Used to lust after this bike as a teenager, big poster on the wall and read every test that I could get my hands on. A teenage budget was never going to afford it though....They weren't widely available in Australia I think Ron Angel in Melbourne was the distributor, certainly there were no dealers anywhere near where we lived. In the end a second hand 750 GT Ducati took my money! I'm loving this channel guys, these are really good reviews of interesting bikes by knowledgeable owners. Top job!
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Hey Dan, thanks for letting us know what you think and taking the time to write some interesting comments!
@chrisheggie952 Жыл бұрын
Likewise saw my first Moto Morini as a teenager in the '70s, a 31/2 on the Kew Boulevard Melbourne and fell in lust (not least because it had a gorgeous young lady at the bars) but could never afford one. Have wanted one or a 500 ever since.
@kalgaramerinos7085 Жыл бұрын
@@chrisheggie952 Ha a gorgeous young lady will do that every time.....!! Recently I was lucky enough to spend 3 days at Giro Australia run out of Woodford in Qld and there were some very nice Morini 3 1/2's there. No gorgeous young ladies though - only 60 and 70 year old blokes that haven't grown up....
@duplexpete25753 жыл бұрын
Brilliant, thank you John, I recently sold my 1975 Sport because I have too many bikes, regretted it the day I sold it, and still regret it today, wonderful bikes.
@artfantasies3 жыл бұрын
Saw a Morini 3 1/2 Sport only 2 times in my life, it's quite a small built motorcycle but a great bike :) ... a really "fine piece of Italian art"
@JR-bj3uf Жыл бұрын
I have owned two Strada 3-1/2 Moto Morinis at two different times and I have to admit to them being two of my all time favorite bikes. They were reliable. The wiring was sensible. The power was usable and the bikes were oh so much fun to ride.
@alfonso56463 жыл бұрын
Beautiful bike and very well restored! Congratulations! Not many videos available talking about these jewels. My dad gave me his Moto Morini 500 Sport from 1979 and I’ve been restoring it. The rare occasions she’s not being fixed (electronic issues mainly) I am enjoying like a child. Very rare bike in Madrid too
@dago_07303 жыл бұрын
So glad to see an Italian bike reviewed from abroad. A friend of mine, an old dude, has owned it for decades and the bike has marked over 190.000 km, while the engine was rebored only not to long ago. Awesome machine. Weight, power, fuel consumption perfectly balanced. Once in a while, we got to ride together and the Moto Morini always captures the scene. Hate to say it, but they don't do bikes like it anymore.
@just_trucking_about3 жыл бұрын
I lusted after one of these when I first saw one in the late 70's , I’ve spent the best part of 50 years on two wheels and in all that time I have never lost my enthusiasm for motorcycles, but for reasons I wont bore you with in recent years I'd lost my enthusiasm for riding them regardless of what machinery I bought in an attempt to reignite the passion for the open road. That was until I bought a 1975 - 3 1/2 sport earlier this year at the end of the first lockdown. To give what I'm about to say some perspective, I'm fortunate enough to drive Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, plus a variety of other high end and high performance cars for a job on a daily basis. After buying my 3 1/2 I couldn't wait for the working day to be over just so I could get home pull the cover off the Morini and ride. It may be small in capacity but it's huge on smiles. The instant you kick the compact V twin in to life everything about the bike from it's beautiful looks, the rattle from the dry clutch as you squeeze the lever, the light nimble handling you'd expect from an Italian sport bike, right down to the growl of induction noise that resonates through the fuel tank when you grab a handful of throttle and accelerate down the road, this bike doesn't disappoint and delivers every bit as much as it's cafe racer looks promise. The Morini takes pride of place in my garage. When not riding it I'm finding excuses to go out to the garage to tinker, or even just to look at it. It's a bike I'll never part with it. You can call me a sentimentalist if you like and they say you should never meet your heroes, but in this instance that saying couldn't be further from the truth. If like me you lusted after a Moto Morini 3 1/2 in your youth and up till now have never owned or had the opportunity to ride one do yourself a huge favour, track one down, (In my opinion the 74 and 75 models are the prettiest) and buy it, Un pezzo d'arte Italiana...... PS.. Pete, I'm sorry I pestered you in to selling me your bike (I don't mean this disrespectfully but, not sorry)
@carljones83343 жыл бұрын
Just got two words for you; Lucky bugger.
