I am so pleased to see this fine old marque coming back to the UK, Moto Morini has a distinguished history of producing quirky, stylish sporting motorcycles, and the latest incarnation continues this tradition. While some other resurrected brands are now used to market machines produced in the far east, the Moto Morini is very much the real deal: Designed, developed and manufactured in Italy
Looking forward to this
The current range is powered a 1200 V twin that has roots going back to the mid noughties, but updated to meet meet latest emission and noise regulations etc. It is Euro IV compliant and still kicks out 140 bhp, this is than enough to put a smile on your face. The Corsaro 1220 ZZ that I rode also boasts the latest in electronic rider aids; some by regulation such as ABS and others driven by trends in the market place; LED lights and the TFT screen dash pack for example
The Corsaro is a good looking bike with a taut, purposeful stance and visuals dominated by the big V twin motor and under seat exhausts. It is (like so many modern bikes) a little tall for the vertically challenged such as myself. However once aboard it was about the same as my current bike, a MV Agusta 1090. I set off eagerly anticipating a great ride…and I was not to be disappointed. The 1200 ZZ is great fun and the engine is a peach. It is an easy bike to go pretty quickly on, riding along on a wave of V twin torque. I took in one of my favourite roads that runs out from Stourport-on-Severn out to the Herefordshire town of Bromyard. Incidentally this is a quirky little town and well worth a visit if you are in the area.
The Corsaro instils a sense of confidence immediately and I was soon throwing the bike about with aplomb on the twists and turns that typify this route. It is a little bumpy here and there but the suspension seems taut and well controlled over these sections and the bike held the line selected really well. The front end gave me a tap on the shoulder a couple of times to remind me I was pushing on, but that isn’t a bad thing and the bike had plenty in hand. The gearbox I didn’t really notice which is a good thing….and you didn’t have to work it too hard with the V twin picking up the slack if I found my myself in the wrong gear. The radially mounted Brembo brakes were good too and while I didn’t push the bike really hard it dealt with anything I threw at it with disdain.
The TFT screen is typical of the type and the information offered is presented crisply and you are greeted by the Moto Morini logo when you first start the bike. I still prefer analogue dials, but that is a generational thing possibly and the TFT is definitely the way things will be going!
Bad points? Well I noticed a bit of ‘hole’ in the fueling around 3-3500rpm, it was a bit irritating, but the bike was on Italian plates as a factory bike, so I expect an update is being worked on. It was only a slight issue that could be ridden around easily, I suspect it is do with emission or noise regulations and many modern bikes seem to have this dip at around this point. The bike isn’t cheap at £16,000 but it is a hand built, exclusive Italian super bike and you don’t expect to buy an Armani suit for the same price as one from Matalan do you??
Go and try one for yourself, I think you will be impressed
Thanks to Mark at Midwest Moto for the opportunity to ride the demonstrator