The new Morini engine runs at the workbench (1200cc/140hp - webmaster).
A nice rumble, a roar very different from the old "made in Bologna" engines. A roar rich in bass tones, without mechanical
echoes. The new Morini engine is just born! The baby is screaming like a devil, but its parents seem very quiet. Especially
its dad, Franco Lambertini, who signed one more project! "I think it is the 48th, maybe the 49th engine which I have designed,
and I'm very happy it is a Morini one".
As everybody knows, Lambertini is not new as "Morini engineer", he is the father of the famous 350 and 500 cc twins, as well
as of the 500 Turbo, the first bike with the exhaust system under the saddle. That bike never reached the market as Morini
management preferred to produce the 350 Kanguro instead.
Left: Gianni Berti, Manager Marketing Sales
and
right: ing. Franco Lambertini, Technical Director |
Today things seem to go better, because behind the Morini rebirth there are the relations of the founder Alfonso Morini and
the Berti brothers. They, after having sold the Synudine, (a big Italian television factory) followed their heart lead for
their 2nd adventure as entrepreneurs. Gianni Berti, a public relations and marketing man, says: "My brothers and I have
always been motorcycle enthusiasts. My brother Guido an I took part in off road races, while Luigi always preferred road
bikes. When we where young bikes where everything for us. I still remember when my brother received as gift a brand new
Morini Corsarino ZZ 50. What a great emotion, allday riding until the night!"
It is a strange and lovely coincidence: everybody involved in that rebirth owned and loved a Morini. Even for that reason
there is a big enthusiasm. "The night before starting the engine for the first time Lambertini and I where not able to sleep!"
The first cry of the new born baby happened on Thursday March 18 (2004) at 3 P.M. "The twin engine started immediately (or
almost immediately). Really we had to make it start in the morning, but when everything was ready
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the engine did not want to start, no strokes at all! We and Magneti Marelli engineers carried on a lot of checks, but nothing.
Then one of them touching a portable computer wired to the ignition system received a terrificant electric shock! The engine
was not connected to ground!"
And what about the engine max. power?
"The same of the computer simulations: more than 120 HP for the 996 cc engine.
Lambertini says we can obtain more power but we are more interested in torque at low and middle revs, which give pleasure
when the rider opens the throttle. Moreover, in naked bikes, hp’s at high revs are quite useless. The most important thing
is a good torque curve".
From Italian magazine "In Moto" - May 2004
Translation It-Eng by Mario Graziano.
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Can we expect new Morinis at the next Munchen Show?
"No, we will display nothing at the next Munchen Show. If everything goes well you can see something at the Milan
bike Show. We hope to be able to sell the first models in the first months of the year 2006. We are at the beginning,
we have just an engine running at the workbench. We have still to decide with Luciano Marabese and Rodolfo Frascoli the
look of the new bikes, which type of bike to produce first and we have to organize all the dealers network. Even the
year 2006 is a very challenging target".
Yes, good, but you still did not say what kind of bike you will do!
"I only said without a fairing!!"
The carter/cranckcase of the new engine is made of one piece.
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The new management of Moto Morini, from left: Guido Berti (General Manager), Gianni Berti (Manager Marketing
and Sales), Franco Lambertini (Technical Director), Francesco Bertini (Director General Franco Morini), Luigi Berti
(Director Admin), Maurizio Morini (President Franco Morini). Foreground: Provinis 250cc Grand Prix racer.
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