Harley-Davidson Softail Slim vs Moto Guzzi California Custom: to remember

The verdict of the bench

Both customs cultivate some form of inheritance. The Harley-Davidson Softail Slim remains faithful to long stroke V-twin, open at 45 ° and cooled air. Endowed with balancers and rigidly mounted in the frame, Twin Cam 103B was the subject of much attention to comply with the standards without losing too much of his soul.
The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom is for its faithful the twin facing the road. At startup, the overturning moment is still in the game, but it fades from low revs thanks to the flexible mounting of the engine in the frame. Air-cooled and oil, twin Mandello gives pride to the bore 104 mm for 81.2 mm stroke.

In terms of performance, Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom Harley-Davidson supplants Softail Slim times, regardless of the system or the gear engaged. California grows both more torque (11.5 mkg against 10.3 mkg) and power (95.1 against 81.7 hp hp).
The Moto Guzzi also extends further, resulting in a bench curve flattens less power than the Harley-Davidson while on the road, the Moto Guzzi shoot longer on a given report. Both bikes certainly could spit some horses and mkg more torque to the bench, but the ambient temperature over 30 ° tarnished the measure.
In fairness, our two motorcycles were strictly original, which n ' has not favored either the Harley-Davidson, which would actually be better defended Stage 1 configuration. Side sensations, none fade away from it: the characters and expressions of these engines are certainly strengths.

Power and torque readings to the crankshaft (CE95 standard / 1)

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim (green curves): 81.7 hp at 6441 rev / min, 10.3 kgm at 4168 rpm / min Moto Guzzi California Custom (red curves): 95.1 hp at 6715 rev / min 11.5 kgm at 3197 rev / min

Power and torque, returned to the wheel

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim (green curves): 74.7 hp at 6441 rev / min, 9.4 kgm at 4168 rpm / min Moto Guzzi California Custom (red curves): 87.6 hp at 6715 rev / min , 10.6 kgm at 3197 rev / min

Speed ​​regimes played on the counter, calibration

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim:
130 km / h, 127 km / h real, 3 000 r / min
90 km / h, 88 km / h real, 2040 rev / min Moto Guzzi California Custom: 130 km / h, 126 km / real h, 4 000 r / min 90 km / h, 88 km / h real, 2800 rev / min

Engine speeds, current use are low. Especially on the Harley-Davidson, the upper flexible and soft character while low low revs are incentives to cruising at low revs. For times, the Moto Guzzi takes advantage of its higher rotational speed: even placed Pioggia mapping makes it more effete, it is more efficient than the Harley-Davidson.

Average consumption recorded during the test

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim: 5.8 l/100 km (5.5 l/100 mini, max to 6.1 l/100 km) Moto Guzzi California Custom: 6.5 l/100 km (min 6 1 l/100 km to 7.2 l/100 km max)

The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom consumes more, whatever we do. The Harley-Davidson Softail Slim remains relatively constant, and frankly simple given its capacity and its mass. Generous incentive driving acceleration, Moto Guzzi can then climb to more than 7 l/100 km, but the pace is so far enough from tourism.

Kerb Weight, verified

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim: 326.2 kg (154.2 kg AV, AR 172.6 kg) weight undisclosed Moto Guzzi California Custom: 322 kg (154 kg AV, AR 168 kg), 318 kg announced in order walking

Any close, really "slim" line and devoid of gimbal Harley-Davidson Softail Slim is finally 4.2 kg heavier ... In absolute terms this is nothing, especially as the weight is seen in his favor. The Softail Slim justified, somehow, its higher weight due to the massive use of metal, but probably also by the design of the engine.

Usability

The Harley-Davidson Softail Slim is very low seat: with a seat 650 mm from the ground, she joined the lowest market customs. For the rest, if it has a fairly typical position with forward controls, it is more natural than would be suggested its general appearance. The steps are conveniently placed and wide handlebars without exaggeration. The bike is very thin and easily set foot ashore at 1.65 m. Finally, only the air filter cover and the gearbox come into contact with the anatomy (right knee and left ankle).

If the Moto Guzzi California Custom is impressive to the eye, it is just as once onboard. The seat is higher (740 mm) and especially wider, which requires more leg length to put one foot flat on the ground. Say from 1.75 m, it comes out easily. Much less compact than the Harley-Davidson Softail Slim, the Moto Guzzi California Custom is less well tailored for the little ones who will be find the steps too far. At the same time, it will interfere with the big guys at the knees, which come into contact with the cylinder heads. In addition, the handle is very wide and requires small jigs to approach the tank and then he left a lot of space between your knees and cylinders.

Review details

The best engine?
difficult to separate such fine motor blocks, full of history and emotions. On the one hand, the Harley-Davidson Softail Slim sports a twin to the rustic look, deliciously retro through its black casing and superbly tight fins. Here, no plastic cover is metal, and heavy! Lubrication hoses chrome add a touch of class while rockers show their generous dimensions. And then there's the cinematic start Harley-Davidson: a unique case, the noise of the starter tremors cylinders, through the sound of the exhaust. With a Harley, the fun begins at the stop!

On the other side, the Moto Guzzi California Custom exposes two beautiful cylinders pointing to the sky, so large that they need to draw a notch in the tank to let their chiseled how parts Watchmaker heads. There is also the ceremonial start, which is pitching the cylinders from left to right and shake the motorcycle on its stand, unique!

The best counter?

The Harley-Davidson Softail Slim, there is a center console located on the tank at the base of which sits a switch back to the 30s. A big classic counter, readable and a small window that shows various trips, clock, and even the gear and engine speed. The fuel gauge is housed in a false left tank cap, the real, without hinge is screwed right. Beautiful atmosphere steering ...

The Moto Guzzi California Custom is more neo retro techno 'instrumental with a single block that integrates meter and tachometer in its outer part. Made by Continental, the instrument block of essential information: clock, trips of all kinds, fuel gauge, gear position, but also the mode engine mapping, level of traction control, ambient temperature, and it is possible to adjust the brightness of the dashboard, access to diagnostic parameters of the bike is up to date for a custom!

Reinforced or discrete braking?

Again, big difference in philosophy between the two manufacturers. At Harley-Davidson, it boasts of having managed to hide the ABS system in the hub of the beautiful spoked wheel to keep a clean look, is just the little apparent cable to the sensor, but even the design of the bracket Brake is typical old school!

At Moto Guzzi up to modern technology: wheel sticks (pretty, with fine and many sticks as on motorcycles equipped Superbikes beautiful Marchesini wheels), impressive dual disc brake calipers and Brembo radial mounting system ABS widely present. Here, we clearly show the performance of modern braking.