Italia Connections' Moto Morini page

The History

• 1946 - Moto Morini was founded by Alfonso Morini in the town of Bologna close to the Ducati factory. Their first bike was a copy of the DKW RT125, a two stroke 125cc.
• 1950 - the factory turned to the manufacture of 4 stroke engines in an effort to become competitive in competition.
• 1952 - an OHV 175cc Roadbike (details anyone?).
• 1953 - the Settebello 175cc Sportster
• 1955 - they introduced the 175 Rebelo which was used in Production racing.
• 1956 - DOHC engines for the 175cc Production racers, single cylinder engines with bore and stroke of 60mm and 61mm. The produced 25hp at 10,000 rpm. Brakes were double discs up front with a single disc in the rear. A weight of 110kg gave the bikes a respectable top speed of about 106mph(170km/hr).
  - That year also saw the 98cc Sbazzarino.
• 1958 - the highly successful 250cc Rebello was introduced which delivered 30hp and had a top speed of almost 120mph (190km/hr).
  This was followed by the 125cc and 150cc Corsaro's, the 175cc Tresette.
  
• 1963 - the 250cc Rebello was now producing 36hp witha top speed of about 140mph (225km/hr), this bike almost gave Tarquinio Provini the World Title in this year losing out to Honda by 2pts :-(
• 1970 - 125cc Country Enduro.
• 1971 - saw the development of the V twin engines in the form of the 344cc version. The engine had bore and stroke of 62mm and 57mm, achieving 35hp at 8,200rpm. Double discs up front, and a single disc rear. The bike weighed in at 150kg with a top speed of about 100mph (160km/hr).
• 1973 - the famous Morini V twins were introduced with the Strada.
• 1974 - the Strada was followed by the '3 ½' (350 cc) Sport.
• 1975 - the 125T, a 123cc 4-stroke single was introduced with bore and stroke of 59mm and 45mm producing 14hp at 9,000rpm. Weighing in at 115kg the bike had a top speed of nearly 80mph (125km/hr).
• 1977 - a new 239cc single cylinder 4-stroke with bore and stroke of 69mm and 64mm producing 17hp at 6,800rpm. Weighing in at 138kg the bike had a top speed of 85mph (135km/hr).
• 1978 - a 500cc version of the Strada, the W-Model was released. 479cc 4-stroke V twin with bore and stroke of 69mm and 64mm, delivering 43hp at 7,500rpm. Weighing 185kg and a top speed of 110mph (175km/hr).
• 1979 - saw a 500cc Sport.
• 1980 - the 250J model. A 4-stroke 239cc V twin with bore and stroke of 59mm and 44mm, delivering 23hp at 8,800rpm. This bike weighed about 145kg and had a top speed of about 88mph (140km/hr).
• 1981 - 500cc Camel Enduro.
  - At the Milan Show the factory showed a prototype of their 500cc Turbo, however it never went into production.
  
• 1982 - the 500 Sport was updated to the Sei-V.
  
• 1983 - In common with many other manufacturers, Morini produced off road variants of their 'V' twins, these were the 350cc Kanguroo Enduro, the 500cc Camel and 500cc Sahara.
  - 400S V twin.
• 1985 - 350 K2.
• 1986 - 350 Dart.
  500 Excalibur Chopper which was followed by the 350 Excalibur Chopper.
• 1987 - sadly Moto Morini was closed and was absorbed into the Cagiva company, the marque still lies idle hopefully awaiting a rebirth a-la MV when a suitable design arrives :-)
  

The Bikes

1958 Moto Morini 175cc. This and more on Page 2

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Dealers

• List of dealers and suppliers of parts & accessories
  

  If you have any links or details to assist, please Email me at: webmaster@italia.co.uk

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Links

• Morini Riders Club
  

  Club Magazine: "A Tutto Gas" (= At Full Speed:-). Editor - Mark Bridger . . . bridger@dial.pipex.com
  

  Club's Web Site:
  http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/plaza/jh21
  

  • http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/3643/morini.htm
    

  • http://www.deakin.edu.au/~ic/morini.html
    

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    • Italia Connection's Home Page

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