Driving report Moto Morini 1200 Sport

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Driving report Moto Morini 1200 Sport
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Driving report Moto Morini 1200 Sport

Game of contrasts

Classic lines, a sporty chassis and a thick engine: Moto Morini has opted for a mix of styles with the 1200 Sport. MOTORRAD drove a pre-production copy.

A certain excitement cannot be concealed on the way to the on-site visit at Moto Morini in the Bolognese suburb of Casalecchio. After all, the only roadworthy copy of the brand new one is waiting there 1200 sports ?? Pre-series, of course. So far, only factory drivers have been allowed to move it. Now it is available to MOTORRAD for a day for the first test drive. As a result, do not make an embarrassing appearance and do not throw it away, is the pulse-accelerating motto. Shortly afterwards the tension subsided because the 1200 Sport knows how to make friends straight away. The slightly forward-leaning seating position behind the 21-liter tank fits like a tailor-made glove and is immediately familiar. The thick V-twin cylinder with its 1187 cm³ bubbles so eagerly that it could hardly wait for the exit. Nothing like getting down from the works yard and into Italian life.

At first with reduced power, because Italy is no longer what it used to be. Monitored light barriers and countless traffic lights line the busy arterial road, the 1200 Sport hardly gets beyond the permitted 90 km / h at first. But their soft throttle response makes even such a stop-and-go stutter bearable, especially since the frequent starts at the traffic lights allow first tastings of the spirited 120 hp. The torque surges so powerfully that the front wheel suddenly lifts off. So to be on the safe side, shift up early with the well-stepped transmission.


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The components are high quality and the seating position is great.

Kurzhuber grumbles comfortably to himself at a slow pace. It is time to elicit a little lightning and thunder on one of the numerous bends in the nearby Apennines. The pass road winds steeply upwards, on the distant two thousand meter peaks the snow still glistens. But now is no time for natural beauties, the 1200er is let off the leash. She nimbly whets over the narrow, heavily repaired strip of asphalt, follows the given line precisely even on this bumpy stretch and also takes hairpin bends with grace and nonchalance. However, the fork disturbs the harmony a little, as it often noticeably transmits hits. On a slow sightseeing tour at the top of the pass, the slight steering angle is also noticeable, which is particularly annoying when maneuvering in the parking lot.

Take a short break to finally watch the 1200 Sport at leisure? In the factory yard, out of sheer greed to drive, it was only enough for a cursory glance. Morini has put a classically inspired motorcycle on its wheels, with a clear line without unnecessary frills. The color scheme was inspired by the Aston Martin racing cars of the late 1950s, which is how the name Sport came about. The dark green-yellow paint and the white frame make the machine.

Great design and fine material


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Mix of styles: modern technology with water-cooled short-stroke V2, plus classic elements such as spoked wheels and oval start number plates.

The thick frame tubes contrast with the elegantly curved tank, the filigree spoked wheels with the lush braking system, the mighty fork with the slender strut, the round headlight with the modern LED light at the rear. There are also high-quality components such as the two unusually shaped stainless steel bags, the satined mirrors, handlebars and two-arm swing arm made of aluminum. The brand name is emblazoned in a raised manner and not as a plain sticker on the tank; the developers embedded the ignition lock in low-vibration soft plastic. With so much attention to detail, the price of 11,490 euros seems appropriate, especially since only European components are used. A small blemish, a horizontal notch in the swing arm, should disappear in series production.

The way back towards Bologna takes you via a well-developed mountain and valley railway. The extremely short-stroke 1200 V2 shows its power to the full on the fast track. You can’t get enough of the power with which it accelerates homogeneously out of every corner. The Brembo stoppers are also allowed to prove their skills here and grip hard, but easily dosed. The increasing and decreasing thunder of the engine underlines the wild ride on the lonely route. Music to the ears of every two-cylinder fan.

Everything went well, no embarrassments to report. At Moto Morini, chief engineer Franco Lambertini awaits ?? yes, exactly the one who developed the legendary 3½ ?? the return of his favorite. ?? In the series, instead of the Pirelli Phantom, we are assembling the Diablo with a softer carcass, which improves the response of the fork ?, he promises. ?? We’ll check that again. ?? Series production will begin these days; From the end of May the 1200 Sport should be at the German dealer.

Plus minus

PLUS:
Motor strong and homogeneous
High quality components
Successful seating position

MINUS:
Steering angle pretty low
Gabel does not respond well
Side stand too long

Technical data Moto Morini 1200 Sport

engine
Water-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke 87-degree V-engine, two overhead, gear / chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, injection, ø 54 mm, regulated catalytic converter, 460 W alternator, 12 V / 14 Ah battery , hydraulically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.
Bore x stroke 107.0 x 66.0 mm
Cubic capacity 1187 cm³
Compression ratio 12.5: 1, rated output 88.0 kW (120 PS) at 8500 rpm
Max. Torque 102 Nm at 6700 rpm chassis

landing gear
Steel tubular frame, upside-down fork, ø 50 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, double disc brake at the front, ø 320 mm, four-piston fixed callipers, disc brake at the rear, ø 220 mm, two-piston fixed caliper.
Spoked wheels with aluminum rims 3.50 x 17; 3.50 x 17
Tires 120/70 R 17; 180/55 R 17

Dimensions + weights
Wheelbase 1470 mm, steering head angle 65.5 degrees, caster 100 mm, suspension travel f / h 150/150 mm, seat height 800 mm, weight with a full tank of 215 kg, tank capacity / reserve 21 / 4.5 liters, three-year guarantee
Colors yellow / green, white / blue
Price 11490 euros

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