@fanbatcher2 жыл бұрын
I have owned 4 or 5 3 1/2 Sports from 1975-81. All fantastic machines but my 250 2V twin really stole my heart…
@slartybartfarst97373 жыл бұрын
Bought my 74 350 sport a few years ago. Needed a bush on the crank, simple to work on. Well made engine, engine casings held together with M6 Alen screws but M6 nuts on the other side, no threads in alloy to strip and makes for a strong oil tight clamping. Massive roller mains strong motor and so fuel efficient 65mpg thrashing it! Yea this bike grows on you it just all works so well, always come back with a smile on your face after a blast. In reality you only get the best out the front drums when your on it, its a bit of an on/off monster but how cool is this little gem. Hint if you store one, drain fuel run paraffin through it protects seals, alloy and jets from todays aggressive fuels, turn it over now and again to keep the toothed cam belt from taking a set and breaking in use later on.
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Good to hear your perspective on the Moto Morini Graham! Thanks for your comments :)
@elisabattle84563 жыл бұрын
ride moto guzzi now, but have had cagiva, ducati, laverda as well as the 500 cc moto morini camel dual-purpose bike. it was like a 10-speed bicycle with a 500 cc twin engine. loved it. i am 70 years old and have owned bmw, zundapp, indian, triumph, bsa, kawasaki as well as the models above. love the guzzis--mike battle
@richardjohnson34633 жыл бұрын
So simple, so pure. Strada all day!
@markseek57294 ай бұрын
I have recently purchase a 1981 3 1/2 here in NZ thankyou for this post very helpful
@davidburne94772 жыл бұрын
Re the right hand gear change, I have no problem swapping between right hand and left hand gear changes - my 74 3 1/2 Sport is my only right side change, but no problem swapping to my 80s and 90s Guzzis, and my 2017 MV Agusta. Just seems like muscle memory kicks in for each bike…
@del5.02 жыл бұрын
Absolutely gorgous, I have never seen one in real life, only in pictures. This is a real treat for me, John thank you for a great review.
@martinpye5493 жыл бұрын
Had one back in Australia, when I was an apprentice. Gorgeous Grimeca front brake. Sold it to buy a car. Only bike I ever regret selling. It was absolutely beautiful. Had a 500 Sei V sport later on, nice , but no cigar. Only thing i changed was a great set of rear sets. Great video.
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your nice comments Martin!
@martinpye5493 жыл бұрын
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel electrics were awful, though. I'll have another one before i leave this earth.
@peterkoning213 жыл бұрын
The Kawasaki importers were the local agents here.There was one on the floor and I drooled over this beautiful machine !! It was expensive and whenever I came into the shop I would sit on it and drool....trouble was the gear lever was on the 'wrong" side.......I eventually bought an SR500 Yamaha with clip -ons....my cafe racer ! Years later my brother (who collected) acquired one but I still have never ridden one. Still a beautiful motorcycle today !
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Nice story Peter, thanks for sharing :)
@nigelfisher3756 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing - lovely video. Have owned so many bikes over the years I’m entering the autumn of my life and have to reduce my collection. But I think three is the magic number and my ‘new’ and, sadly, final collection, when I offload two old BMWs, will be a Guzzi V7Sport, a Morini 350 Sport (or Strada if cannot source the Sport) and a Guzzi V85TT for the miles.
@no1un0 Жыл бұрын
First bike I ever rode up Mt Dandenong was a friend's 3.5 Morini - blew my socks off! Fantastic handling. I almost came off coming down the tourist road. Beautiful bike.
@nickbishop67843 жыл бұрын
These were always a beautiful little bikes. The 500 sport did give you just that little bit more go though, but lost some of its appeal with disc brakes etc. I used to own a 1976 Benelli 650S2 Tornado Nuova twin. It was the cafe racer version with the flat bars and single hump seat with Perplex handle bar fairing. Quite rare, and good for 57 bhp and a top speed of 126 mph with fettling to the Dellortos and gearing. What thje Benelli and the Morini had in common though was all those magnificicent Italian engineered components. The Morini parts list virtually duplicates those of the Benelli. Lovely bike. Nick Australia
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Nice one Nick, good to hear from you and thanks for your input. I'm sure John will be checking in on the comments and will find your input very interesting. Some good knowledge of Italian bikes over there in Australia!
