Moto Guzzi California 1400 launched Moto Guzzi has released the first official pictures of the new California, the latest in a line of models which dates back to 1971, and which for many years has kept Moto Guzzi alive with its consistent sales. The new model has been designed by Miguel Galluzzi, best known as designer of the Ducati Monster at the beginning of the 1990s, and its Art Nouveau style marks a radical change from the California's traditional Harley-type cruiser look. It's a risky move as cruiser buyers are exceptionally conservative, so it's hard to see how this machine, which has more in common visually with the likes of the Ducati Diavel and sluggish-selling Harley V-Rod, is going to appeal to them. Possibly Guzzi has a more conventional cruiser in the pipeline, too. The company says the California's all-new 1,400cc air- and oil-cooled V-twin will power a range of new models in the coming years, meaning Guzzi will offer three basic engine types: the 750 which features in the V7 series, the larger 1200 currently appearing in all of Guzzi's larger bikes, then from autumn 2012 when the California goes on sale, the new 1400. Galluzzi is to move to Pasadena in California to head up a new Piaggio Group design centre. According to Piaggio CEO Roberto Colaninno, "Setting up a research centre in California opens a window on the changes that will be taking place in our society, way of life, and urban and metropolitan mobility models in the next few years." More likely it's a window on US sales which Piaggio would like to open, because the whole group, which also includes Aprilia and Vespa, sold only 10,000 machines in the USA last year.