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Valentini, development of the Camel 500 and his participation on desert
rally's in the early 80's
It is remarkable to realise that Moto Morini has been on the basis of desert rally's, like Paris-Dakar in the early 80s. At the
time, the Morini Camel 500 and also the BMW GS80 were the first 2-cylinder offroad bikes. The Morini had real offroad capabilities.
The BMW became a very successful bike as a 'travel enduro'. The Morini Camel 500 was developed by a private company, Valentini
Moto, with the help of ing. Franco Lambertini. Soon after, the factory took the Camel into production.
Read more on Antonio's son Massimiliano who was a keen rally rider. |
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Moto Morini new marketing & sales |
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The new management of
Moto Morini have changed marketing and sales strategy. Bikes
like the Corsaro/Granpasso or Scrambler can be bought directly from the factory. The company invites potential buyers for a day
of test riding, at it's location near Bologna. Various airlines offer cheap flights to this city. After an appointment, potential
buyers are taken from the airfield. At the factory, all 1200cc models are available for an extensive testride. After that, the
potential buyer can compile his/her dream machine and order it. Many new colours are available and prices are very competitive.
After the bike has been produced, the buyer can collect the new motorbike, or get it delivered to any dealer. These new methods
of sale and distribution also have some disadvantages: and for this reason the former German importer März has discontinued it's
activities for Moto Morini. |
lhs: Scrambler;
middle: 1200 Sport,
rhs: Granpasso |
Granpasso |
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Restauration 350 Sport (1975)
In March 2010, your webmaster bought himself a 'project bike'. The bike was not found in a forgotten henhouse, but in a normal
garagebox. Unfortunately, it had been left standing there for years. Certain parts were missing. Due to the cost of restauration,
but also to be able 'to enjoy' all aspects of this restauration, it will take some time before the bike is brought back to her old
glory. You can find the page on the restauration through this link and read about the
progress made so far. |
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Looking back at the Milano-Taranto 2011 edition
Clubmember Roel participated together with his father Cees and sister Linda. Both Roel and Cees are formidable riders!
Roel won the 350cc Sportclass of the 2007 Milano-Tatanto edition on his 3½ Sport. In 2011 Roel, Cees and Linda all three
joined on a Motobi. Linda on a 'Imperiale Sport Special' (really a Benelli). Both Roel and Cees on two Zanzani replicas
which they also use for racing at the Dutch CRT. A nice
photo/video impression of their sportive effort can be found on Youtube through this
link.
No need to say Milano-Taranto is the ultimate challenge for any classic motorcycle fan! |
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Standard carburettors on the 125/250/350/500cc models
The British Dellorto importer Eurocarb ltd. kindly supplied us with two pages
from a Dellorto catalogue. In this catalogue an overview of the carburettors used by the
factory on the various 125/250/350/500cc models. Of course also details on the (standard) jets, needle, float and slide are
included.
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Photo pages of the 21st international Moto Morini meeting, held in June
2010 in Morano-sul-Po/Italy.
Finally, your webmaster finished the pages about this very nice meeting in Italy. This time
not a written report, but photopages instead. Let the images tell the story!
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Badges for bikes!
Frequently we receive question with regard to badges for the 350/500cc models. Also the Sport badge on the cockpit for certain
models is wanted. Unfortunately, even in Italy it can hardly be found anymore. A Morini owner from New Zealand made new ones CNC
machined. According to us: a very neat job and worth a mention and a link.
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Celebration 25th anniversary of Moto Morini Club Nederland on May 15/16
The 25th anniversary celebration of Moto Morini Club Nederland took place on May 15/16. On Friday, the first participants
arrived in Hengelo (Gld). On Saturday morning, most of the participants had arrived. We welcomed a delegation of six Morini
Riders from Brittain, as well as six participants from Germany, three of our own Clubmembers from Belgium and last, but
certainly not least: Søren came all the way from Denmark!! A trip of ±650km's (over 400 mls) one way!!
In the afternoon the engines were fired up and we made a nice tour through the surroundings. After our return in Hengelo, the
bbq started. We had plenty of time for a good chat with everybody. One thing worth mentioning: we rounded up the highest
amount of Moto Morini bikes on Dutch soil. Worth a mention in the Guinness book of records!! Through these links you will
find two photo pages: Søren's photoalbum and a
photopage with an impression of the meeting on Saturday.