@gary83972 жыл бұрын
I owned one of these from new. I fitted the optional second front disk brake. It handled brilliantly around tight corners. Had terrible electrics typical Aprilla rubbish at the time. It also had square throat carbies I think Dellorto after a few miles they had worn you would pull up at the lights and find the motor was revving at 3 thousand revs I had to give the carbies a kick to drop the slides. Nice motor brilliant frame crap electrics and carbies. It had from memory a magneto ignition you could take off the lights remove the battery and go cafe racing. The trouble was the electrics would fail no BRAKE lights you had no idea because the engine kept running. All-round lovely handling nice motor crap accessories.
@pernordin99693 жыл бұрын
Very interesting review of a great Italian motorcycle. Hope to see more such personal reviews. Interesting that the reviewed bike has a solenoid controlled fuel tap. Another example of a bike with this feature is the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport.
@migwelz9 ай бұрын
When the 3 1/2 Sport was introduced at the Salone di Milano in 1972, many skeptics (and one-cylinder nostalgics) complained about the risk of the rear cylinder heating up. Lambertini himself explained that this issue had been addressed by the 72° offset of the cylinder and by the position of the rider, whose legs acted as a kind of air deflector. As a matter of fact, the rear cylinder presented a lower temperature than the front one by approximately 2-3 degrees. This might explain the advanced position of the pegs, even if as you said it was common to replace them with a rear Tarozzi set.
@shannonwittman9503 жыл бұрын
In the early 1980's at a time when Japanese bikes were all the rage in the USA, I almost bought a new Moto Morini 3-1/2. I loved the idea of owning a ride that was totally different than what all the other guys were riding, especially with its V-twin config. The reason I didn't buy was because the only dealership in my region (Pacific Northwest Washington) was about 100 miles away; notwithstanding the ride home on the freeway would've been a real kick. Also I worried that Italian mechanicals / electrics would have me stranded from time to time (read: Fiat cars in the 1980's), so I'd likely be trucking my bike for distant repairs on a regular basis. Too bad I didn't know I was completely wrong ... well, not so wrong the electrics. But if such items as the tach failed, that still wouldn't have stopped the bike. And I would've had good reason to enjoy a pleasant 100 mile ride!
@Spodokamono3 жыл бұрын
Hi Shannon, I have relatives in Washington state and have been fortunate to spend a lot of time overthere with them, a truly beautiful part of the world. As a Morini fan and currently an owner of 3 x 3 1/2 sports (74, 77, 78) and previously sold 3 others which I regret, I would be interested to know where the dealership would have been back in the day for you, just curious to know. What bike did you buy instead of the Morini?
@willyrackham29572 жыл бұрын
I had 3 of these all Strada s...no problem s but I knew of people with sports who had problems with the bottom ends .....I tried the 500 but it just wasn't the same I will probably buy a K2 model next year they had most of the problems sorted and are still beautiful....lovely bikes Morini s
@iansellers4065 ай бұрын
Really enjoyed your vidéo ,always loved the Morinis faultless 70s styling
@andywhitmore60782 жыл бұрын
I bought a 74 Strada when I was 18 I saved up and worked all hours it was 4 years old but looked new - it was probably the best bike I have owned and apart from a rear wheel bearing and sometimes being a pig start in the winter didn't give many problems I even used it as a motorcycle courier bike one winter - the clutch did complain ! My brother then built a 500 in a 350 frame which was the dogs nuts. Unfortunately mine got totalled after a car ran into when it was parked and the engine was used for a race bike. The Strada I still on my list to buy again
@piercrick11763 жыл бұрын
Very performing engines, still very enjoyable bikes today.
@thatmanstumototours22702 жыл бұрын
A very well done review of a real beauty. One of these tops my most desirable list. Just look great and are clearly well thought out and built....
@finehit2 жыл бұрын
My twin brother and I had the red sport we took the Mufflers off and put the Shorties glass packs it sounds like a little Harley. Are dad had a motorcycle shop call Cycles Unlimited we sold them Indians bonelli's Norton's BSAs. Then we went to Kawasaki and Suzuki's last but not least Hondas. That's why we were called Cycles Unlimited in Alabama. We had the shop for 42 years and finally closed down after Dad got Alzheimer's. Great video thanks brings back some memories😉🍻🍺
@chrislee78173 жыл бұрын
Very nice review. I had a 3 1/2 Strada back in the day and my mate had a sport. The exhaust and carb rings tended to unscrew but not much else went wrong. Took it to the TT in 1980 👍
@zem6217 Жыл бұрын
I owned a 1976 MM 3 1/2 back in 1981 to 1984. It's also in my "My motorcycle history" video.
