an outstanding ride, stable, fast and consistently thrilling, and its form-follows-function aesthetic draws nonstop adulation from all quarters. Most remarkably, the price is rational, especially versus the Bavarian competition. Downsides? Premium gas is pricey (I use Sunoco 94 octane) and the clutch was a learning experience. As I near 3,000 trouble free miles, the Jackal is still the most rewarding machine I have ever bought. Speed's Cycle of Elkridge, MD is an outstanding dealer. Show less

This is my second new Guzzi. My first is a 1972 Guzzi Eldorado, which I still have. Thumbing through a cycle magazine in April 1999, I spied an ad for the V-11 BASSA. It was my call for a new Guzzi. Twelve months later I bought the bike. For those who don't know, performance and reliability are unsurpassed. Legendary to say the least. It's a comfortable ride. In summation, "I need a bigger planet". Show less

I bought the Bassa in September of '99 and have put well over 20,000 miles on the clock so far. Bags, windshield, backrest, pipes all came since purchase. This bike, after a rather long break-in period, and some getting used to is a real winner. Great for touring, fabulous in the twisties and a fighter jet on the highways. This is what biking was meant to be, all in one, speed, power, torque, handling, that distinctive sound and oh, those looks! In my heart I always wanted an Electra Glide (H-D) and didn't think I'd be truly fulfilled until I actually bought one. Which I did about 5 months ago. I thought the two would be a perfect compliment for each other. Wrong. The E-GLide was just too lumberous and needed so much to get it to where the factory should have made it. Oh, it LOOKED good and SOUNDED good, but that's where it stopped. Needless to say, I was disappointed by the Glide, to the point where it is now up for sale. I got it out of my system. Problems with the Guzzi? A few minor ones...a rear end leak and a bit of a cold start/run problem at break-in, as well as a tough to master and hard to break in clutch, but it's since fixed itself or otherwise repaired, under warrantee. (Three full years!) Maintenance is a snap, with the valves needing adjusting every 3,000 miles, but they are right there in the open, takes about an hour once you learn it. Changed over to an external oil filter as well. Buy this bike and go anywhere, in style, and get there fast! But be prepared for the admiring looks and questions from people (bikers and non-bikers alike) everywhere you stop! Show less

Ok, I posted a review back in May, and up to that point, the bike seemed great. Since then it has been in the shop for a month (it's still there...) with an as-yet-undiagnosed clutch problem. In my earlier review, I noted some leakage from the rear diff, that was because an O ring was not installed from the factory. No real damage was caused as a result since the oil level was still OK when I brought it in for 1st service. But the clutch thing is making me wish I had gotten a BMW. I love how the bike feels when it's on the road, but I am beginning to forget what that feels like now! Show less

I prefer a straight up riding position, air cooled, and shaft drive. I don't like Harleys or the Harley look ...nothing personal, just my opinion. That really limits the choices. I just passed my 500 mile break-in on the 4th of July (2000) with my new "Goose". What a great bike! Plenty of low-end torque. Excellent roll-on power. Handling is much more nimble than I anticipated. Obviously meant to compete in the Power Cruiser market but is definitely not trying to "look like a Harley." I was still babying it (under 5000 rpm) for most of the trip and I had absolutely no problem keeping up with my buddy on his 1100 Honda Shadow. Perhaps not as good of a sheer value as the Jackal, but still a great bike for the money. This bike gets lots of looks and double-takes. PS- It's pronounced "Gootzi" like pizza is "peetza". Show less

After closing in on my first 1,000 miles, I'm enjoying this bike more and more. Great handling and upright riding comfort for an older rider like myself. Yes, you're sure to get "wows" from all sorts of riders. A classy Bobster that I highly recommend. Show less

I I picked up my Jackal in April and have really enjoyed riding it. The more I ride it, the smoother the engine gets. I moved to this bike from an '85 Virago, there's not a lot of comparison between the two. This bike is really stable and feels solid at high speed on the highway. I don't have a windscreen (yet) so wind can be a problem over about 60. Some fluid leakage early on from cylinder heads and rear differential, but tightening the valve covers a bit cured one, and the other just stopped on its own. don't like that it has a cut off switch linked to the side stand, will be disconnecting that soon. Overall, a great bike at a very nice price. Show less

Handles like a sport bike and has the beefy feeling of a big cruiser all at the same time. Bike attracts a lot of attention from all types of riders too. About them "many options"...they take a bit longer to get from Guzzi than I like to wait. But after my first 1000 miles I'm happy. Clutch takes a while to get used to...but works fine. Show less