During the recent GMG 2011 (Giornate Mondiali Guzzi - Guzzi World Days 2011), Moto Guzzi unveiled the new California 90 model. The bike is a special limited edition California and is meant to honor Moto Guzzi’s 90th anniversary as well as the 40th anniversary of the world’s best known Italian custom bike. Born in 1971, the very first V7 California was designed around V7 Special’s technical base. The main difference between these 2 bikes was California’s bigger saddle, that was as comfortable as an armchair and allowed the rider to enjoy the view while being sheltered from the wind, thanks to that large windscreen that was part of California’s standard equipment as well as the big side bags.

This was the recipe that made this bike a success both in Europe and overseas, where it was first adopted by the L.A.P.D. (Los Angeles Police Department) and then made service bike of choice by many other American States. Back in its homeland, it also became the official motorcycle for the Corazzieri corps, the honor guard of the President of the Italian Republic. Moto Guzzi California has been subjected to several upgrades in his 40 years long history, but always managed to stay loyal to its original concept. It went from 750 to 850cc with the T model (in 1973) and introduced the famous ‘linked braking system’ with the following model, called T3 (in 1975).

Continue reading: Moto Guzzi California 90 Limited Edition unveiled

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Luc1, the designer that some people might remember for the extravagant design of the Honda RC50 2011, has just sent us a new drawing. This is Moto Guzzi MGS02 Corsa, a concept born from… well, let’s leave it to Luc1 himself:

“The other day I was reading an article about Moto Guzzi 90th anniversary, and it made me realize that there still are many people around who are just crazy about the bikes from the Mandello del Lario-based manufacturer. Unfortunately, modern companies (not just motorcycle ones) have left the passion aside a little bit… I think that fans would do anything to see “Guaro” (Guareschi) riding a MGS again.

Besides, in today’s sportbikes market, there is also a lack of products that might not be as extreme as modern supersport bikes are, but could offer the highest level of ride quality nonetheless (i.e. SS Ducati, BMW HP2 Sport, VTR 1000, TRX 850, etc..). The MGS 02 is a half naked sportbike with pointy upper fairing and self-supporting carbon tail (always black). Extremely low weight and good engine torque would make it the perfect beast for riding on mountains, and it could do well on slow tracks too…”

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One of motoblog’s reader’s, Dummy made this lovely video about the legendary story of Moto Guzzi with the first victories of the ‘Black Devil’ Omobono Tenni, to the V7 Special, the first model with a V2 engine to the Guzzi assembly line and museum.

The video according to Dummy, is based on the artistic and social futurism movement born in Italy in the early 1900’s, the years in which motorcycles started to evolve and at Mandello Lario, the Guzzi was being born.

The music is from Giacomo Puccini’s second act of the Tosca: “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” (I lived for art, I lived for love). Enjoy the video.

Source | motoblog.it

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Moto Guzzi has released their official video of the updated version of the 2011 Norge GT 8V. While we understand that the Piaggio owned company is pretty traditional in it’s ways, but give us a break on the music, Coldplay’s Viva la Vida has been done to death in motorcycle and car ads.

After this personal little rant, let’s get back to the Italian sport tourer, that gets a more modern bodywork with a new reshaped fairing that improves protection for rider and passenger, but also increases airflow to the air-cooled engine, but also revamped electronic controls, timing and cooling systems, new integrated ignition and injection ECU.

Specs after the jump.

Continue reading: Moto Guzzi Norge GT 1200 8V official video

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