@p.istaker88623 жыл бұрын
very good review and enjoyed it. Hope you don't mind me saying , but try to keep the revs down when cold. The valve train relies on splash and mist from the bottom end.
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Good advice P.I! Thanks!
@mystified14292 жыл бұрын
Well that answered something about my '76 Strada. Back in the day it would sound like a bag of nails until warmed up. I always warmed it gently a lower revs. Unbelievably good on the corners , just dropped and picked up treat. True 90mph top speed - clocked by the Old Bill after cornering @ 85 LOL
@paulbryan10133 жыл бұрын
Briefly had a 3 1/2 strada in the late 70s it had ace bars and cornered like it was on rails top end wasn't all that but great fun nice to see one again cheers
@johnburns370310 ай бұрын
Yes beautiful bike, one I have always hankered after having seen a few well kept ones around Edinburgh when I had my Ducati 350 cafe racer. Guzzi 750 S3 next in that evolution.
@garypeatling7927 Жыл бұрын
Sounds magic
@nelsong47193 жыл бұрын
Great presentation. I've always wanted to know more of Moto Morini history and you've provided that. It definitely deserves to be a Classic. I always mix it up with MotoBecane but I guess that's of French origin.
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@bernardo.fazzitta3 жыл бұрын
really nice one. That's called "Tamburone". You should try a 2in1 Valentini or Tarozzi exhaust, then the sound change ;) ciao
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
Great suggestion Bernardo!
@Biker999s Жыл бұрын
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel Sound ( and performance , also ) with a 2in1 Tarozzi is simply amazing . Back in 80's i think there was a club and a magazine in U.K. , called " Α tutto gas " . Really don't know if still exists ...
@willyrackham29575 ай бұрын
Yes the club and magazine are still going ..a.tutto gas ..a twist of the throttle ....I think ...
@sbarrett48262 жыл бұрын
Great bike, one of the real unsung Italian heroes, I have a slightly later sport as well as a 450 Desmo which although nice, is no match for the Morini as an all rounder. The one thing which always surprises me about the sport is their performance, more like a 500 than a 350 really. At one stage I had an RD400 and although the Morini was slightly slower off the mark it made up for it in handling and sure footedness. Just an all round great bike without the fussiness of other Italian brands.
@tagomago21782 жыл бұрын
Hi, you mentioned the Heron heads, but a very unique feature about this engine was the use of a "Desaxe" crankshaft layout which was supposed to increase torque and had an effect on the compactness of the engine. Although I preferred my Dukes and Guzzi`s I always felt the the original Morini Sport in was the most beautiful looking bike ever built
@mozdickson2 жыл бұрын
Saw a lovely model at the Burt Munro Classic 2021
@andwiseman3 жыл бұрын
My dad has a 1980 3/2 Sport that is currently being restored, it's a beautiful bike but a bit too rough on the wrists for me.
@stefaanlowet486917 күн бұрын
great video!
@norbertpecheq34273 жыл бұрын
I had this one in standard or Strada version...It was Italian: Light,temperament ,beautiful and very ,very noisy...!!
@GadgetyMV2 жыл бұрын
They sound great for the displacement. I remember the turbo which had such a sleek design and with the exhaust hidden, but unfortunately never was launched.
@jimmarshall80711 ай бұрын
Cracking bike, although I'd argue that the Laverda Montjuic was the last of the old-school cafe racers
@TheElderlyBiker2 жыл бұрын
What great bikes they were. I never quite got one and ended up buying a Guzzi in the day. Maybe one day......
@alessandroostan50812 жыл бұрын
Franco Lambertini is a genius in a motorcycle world
@adaiuto2 ай бұрын
And he is a beautiful person too. One of the nicest gentleman i met in my life.
@richardpearson42483 жыл бұрын
Great video fantastic bike getting parts must be a nightmare stay safe 🇬🇧👍🏻
@marcbrasse7472 жыл бұрын
Great bike! My Ducati Pantah 600TL also has such a solenoid operated fuel tap so I suppose most Ducati's from the 70 / 80 ties period have them as well.
@coobye3 жыл бұрын
The left hand kick start was probably for ease of starting with a side car attached ( right hand side side car in Europe ) on the touring model..
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
You're probably right about that, good thinking!
@coobye3 жыл бұрын
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel BMW put a kick start on the left hand side for the same reason. Very enjoyable video, keep up the good work. Cheers.
