Moto Guzzi Audace 1400
Audace cockpit
When the Moto Guzzi California 1400 won our Bike of the Year award for 2013, it surprised some people. We were compelled to acknowledge the great success Moto Guzzi had in developing from scratch a new flagship platform for the storied Italian marque. The engine is simply brilliant, and now Moto Guzzi is prepared to introduce an additional two models in the United States utilizing this masterpiece. We previously provided some details on the Audace 1400 and the Eldorado 1400.
According to the following press release, the Eldorado will be in U.S. dealers this May at a U.S. MSRP of $15,790, while the Audace arrives in July priced at $15,590. Take a look at our earlier articles on these new bikes (linked above) for additional/better photos, as well as details, of each model. Note that the red Eldorado pictured in the earlier story will not be available in the U.S. market (the only color is Nero Classico). The photos presented here are from the Daytona exhibit, and represent the production U.S. colors for each model. Here is the Moto Guzzi press release:
WHO: Moto Guzzi USA
WHAT: 2016 Moto Guzzi Eldorado and Audace Unveiled, California 1400 Demo Rides & Official Display
WHERE: Daytona Bike Week 2015
Moto Guzzi USA has unveiled the new 2016 pre-production Eldorado and Audace models for the first time in North America, alongside the entire 2015 model range at the 74th annual Daytona Bike Week. Moto Guzzi USA also demo rides throughout the event with the award winning California 1400 Custom and Touring, V7 Stone, and V7 Special models.
- 2016 Moto Guzzi Eldorado 1400 – Moto Guzzi unveiled the pre-production 2016 Eldorado model at Bike Week, along with US pricing at $15,790. The Eldorado 1400 will be available in Nero Classico color, and arrives at US dealerships in May.
- 2016 Moto Guzzi Audace 1400 – Simultaneously displayed with a pre-production 2016 unit, the Moto Guzzi Audace will come in Nero Travelgento color, at the price of $15,590, and is set to arrive at US dealers in July.
- Demo Rides – Bike Week attendees were excited to test ride the award winning California 1400 Custom and California 1400 Touring, as well as the best-selling V7 Stone and V7 Special models.
- Product Display – Moto Guzzi Product Specialists were on site to display key features and benefits of the current model line-up, including the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone, V7 Special, V7 Racer Verde Legnano SE, Griso 8V SE, Stelvio 1200 NTX, Norge GT 8V, California 1400 Custom, and California 1400 Touring.
Find out more about the latest Moto Guzzi products, offerings and test ride opportunities at: MotoGuzzi-US.com, MotoGuzziOriginals.com.
Moto Guzzi Eldorado 1400
I visited the display and it was very nicely done. The bikes were beautiful to look at in person. A very nice lounge area and very friendly staff. Phil Read JR. is the new North American rep for the Piaggio line. Looking forward to seeing the display in Austin soon.
The California model must be seen in person to fully appreciate it.
The local dealer dropped Piaggo recently. They sold MV Agusta and Aprilia and dropped both. He sited the Italians were difficult to deal with on warranty issues, parts were impossible to get and calls not returned. Nice bikes but who will service them?
I test road a California Touring and it had a strong motor but the clutch was poor. Engagement area was very poor and another bike with us smelled of burnt clutch. Also, the cruise control was difficult to engage and very odd in usage.
Sounds like the guy at the dealer setting up the clutches needs a new job
it’s a sad, sad day when the Italian designers go to the gynecologist. : – (
Among all new cruisers the Indian Scout seems most appealing. Among big bore models, based on appearance and Dirck’s love for this motor, the 1400cc Guzzi version with the most performance has my vote.
Beautiful bikes!
It’s amazing how many bikes they can come up with from one frame design. I’m sure there’s a motorhome waiting behind the curtain….
All matte black looks very bland. I like black but mix it up. Matte black with glossy black graphics to offset the dullness looks good to me. I have had 4 bikes with black engines and they are a bear to keep looking good.
Having sad that I’d be proud to own one of those.
Looks like the heads are right at knee level, heat might be an issue.
