MOTO-GUZZI ELDORADO (2015 - on) Review

For a cruiser the Eldorado handles great in town as well at reasonable highway speeds. The ride is all day smooth, take a gas break at every 100 miles and you’ll be fine. Excellent Brembo brakes.

The 1400 V-twin shakes like an old EVO Harley at idle and when you twist the throttle it transforms into an Italian Power Cruiser. 0-7000 RPM is a hoot, you’ll giggle like a school girl. The only complaint about the motor is the valve noise at idle, but if you wear ear plugs like I do, it’s a non-issue.

The overall fit and finish is top notch. My front right fork seal sprung a leak with only 900 miles on the OD. Still waiting for the seals.

The annual service (oil changes and valve adjustment) is the only thing so far.

It comes stock with all you need to get out on the highway or just putt around town. I like all that information(almost too much)in the speedo housing up high on the handle bar clamp. A wind shield and luggage(which is hard to find)are needed for long distance touring. Love the big White Wall Dunlop Elites, I’ll stay with them. Spoked wheels with tubeless tires is an upgrade!

This bike is no sportsbike but it handles better than it has any right to do. I have taken it round Bavrian mountain hair-pins and ground clearance was not bad at all. You get the hang of it and it left every cruiser/tourer behind of which there were plenty. The brakes consist of 3 Brembos and are as you would expect. A slight criticism is the real suspension that can give you a bit of a jolt when encountering poorly maintained roads. Two things are often written by journalists. One is torque reaction which is commented on elsewhere and the other is the alleged heat from the cylinder barrels. I did a near 240 test ride in high summer and even with my long ( 36" inside leg ) legs I did not find either the barrels being obstructive to my riding position or that they were barbecuing my legs. On winter days you can notice some warmth and wish it were more

The overriding reason i bough the Eldorado was because of the engine. It has good spread of torque where you need it but had more power than any of the other cruisers I had tested. At tick-over to 1200 rpm, you feel the feedback of the engine but without it being tiresome. Once you hit 1500 rpm the engine completely smooths out and there virtually no engine vibes at all. I have taken the bike up to 115 mph for a short burst and would imagine that about 125 mph is about the maximum you cold get out of the engine. So many times I have heard journalists talk about the torque-reaction where the bike 'lurches' to the left side under acceleration. I personally hardly notice it at all.

I am a real stickler for quality of engineering, fit and finish and material quality. I'll be honest, only a Brough Superior at 3 x the price is something that would satisfy me in ideal terms. The casting and welding of the bikes components are to a very high standard. The wheels, swing-arm and Instrument brakets/Yokes are all nicely machined / cast. The parts I would criticise is the perol tank which is made up of the tank and the two side panels which incoprate the cut-outs for the cylinder rocker covers. I would prefer a one piece tank if that were possible to manufacture. Plastic mugauards as previously mentioned I would prefer in metal. The bike is still relatively new and I have yet to encounter any reliability issue to date and no signs of corrosion.

I compared the Eldorado value to the HD softail, Indian, and Triumph Commander. I completely ignored the equation that anything that is comparable to a Harley has to be cheaper than a Harley because is a Harley. The Eldorado is well made and offers a shaft instead of a relatively cheap to produce belt that the other 3 have. I also measure VFM in term of enjoyment, comfort, character and a feel good factor. I could have afforded any one of the bikes I tested. That I chose the Eldorado made it best value if that makes sense

My bike came with several accessories. Thus included cast alloy items - mirror stems, handle-bar grips, break pedal and toe &heal gear shift. They are beautifully engineered but very expensive in my view. The electronics offer trcaction control and 3 ride modes, one for rain, touring and veloce for more spirited power deliver. I find the touring mode completely adequate for day to day riding. There are also options which I have not utilised yet including a mobile phone -app that enables your phone to become a satnav and display various bike related stats and touring information.