Morini's are the most underrated classic bike out there.

Such a Morini is an unfulfilled bucker list wish for me.

I bet I'm not the only one to have watched this with a nostalgic tear in the eye. I too had a 350 bought new in 1982 which I kept for about five years. The engine was reliable, the electrics less so and the speedo would swing around wildly. Nonetheless I look back on it very fondly, it was full of character and a dream to work on back in the days when you did all your own maintenance, needing only a decent tool kit and an understanding of how it worked. I would love to have another for old times sake.

Excellent video with a lot of insight. In 1982 I was choosing my first real bike. I was not sure if getting the Moto Morini 3 1/2 or the Moto Guzzi V35. The MM 500 had known issues with the starter motor, the 3 1/2 was sexy and fast but I wanted a reliable bike. The V35 was the little sister of the V50 used by the town police, so i went for the V35. (the 500 cc bikes were out of the question for the high tax mentioned here and as my mother would have said NO) It was a good choice, i crossed crossed Europe with that. Now people believe they need a BMW GS 1250 or ca clone for such travels, and they call it "adventure". Things for sure have changed.

When I was young I dreamt of the Morini 500 and the Ducati Pantah 500. Beautiful classics.

Owned a 1986 Moto Morini Camel 500 which was a dual-purpose bike that was a blast to ride--light, beautiful handling and easy maintenance. Bought it at a Moto Morini dealership in Port Clinton, PA--Hermy's shop. Now a Moto Guzzi owner--love Italian bikes--mike

I had a 500 engine in a 350 frame... oh yes!!

Bellissima moto, nel 81 avevo 19 anni e possedevo una 350 sport in Italia si doveva avere 21anni per guidare cilindrate superiori, ma la ricordo con piacere, perché la possedeva un mio amico più grande di me. Ogni tanto me la faceva provare in zone poco trafficate, non era tanto più potente della mia, ma la coppia e l'elasticità di marcia era superiore e la trovavo anche più confortevole. Complimenti per la scelta, è una moto con un ottimo motore ed una tenuta di strada perfetta e costi di gestione ridotti, le moto Morini avevano motori con un ottima termodinamica e molto affidabili. Ti mando un saluto speciale dal lago maggiore e buona fortuna e buon viaggio ciao Morinista.

Excellent, I enjoyed the video. I founded the Monterey Bay ( California) European motorcycle Club in 1982 with long time friend and Ducati 900 rider Jim Brewer ( RIP) I have owned about 50 bikes, to include 15 BMWs 65-1990 . One Norton Commando, a Benelli Tornado SS ( not an S2), 2 Guzzi LeMans and many other bikes.. But my all time favorites.. MOTO MORINI.. A Tutto Gaz ! My first purchased from Herm Baver in Pennsylvainia, a BMW dealer and the USA importer of Moto Morini. There was another coupe, of con artists who claimed to be the US distributor (between Santa Rosa and Napa Ca) but they were frauds, the infamous Slater Bros.. More on them later. I bought a 500 Sport, red of course but more like the MAESTRO colors at 11:15 of your video. Gold and black pin stripes, gold wheels. , 5 speed 1 1/2 person up-swept saddle. Beautiful bike with a few short comings easliy done> First, yank the ridiculous air box out form under the fuel tank. Next, replace the carbs with 30mm , step up the idle jet and the main jet.. that is the biggest problem with hard starting, they are starving for gas. Install proper air filters foam type, light coat of oil. Next install the L5 cam shaft.. easy , done in a few hours. Next take a long length of ready bolt ( long threaded rod) 5/16ths or 3/8ths, get a hole saw and fix it to the rod. The attach to a drill. go back to your mufflers.. get some oil down onto the muffler.. and a liberal amount of the hole saw and insert until you hit a wall, bore through it.. Some of these mufflers have two of them.. it is a smog restricter just as the winky little carb jets and the air restricting original air cleaners. Do both sides.. You can then light up the bike and burn out the oil, or be dainty and remove them and clean them out with a solvent. Next ..bag those ridiculous front foot pegs and get some Tarozzi rear sets. And here in the states the bikes were sold with a kit to put the gear lever on the correct side.. 15 minute job. Next Dismantle the electric starter drum.. knock out the too small bad material shoes and get some Ferodo brakes or some other high quality brakes.. and cut them up and glue them in place of the originals. Now your bike will start. I also cut the stalks on all the turn signals, shortened them and reinstalled them I also moved the rear fender forward and bit.. as in drill new holes and rotate forward. Forget what else I did.. that was 82. Following that 500 Sport bought a 250 Sport...The n a 350 Sport which I rode from Kingston Wash. to Pacific Grove Calif .. 1014 mile sin 18 hrs 10 minutes. Then bought another 250 sport then a 500 Camel. More on those later.