Different bike but my Norge hasn’t been an issue really. I’m a tall guy at 6’8″ and I simply splay my legs out slightly while underway to let the cooling breezes in. I would think someone of more normal proportions might not have any thought to it. I believe the 1400 is stretched out a little compared to the Norge but I might be wrong?
I do notice heat though when at rest in traffic on a hot day but it hasn’t been like I was in an oven though.
I like the El Dorado a lot, but the Audace proves that there is such a thing as too much black.
I like the Audace reasonably well but think the Eldorado looks like a Spanish bordello’s interior.
But I like Spanish bordellos!
Blk Audace any day!
Audace please, Candy red if possible.
That photo of the Audace cockpit is impressive; the detail of red cam covers and stitch on the seat on stark contrast with the mate paint is nice.
Nice to see a double disc setup with Brembos on the front, I’ve seen several 1.3, 1.4 machines with a single front disc brake, I guess the weight distribution helps to brake with the rear one but still feels inadequate.
I would much rather have a V50 Monza.
I have the spiritual sucessor to the Monza….
Indeed…….the Guzzi V50 was one of the most amazing bikes ever in my view and virtually unknown to most in America then or today.
I had a super handling Yamaha SR500 single back (late 70s/early 80s) then and many of us would ride the ride in the tight stuff in PA and WV and my friend on his V50 was always right there up front, yet when we traded bikes the V50 and I would stretch out a lead every time.
I had a V7 Sport back then also……..not even close to the V50 in most respects……
Thanks for taking me back to those wonderful times.
If you’re serious, I have a V-50 Monza with 16K on it in good shape. I’ve been neglecting it lately. The horn and turn signals stopped working, and by now the battery is probably dead. I’m in Salem, OR. 503-362-8744
Aprilia and Guzzi had a local dealer near me. Great bikes but the USA dealer network has shrunk quite a bit since the Piaggio buy out. Let’s hope they add more dealers to the network.
It’s a tough one with brands such as these. Not mainstream, they take a rider interested in something off the beaten trail. Interesting situation here, is the limited dealer network holding back potential sales or could it be that the network is sized about right for the realities of today? Obviously Piaggio hasn’t gone out of their way to bring more dealers to Anytown, USA considering they have some extra euros in their Incotex.
Even if it could be shown that expanding their dealer network would increase sales, would it be enough to cover all the added expenses of increasing production and the care and nurturing of an expanded dealer network? I don’t know. Perhaps Piaggio likes keeping these brands at a certain level, enough to keep the lights on and pay the bills, but not push it too far? It would be interesting to hear from someone at Piaggio and their thoughts on this.
These will not likely ever be commonplace but I’d like to see them step up their game some.
Its available everywhere as long as its SoCal.
MGNorge:
I bought my Capo the day before Aprilia went bankrupt so I got a way toooo close up view of the pre and post Piaggio years. It was a toss up which was/is worse.
I do know that Piaggio has aggressively tried to expand the dealer network in SE PA during all this time, but most of the dealers I know here have heard all the horror stories or been part of them……. and will not take the risk.
As far as “the added expenses of increasing production” all the Aprilia and Guzzi new models and engines leads me to believe Piaggio has the cash flow…. with the normal desired result being more sales which has the companion part of increasing the dealer net work. Saying all this….maybe Piaggio just might not connect these two items at all!!!
And then we have the Piaggio decision to enter Moto GP again and either they have the cash to do this …..or like last time did not connect the cash requirements to their actual cash position.
What is going on with the Guzzi and Aprilia dealer network where you live?
How about a summary of your Norge ownership experiences.
A manufacturer/distributor can’t just “install” a dealer at will. A local investor must put up his/her money and credit line to do this. For Aprilia/Guzzi it is called using “other people’s money”.
Often, opening a motorcycle dealer is an effective way of turning a large fortune into a small one.
I’ve always lusted after the Sport and Daytona. I heard the old ones had glitchy FI. I appreciate the 750s but they need to get the performance up to the RnineT level without any electronic intervention. Sorry the cruisers are okay, just need something a little sportier.
They’re both gorgeous! If I could afford one, I don’t know which one I would choose for my garage, but I’m leaning towards the Eldorado.
Not my style, but I like the matte with the red heads.
Worthy of a ride I should think? 🙂
I agree my learned and wise freind!