Introduced for the 1987 model year, this iteration marked a significant redesign of Moto Guzzi’s long-running California touring-cruiser line. Compared with the earlier California II, it adopted a more contemporary custom-inspired look, with a reshaped fuel tank, integrated side panels, a separated dual saddle with passenger backrest, and a return to floorboards and more abundant chrome. The model was positioned as a more refined and stylish evolution of the family rather than a clean-sheet replacement, and it helped keep the California name central to the brand’s large-displacement touring range during the late 1980s and early 1990s. One notable variation was an integral-fairing version that moved the bike closer to a comfort-oriented grand touring role. In 1991, Moto Guzzi also produced a special anniversary edition to celebrate the company’s 70th year. The model remained in production through 1993, after which it handed off to the California 1100 for 1994. Enthusiasts often view this generation as the bridge between the earlier classic California style and the more modern large-displacement Guzzi cruisers that followed.
MODEL HISTORY