I rode one of these. It was the smaller 350 V-Twin. I can ride wheelies with it!! Soft power and good torque. It was a fun bike.

My first bike back in 1989 Canguro 350, after 4-5 years i bought another one and a third for spare parts. My heart gets excited only by seeing the logo...in a positive way, ofcourse.

Hi 👋 Sir, what a nostalgic bike. The factory you showed was based in Casalecchio di Reno, right where I live and Mr. Morini’s daughter has been a customer of my father who had a paintings and frames shop/lab for 54 years in the centre of Bologna. I remember when I was a kid I used to read my uncle’s motorbikes magazine for entire afternoons during summer vacation and those were the bikes that made me dream of freedom with air through my hair and the cutest classmate holding her arm around my waist. Anyway I think that its designer is the same who several years later designed the new Corsaro 1200.

Lovely! Removing the fairing was a wise move. The 500 is probably a better engine than the 350, although it lacks the mystique. A Morini makes no sense until you have ridden one. After you have ridden one, other bikes seem odd. On the public highway, one-up, a Morini is perfect. Fun on a track, too, but not the quickest. I ended up with a compromise... A 501 big valve motor in a 350 Sport frame. Which I thought was perfect.

There was a Italian bike dealer in Conneticut in the 70s that had morinis I remember the big 3/1-2 on the side covers very stylish in its day

Very nice bike with super efficient brakes. The 350 cc model was even more fun to ride!

Beautiful bike and a really interesting video. You guys are really living the dream. Great channel.

I've never seen one here in the American Colonies. I've read about them, and have always admired their look and exotic qualities. Thanks for presenting this one!

Always loved the 3 1/2 and 500 Morini. Just beautiful machines.

Another treat to watch. I knew nothing about Morini other than they are an Italian manufacturer. Every upload is an education for me and a total joy to watch. Keep up the good work guys. I get excited when you upload a new video and I’m sure I am not the only one.

Beautifull motorbike !! and that sound.. Thanks for sharing ! Greetz from The Old Mechanic, ride save 👨‍🔧--->🏍

One of my favorite KZfaq channels. Thanks.

I run a 3 n 1/2 drum brake sport. Unbelievably light, revs out real easy, inherently handles, but yea one of the best looking bikes ever.

'Better for longer distances' (lol)... I had a 3 1/2 Strada that I rode from Calgary to Vancouver and back (900 km each way) four times.When it reached 65 thousand km it was getting pretty long in the tooth (ridden hard ~ put away wet) so I gave it to an employee of mine at the time as his first bike. One of my favorite bikes ever. Now I ride a V7 ... apple didn't fall far for the tree. Nice video. Thank you.

'...the 3 1/2 couldn't pull a boy scout off a grandmother' Hilarious! Great review Mike - gets better with every episode. Like most, I was only aware of the smaller machine, so it's great to see this review. I also got very excited to see a BMW R90s at the beginning - I have a '76 in grey.

Nobody has forgotten these exceptional bikes !! The Morini club is stronger now than 40 years ago Superb Machines

I saw them in a shop I frequented in the 70's, but never saw one on the road. That's a very interesting design, never saw the combustion chamber before. Thanks for all the detailed current information.

'Wouldn't pull a boy scout off a grandmother'? I'm too afraid to ask what you mean 🤣

I own a 1974 drum-braked 3 1/2. IMHO the best of the breed…

love the bike Richard ,another excellent video always love the look of the 350 but they were so small .the 500 looks like the perfect bike for the Shropshire back roads.look forward to seeing it in the future .

