#MotoMorini

Just over four years ago, Italian trophy marque Moto Morini narrowly avoided joining the many other defunct brands from all our two-wheeled yesterdays already deposited in motorcycling history’s trash bin. But in October 2018 Chen Huaneng, the owner of Chinese scooter and minimoto manufacturer Zhongneng Vehicle Group, saved it from extinction by acquiring 100% ownership of Moto Morini from the previous Italian owner.

Moto Morini have been rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s since man walked beside the dinosaurs, prospering then going bankrupt in equal parts for decades – possibly as a result of not bothering to participate in the US market for about the last half century. Known for booming V-twins, just like another famous Italian builder from Bologna, Morini never quite achieved Ducati’s level of success in the modern era, but that never seemed to stop them from trying. Last we heard, the company was swallowed up by the Chinese Zhongneng Vehicle Group, in 2018. Ten years on, we mourn the passing of the Morini Granpasso 1200, fully secure in faith that if Morini doesn’t rise again, we’ll eat our cappello. Take it away, Tor.

I’ll admit, I didn’t know Moto Morini was still in business. However, after a quick Google search, the company has a website that appears to be up-to-date, with five models. Unfortunately, none of them are coming to the U.S. Hence why I forgot about the marque. In 2008, though, contributor Yossef Schvetz hopped aboard the Moto Morini Corsari, in a review for the then-revived company. With a 1200cc V-Twin stuffed into a naked bike chassis, it appears that maybe MM should reconsider its decision not to bring bikes to America. This category seems to be all the rage these days (and the topic of a MO six bike shootout to come in a few days…). Read on to find out more about the Corsaro and Moto Morini. -TS