Many of our motorbike breakdown cover customers will no doubt be aware of the Moto Guzzi California, a model line whose history goes way back to 1971. US sales of Californias have been a staple source of income for Moto Guzzi - driven by American bikers who might be categorised as Harley lovers, but who enjoy an Italian slant in their bike design. But the new California represents a gear-change in their approach to design, influenced as it is by the Art Nouveau movement.

Cruiser buyers, as anyone familiar with the US motorcycle market will tell you, are a fairly conservative bunch, so the new California may not be the hit that Moto Guzzi hope it will. The new California has been compared to Harley's V-Rod, which did not sell well and the Ducato Diavel.

But Moto Guzzi are planning a range of new models over the coming years, all of which are likely to be powered by the new 1400cc V Twin engine, which will spawn three engine types: 750, 1200 and 1400. Among the new models there may well be a more conventional design on the drawing boards - although one wonders why the firm didn't launch a safer design first of all.

Until the new models arrive, the Moto Guzzi board will no doubt be watching sales figures from American motorcycle forecourts with great interest.