Bennelli is also bought by Zhongshan.

Richard spoke particular well, informative and interesting.

Early Moroni's had a double sided twin leading shoe front brake which, at that time, was the best best braking / handling bike I had ridden. A thing of joy on a highland road. Brings a smile to my face remembering the rides.

Our local Kawasaki dealer was also the agent for Morini and I wanted one of these with all my heart !!!! BUt.....ended up with a Z100ST....in the day.

Laverda Jota owner here, very interesting video guys.thanks.

I have a 1978 500 W/Strada since 2000,a 1974 3 1/2 Sport,1978 250 T single and 1956 Sbarazzino 98cc,you could say I'm a fan of Morini's,I would make one correction to the commentary,the 9 1/2 is still a 1200(1187)cc but with a detuned 117 bhp motor.

I had one many years ago...350 Standard in blue...Spoke wheels and drum brakes...Gorgeous italian design,gorgeous sound of little ,tiny engine,roaring like far more bigger bikes(on exhaust pipes was graved "decibel" and really did this job good..!! Very easy to handle,but full of italian temperament and sporty heart...From two thousand revs till five and half it drove like normal bike with incredible and deep sound,but from five to eight and half revs it changed sound into sporty roar and complete character of bike changed...Not my real taste of bike....I am calm driver with no sporty feeling...Sold it with no regrets...!

I also hankered after these when they came out. This is a very nice example. Great to see you boys doing another video. nice one!

That is a really good looking bike...

Great video for a great bike manufacturer. Nice to see a radical design and approach to making bikes.

I throughly enjoyed your video. A very good friend of mine purchased a brand new 3.5 sport on 1981. It was like nothing else on the market at that time and having ridden pillion on the machine, remember the pure character, exhaust note, handling and fun. Your videos are fantastic 👍

Looks like a fun ride. I don't recall ever seeing one in Canada. Thanks for sharing!

Lovely bike Richard and very interesting history of the brand. Thank you more please.

Like the bit about your mother saying no. My mother wouldn’t let me have a new Kawasaki KH 250 😊

I had a Morini 350 which developed a serious engine fault, it needed new engine crank cases, basically. I sold it as a non-runner project as the spares situation seems to be perilous now that North Leicester Motorcycles have closed and there's very little left in Italy. They're lovely bikes but I would be concerned about owning one again due to the spares supply.

Always had Guzzis without any regrets. Had Ducatis, too, but never a Morini. Quite fancy a 500 if one came my way as they’re light, economical, offer good road holding and, crucially, have that added Italian charisma. Thanks for posting.

Wonderful! In 1982 I bought a new Kawasaki GPz 550 and I don't remember seeing the MotoMarinis at the time where I lived in Western Canada. It would have been a good choice back then.

I have a 350 sport in Canada. It’s only weakness is ignition that I corrected with a vee twin ignition system from California designed for HD.

Yep! I bought one in 1981. Loved it.

What a total stunner! The camera really likes the bike. I particularly enjoyed the tank, the top curves are superb, also the details stand out nicely, the 500 badge is eye candy too. Great video.

Definitely, screen OFF !! Another lovely bike. I always loved the 3 1/2 particularly the early 'Sport' with the Grimeca front drum brake. I didn't really take to the 500s but this one is such an eyeful of beautuful Italian lines, what a great find, no wonder Rich' bought it. Great video, thank you.

I have an original patina 3 1/2 (350) Sport - 1974 drum-braked model - which is IMHO the best of the breed. They have their limitations - don’t try selecting neutral once you have stopped, and no neutral light. RHS gear change. Mine has rear sets and the monoposto seat which is fine for me at age 68. I’ve replaced headlight with an LED replacement and speed is now GPS one. Much better because the original speedo is like most of the era, useless. I’ve got all the original bits and wired the loom so the original bits can go back on quite quickly. Lovely little bike to ride and the front brake is awesome. Speaking of RD350s as you were, you have to row the 350 along like a two stroke to get any pace out of them. They love to rev.