@mikefry67653 жыл бұрын
Couldnt imagine a Morini with a sidecar
@bananaram76113 жыл бұрын
In 86, I had privilege of caring for a moto morini for a week while a friends was out of town. For the last 35 years, I've trying to remember the exact model and year. All I recollect is that the bike was small, drop bars, racing clutch and possibly a single piston. It drove very smooth and fairly quiet. I think it was an inline-single piston configuration; possibly a 550? My friend mentioned that it was a racer for females. I fell in love with this bike with in the week, but alas, had to return it. Any info about this bike would be appreciated. Thank you!
@simoncullum50192 жыл бұрын
Morini made the 350 V twin in the 70's later they made a 250 version along with 500 version . Not sure about singles , nothing bigger than 500cc until they were built much later
@ibast13 жыл бұрын
Always wanted one of these, but unfortunately they are very rare in Australia. I was disappointing when they revived the brand, more recently, they went for big v-twin. Missed the point completely IMO. The original was proof you can ride the world on well designed and build small capacity bikes.
@jamesonpace7263 жыл бұрын
Absolute Beauty...!
@boredmalcontent6 ай бұрын
How tall are you, the bike seems to fit you quite well. I've got a 1974 Ducati 750GT that I'm thinking of selling with a view to buying a 3.5 Strada - I need something lighter at my age!
@demportboy15843 жыл бұрын
As you mentioned, the riding position looks awkward and should have had rear-set's, however, it's a bike I'm not familiar with and found it interesting.
@r6ymy3 жыл бұрын
A friend had a couple of these, first was same spec as this with the round tank and drum brake, then he had the angular tank and disc brake model. He moved to this from a 250 Desmo and I could never understand why. As you point out, the riding position is weird, it doesn't seem to have any performance advantage over the 250 and 350 Desmos myself and another friend had, and working on the engine with him I wasn't impressed with the quality of engineering in the engine. They do look nice though, and handle well.
@garethjones21713 ай бұрын
Has your bike been restored . I have the original sales brochure it shows tank decals different its much narrower black panels on the sport
@ampassionstruck91383 жыл бұрын
..clip ons But no rear sets !!!??? 🤔🤔😀😀..adore those big race brake drums though.😍😍
@Edzed46 Жыл бұрын
Always wanted one but never had the cash
@xvdd13 жыл бұрын
These were never very popular compared to other makes of the day and I never really worked out what market they were aiming at they could not live with any of the 2 strokes on performance of course which only left Honda's 325 twin and 350 four which coincidently produced about the same amount of power the handling may have been better on the Moto Morini, I do not know for sure as I have never ridden one but it is Italian, but it would have to compete with price and Honda's much bigger dealer network so I guess if you had been in the market for something different maybe this would have caught your eye they also made a 500 by the way.
@gdob17423 жыл бұрын
My mate had one of the later models - swore it was the best handling machine he ever had - unfortunately his mechanical skills were no match for his riding ability, and as for the electrics? The slightest suggestion of rain would render it completely useless! (obviously never rained in Italy!) Beautiful bike on a perfect summer's day, but they are far and few, north of the river Tweed!
@buckwheatINtheCity Жыл бұрын
To be honest, they look and sound much bigger than a 350cc, with the performance to match.
@brockett3 жыл бұрын
Oh! yes I wanted one back in the day.Too fat and old now Lol. Nice video , well done.
@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel3 жыл бұрын
LOL! Right on Dave :)
@pippastone60183 жыл бұрын
HI THERE JOHN, I AM WONDERING IF THIS COMPANY SELLS THERE BIKE IN NEW ZEALAND, AM FINDING IT A LITTLE HARD TO FIND OUT, BE GREAT IF YOU COULD HELP, REGARDS COLIN😎👍🇳🇿
@juzma943 жыл бұрын
It's a 1974, not 75.
@classicbikeman3 жыл бұрын
Yeah well spotted it was registered in 74 - got my years muddled up 👍
@cliveb96393 жыл бұрын
Many thanks for a great video on an iconic bike.. I also have an early 1974 Sport model, which I have owned and kept largely unrestored for 22 years. A very well engineered, and reliable bike with interesting and unique features. Classic cafe-racer styling and full of character! I added some Tarozzi rear-sets to improve the riding position. You can see a short video of her running here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g8mjfcSSvdjTdIU.html
@calanmacleod39483 жыл бұрын
Left hand change forced on the world by Harley Davidson to restrict the sale of European bikes in the USA.