vehiclephotography @photocontests

Hello friends and steemians. Allow me to please introduce my beautiful Moto Guzzi Califonia 1100, here photographed in nearby Sherwood Forest, not so far from Robin Hood's famous Major Oak Tree. I'm pleased to enter this photograph into the #vehiclephotography @photocontests promoted and curated by @juliank

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For this entry I post a photograph of my own steed, my '95 Moto Guzzi California 1100 carburetor model.

So let me tell you good people about her, and perhaps you'll pick up on my passion forthe beast.

Out of all the motorbikes I've ridden, this is my favourite. She's ultra reliable, built at a time when the often bemoaned 'guzzi wiring' was on a par with the leading Japanese manufacturers and she's a very comfortable bike to ride, the slight king/queen seating allows the pillion a comfortable ride with a good all round view.

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She has the torque of a tractor, and even with the soft tuning given to the stock Cali's it doesn't take long to get to the good old ton-up, and has a respectable enough top speed of a good nudge over 110mph, and for this style of cruiser she really packs surprises in the twisties.

Suddenly when thrown into the bends she feels more like a cafe racer throbbing between your legs, and just makes mincemeat of the handling of virtually all other cruiser style bikes. There's a very good reason for this though, as the California models are built around the exact same frame as the famous Moto Guzzi 'Le Mans', one of the ultimate old school cafe racing machines ever produced. The only main differences are, incredibly enough, in styling, and the main advantage in handling that gives the bike it's defined edge over all of the cruiser style bikes, is the much shorter front rake (the distance between the front wheel and the engine, and hence how much slope there is in the front forks.) and the incredible steering capacity of a bike of this style. Almost all other cruiser manufacturer opted for the longer Harley style rake which meant nursing the bikes around the bends in comparison to the Moto Guzzi.

Testament to this is the fact that Moto Guzzi California model motorbikes have been a firm favourite with many of the USA's, as well as many other country's, police departments, and anyone having seen the police riding competitions will know just how agile these bikes can be.

Anyone who knows their Guzzi's will see that my Guzzi has been decluttered of all the awful 'cosmetic' chrome plastic junk, which tends to give these beautiful girls a bit of a 'cheap' look. (Moto Guzzi, what were you playing at?) Stripped to her natural and elegant curves, freed from the shackles of it's oversized indicators, speedometer and entirely pointless rev counter, she turns heads of respect from every corner.

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A rev counter, I ask you? To tell me what? To tell me where my simple 2 cylinder engine is at, at any given combination of throttle, speed and gear ratio, when she's sitting very happily grunting away between my legs, singing her every emotion, whether happily purring along the dual carraigeways of Europe on a mid summer night, all loaded up for a tour for two, plus the obligatory guitar of course, or whether being pushed hard through the tiny lanes of the English countryside, the communication between machine and man is by feel, vibration and sound, what would I need of a rev counter for. Such a gimmick and a distraction.

I have to say, she isn't the most economical bike to ride, but if you keep her fed with her favourite liquor this beautiful beast will work all day and all night at your bequest, without so much as a splutter!

This post is warming me up to blogging one my motorbike trips across Europe, talk about the tales of the unexpected. If you'd like to hear more, please upvote and follow along.

Best regards.........

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I only post my own original photographs, those that don't are the proper shysters!

https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@martinsandersuk/hi-steemians-please-allow-me-to-introduce-myself-i-m-a-man-of

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My first steemit #openmic entry, 'old stylee' blues, on my favourite guitar, my much loved and adored '65 Gibson LG5. https://steemit.com/openmic/@martinsandersuk/steemit-open-mic-week-67-you-don-t-know-my-mind-joe-callicott-cover

I officially ride Moto Guzzi Motorcycles................ vroom, vroom!!

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