"It couldn't pull a boy scout off a grandmother..." 😆A different generation obviously. 😂

Just one of the bikes lusted after when I was a teenager in the seventies, but everything from Italy back then cost two year’s wages! Still, I probably should have bought that SS900 with my college grant, eh?

Had a new 500 Morini in 1979, I do miss it! It wasn't a Sport, so Black frame and candy apple red.

Nice one love the look of all these Morinis

Richard is a wealth of information when it comes to vintage motorcycles. (I'd like to get my fly rod and fish that river behind him.)

I saw one years ago in California. It was red and looked like the one your reviewing.

Great video as usual MIke, I love two brands of Italian bikes, one Bimota and the other Moto Morini, especially the mid 1970's 3 1/2 Sport

There is something of a resemblance to a Kawasaki Z500 of that time. Good looking bike, anyhow.

Very nice bike, never saw one in Canada even didn't know it existed. Thank you for sharing these unique bikes !

Always loved the 3 1/2 and 500 Morinis. Still affordable...spare parts are sometimes a little bit problematic.

The Kawasaki dealer in Caterham Surrey also sold Ducati, Moto Guzzi and Moto Morini back in the late 70s/ early 80s

This is an excellent channel.

Great video of a great bike👍 PS Rykas at Boxhill do a wonderful lemon drizzle cake😊

Thoroughly enjoyable episode. The 3 ana half sport may have been rare in the UK, I owned mine in mid eighties Dublin, I think it was the only one around. Such a joy, both on the road and on the eye.

Great coverage of the Morini. I own a 70's 350 Strada and adore it. So light, nimble and sublime handling. I bought a couple of years ago. I have enough bikes of my own to compare it to. My very highly tuned LeMans is great but is brutal and I certainly wouldn't use for short local trips. I have a 67 Bonnie, and am not sure about your comparison between this Morini and the earlier Triumphs. I used to ride a 73 Daytona. Great handling but thrived on revs. I live up in the Pennines and most of our roads are small and twisty. Can't think of a better place to ride the Morini. It was an object of lust for me as a teenager and I'm so glad to have finally got the opportunity to own one. Its a keeper.

Wow. What a motorcycle. And very good overview/history of Moto Morini. I would definitely love to own a Morini in future, when/if an opportunity comes. -From California, USA.

I have owned two Moto Morini 3-1/2 Stradas at different times and they were both fantastic bikes.

Great stuff again lads! Really tweaked my desire buttons. I have very fond memories of the 3 and a half. Can’t wait till the next vid 👍🏼👍🏼

I have several Moto Morini bikes including 350 sports and a 500 W, the 500 is very similar engine feel to a 500 Triumph Daytona that I used to borrow when I was a lot younger. Morini are very under rated bike a absolute hoot to ride with a very good riders club in the uk. Good review, but as Morini Dave said the the new 9.5 bike is a 1200 cc bike.

Thank you for this very informative review of Morini history. As the original owner of a 1978 3 1/2 Sport (last ridden in 1983) i greatly enjoyed learning more about Morini. Found your video while searching for photos of a Morini Dart. I plan to put a full fairing on my sport, probably something from airtech.

Thanks guys for this video. There's definitely a vacancy for Morini 500 stuff on KZfaq! I'm coming to the end of a year long restoration of my 1978 500, which I have changed to Sport spec including Tarozzi rearsets. It would be good to meet up once I'm done - not too far away in Northwich.

Keep up the good work chaps, great to watch

Wow, such a beautiful bike.

What a gread video ... and what a rare motorcycle. I only saw the Morini 3 1/2 Sport one time in my life and one time the normal version just 2 or 3 years ago. Not sure if I remember right but I guess one daughter of the Morini boss married an engineer from Ferrari.

my dad had a 3 1/2 strader a 1980

I had a 500MM in the `80s.had a love/hate relationship with it,The best handling bike I`ve ridden.Worst electrics i`ve ever had on a bike.Sold it in disgust after 3 years,mist it ever since.Had the opportunity to buy a 350 about 20 years later,its still in parts .I have to pull my finger out and put it back together.Australia

We had the 350 here in South Africa in the early 80's don't recall any 500's they were quite a few around. Like all bikes in those days they were thrashed to death just like the Yamaha triples and water cooled 550 and 400 V Twin XZ Yamaha's, I doubt if more than a handful still exist

What a beautiful machine!

