CYCLE NEWS CRUISER BUYERS GUIDE
GUZZI
In 1921, while the United States was enjoying
the terrific idea that was Prohibition, three Italian
Air Corp veterans in the Old Country had a much
better idea. They launched what would become
one of the most famous motorcycle companies in
the world: Moto Guzzi.
Carlo Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli, and Giorgio Parodi
served together during World War I. Their Miraglia
squadron was stationed near Venice and while
they came from very different backgrounds, those
differences were the strengths that allowed them
to come up with the successful motorcycle com-
pany they'd envisioned during the conflict. Guzzi
would handle the engineering, Parodi's family
wealth backed the business, and Ravelli, who had
achieved fame as a racer already, would promote
the motorcycles. Sadly, Ravelli died a few days
after the end of the war but is remembered in the
company's winged logo.
Now, the company is just two years shy of its
centennial and a lot's happened since the Roaring
Twenties. A whole lotta technological advance-
ment, a whole lotta racing, and a whole lotta
growth into an international brand with a very
distinct power-plant at the heart of its motorcycles:
a funky 90° transverse V-twin that gives the bikes
an unmistakable look. All four of the cruisers we're
running in this guide (MGX-21, California, Eldora-
do, and Audace) have that going for them.
Yet each is also pretty different from the other
three. On the techy side, there's the MGX-21, aka
Moto Guzzi eXperimental. Carbon fiber wheels
and bodywork are among its features, as is an
infotainment system.
If scenic saddle time is more your speed, there's
the California. With hard bags and a sizable
windscreen, it's good to go for a longer trip. At the
same time, the 1380cc scoot is also the company
flagship, with the styling we've come to expect
from Moto Guzzi.
Eldorado is a throwback to the classics: spoke
wheels, the fuel tank with chromium sides, an
oversize saddle, rear fender with the gem-shaped
taillight, bullhorn handlebar, and the passenger
grab handle are all nostalgia cues taken from the
company's bikes of decades past.
For those of us who love themselves some
stripped down muscle bike, Moto Guzzi made
the Audace. You won't find forward controls, bags
or any other extras on it, but if barebones riding
is what gets your blood pumping, you'll want to
check it out.
2019 LINE UP
MOTO BELLA