In this topic
of our Forum, more and links to foto's en video's (of the races!). Clubmember Tommy (with the yellow Corsaro 1200) even
started a Hyves page (similar to Facebook etc.) on Moto Morini with photo's of the meeting in Hengelo
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The 'benzina' magazine is very much worth it. Very different to the usual, not only the square book like format, but also the
quality of print and of course, the very unusual stories on Italian motorbikes. Stories you don't read so much North of the Alps.
Unless perhaps, you own an Italian bike yourself. In that case it's still worth it, as you read about makes other than your own.
In benzina 01, (the spirit of the open road), 15 different stories of Italian motorbikes, written with different perspective.
Ducati, Morini, Mondial, Gilera, Guzzi, Laverda, the lot. Anyone into Classic Italian bikes should try this new magazine. And it's
not a magazine which you finish in 10 minutes either.
Well, enough of this, see for yourself. ISSN 2043-0744 and see teambenzina.co.uk
or telephone: +44 (0)1380 812176
Greg Pullen, the initiator, has done an excellent job! Think such an brave initiative should be supported in economic difficult times. |
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In Italy, a new book was published on Moto Morini. A comprehensive
history of Moto Morini, a racing and road-going motorcycle manufacturer founded in the second half of the ’30s,
had yet to be written. Anyway, the activity of Alfonso Morini goes back to the ’20s when, together with Mario
Mazzetti, a great fan of the two wheels and excellent technician, he gave birth to another famous marque, the MM,
lately left by Morini (1937) to found a firm under his own family name. The celebrated Italian marque is now about
to enjoy a second, or perhaps even a third youth, following its latest relaunch. This book tells the story of the
company from its origins to the present day, tackling the industrial and sporting issues as well as engineering
matters thanks to the technical expertise of the author Massimo Clarke. The text is supported by a vast archive
of largely unpublished images made available by the company itself. See
for details
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New page on parts catalogues and owner manuals
We have extended our stock on owner manuals and part catalogues for many Moto Morini manuals.
Have a look on the new page. Of course your can order
them on-line through the form at the bottom of that same page. |
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Racing in the past
In the 1960’s, Moto Morini were very successful at motorcycle racing. In this story, published in 'Motor Cyclist Illustrated' from 1964, you can read about the role of the Morini founder Alfonso Morini (1898-1969). It explains his cooperation with a number of others, which helped Tarquinio Provini to nearly becoming world champion on the 250GP racer back in 1963. He only missed out by 2 points in that year. |
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Photo's of the bikes of participants to the Moto Morini International Mailinglist now
on-line
Back in 1998, Ian Clark from Australia started an international mailinglist on Moto Morini.
(Register through this link). "The list" is very
active and many of the participants have posted photo's of their bikes.
So far, there are pictures of bikes located in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand,
South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America. |
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Fastest single of the world
In 1963 Tarquinio Provini was 2 points short to become Worldchampion 250cc.
In "Legend Bike" no. 139 from April 2004, there was a very interesting article on Provini's 250cc Moto Morini racer,
written by Paolo Conti. We are fortunate to present both an English as well as a
Dutch translation on this very interesting "fastest single of the world". |
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Repair mono shock for the Kanguro models in Germany
Repair for leaking mono shock absorbers on the Kanguro is possible in Germany. Follow this link. |
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Moto Morini 500 Turbo (prototype)
In 2005, all eyes are focussed on both the new Corsaro 1200 and 9½ models (see elswhere on this page). In 1982
however Moto Morini was working on a 500 Turbo. A bike which never was taken into production, but the British magazine
'Bike' published an article about the development of this model. A 'must' for Moto Morini enthousiasts! The 500 Turbo was
also mentioned by ing. Franco Lambertini in his interview with Motociclismo
d'Epoca (Aug./Sept. 2002). You can find the 'Bike' article following this link. |
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Buyer's Guide Moto Morini 3½ Strada
Italian magazine "Motociclismo d'Epoca" of September/October 2003 published a buyers guide of the
3½ Strada/Touring model. Moto Morini Club Nederland proudly presents the English and Dutch versions of this excellent
article. |
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Mopeds built by Moto Morini versus mopeds with a Morini Franco Motori engine
Moto Morini built mopeds in the 1960s and 1970s under the name "Corsarino" (=little Pirat), other factories used
engines made by Morini Franco Motori. This article explains the differences. |
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New rubber pins for sidecovers
Moto Morini Club Nederland has had new rubber pins made, which hold the sidecovers on the V-twin models and 125/250
singles. Order on-line. On this page, also available owner manuals, part catalogues and workshop manuals. |
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Club History Moto Morini Club Nederland was founded back in 1985 by ms. Lil
Kremers from Tilburg, the Netherlands. |
November 2010
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