I drew a 350 Spada in school.😉 Never had a go of the little Italian marque though.Good looking bike.Keep up the good work 👌

I rode with a guy that had a 3 1/2 here in California. Quite a beautiful bike. When I think of the Moto Morini I think about their older bikes I didn't know that they made bikes in the '70s and '80s and even in the 2000s. I like the newer designs a lot. But it all comes down to dealer and at work and having trained mechanics which is a hard part for even established companies. But I would like to see them around!

Beautiful.. Anything Italian. ANYTHING ITALIAN...

Nice to see a mint example! A few years ago I bought one, engine overhauled not even broken in, came with all bills. But the rest was so bad, brakes, switchgear all rotten. And what's more, these bikes don't have battery-coil ignition. Rather a sort of magneto, so called transducers. Anyhow, I put it up for sale and it was gone in a minute.

I never rode one, but thought they were a lovely looking bike. All Italian bikes were expensive compared to the Japanese stuff, I paid £3100 for a one year old Laverda Jota 120 in 1982. Which I think was about twice the price of a Z900?

The origin Morini,s were outstanding

Nice bike and a very enjoyable and informative presentation of the brand. I actually think that that seat gimmick is pretty cool!

It was my first bike in early 90's. More time pushing it than riding...

I remember seeing a road test in one of the bike magazines. Sad story, so many changes of ownership.

I had a three and a half strada 40 years ago with ace bars not much power but a nice ride gear shift on the right handled really well but build quality wasn't up to being an every day ride consequently didn't keep it for long but still remember it fondly

Nice looking bike

I’m enjoying your classic bike videos. I ride a BMW R1200S (2006), which I’m hoping to see become a rare classic. Visited the Deer Barn Cafe at Bradgate Park near Leicester, and tried their lemon drizzle cake. Very nice, but I’m more of a carrot cake man myself. The Carrot Cake Mob - has a certain menace to it. Keep up the good work.

Great video again Mike Lovely machine Great channel 👍😎😎

I always wanted a 500 Morini . I did have an SF2 Laverda ; character and muscle forming machine !

I owned a black 500 sei which I loved when it worked it was my first big bike. The electric start never worked and the switch gear was pretty poor. I can remember when cagiva bought the company and more or less butchered the range they did put better electrics on them but dropped the sport and the strada and gave us the dart , the New York and the Excalibur ( I am not too sure if the kangaroo and the camel/Sahara were kept in production). I would have loved them to have tried the new electrics on the old bikes as the 500 was a lot better than the Guzzi V50 .

Very nice bike, engine looks great.

We had a little Moto Morini dealer in Venice Florida on the island. I was looking for a bigger bike and they looked good. He also had a 1929 Henderson on the showroom floor and he said that his dad and his grandpa were Henderson dealers and when Henderson stopped business they went around to all the dealers locally they could have brought up all their inventory and then they started in a warehouse for 30 years. When the son inherited the warehouse and saw what they were paying he said you have to pay today's rates or or move. They had like 60 Henderson, so they divided them up among the family members usually what he was here these type of stories you blow it off is bulshit but he had the bike sitting in the showroom. Brand spanking new but big heavy and crude kind of like a steam locomotive everything was cast out of iron it looks like you could hit a car with it and not damage the bike it was built that solidly. The 500 was priced around $2,800. I ended up buying a CX500 because of the driveshaft.

Hi guy’s. Just recently came across your channel and after watching the second video I just had to like and subscribe. Love the passion and interest you have in some cracking bikes, some of which I longed for back in my day but unfortunately where out of my price range. I had a Suzuki 125 Stinger a TS 250 Hustler and a Yamaha YDS 7 to name but a few. I had a longing for a Morini 3 1/2 as they looked great and was something a bit different. Loved this video on the 500 and can’t wait to see what you come up with next.keep up the good work. Best wishes, Steve.

Dream bike. Had a Honda CB100N! Everywhere at 11,000 rpm.

Very good.

What a great bike! Conversation starter at the gas pumps I’m sure.