Found 1978 with only 760 miles! Help please?

[thormagnus]

Hi everyone. I've been reading the forum pretty regularly for the past few weeks and found that everyone here is pretty friendly and amazingly helpful. Different than most forums unfortunately.

Sorry to say that back in April, my father unexpectedly passed away. He was amazingly young and seemed in great health. We were shocked and left to sort through his things. Among his stuff in his garage was this old Morini that for as long as I remember I've been dragging around from house to house growing up. All I knew is that it was one of his favorite bikes he used to race and is fairly exotic to have in the states. Mom wanted to get rid of everything but I refused to let this one go. Being new to riding myself, I wanted to see what it was before just junking it somewhere.

Turns out he was the sole owner and despite having it for 32 years, there are only 764 miles on it. Overall it's in incredible shape. I know he had it running about 8 years ago then it sat. Just never had the time to enjoy it I guess.

I've taken it to a friend who works on old bikes to clean out the carbs, clean/cream the gas tank, flush the fluids, replace the battery then assess from there.

I was hoping you all might help me figure out what exactly I have on my hands. Is this a sport or strada? And how best to go about restoring it. Ultimately I'd like to get it running and have it fully restored. With so few miles, I'd like it to become a pristine collectors item. What is this bike worth?

I live in San Diego and from what I can find the main resource is the NLM site in Europre right? Any active shops or sites in the states anyone can recommend?

I'm very green to this whole Morini world so please bear with my ignorance. I'll continue to read the previous posts but any and all feedback is appreciated.

Cheers!

[John Bunting]

Hi Thormagnus,
It looks like you got lucky, a 78 drum brake 3-1/2 sport is very desirable, ride-able and collectable.
You dad had good taste, use it well.
If you need parts you will find Stuart at NLM to be most helpful, if you click onto links you will Harden as a Morini parts dealer in USA
Regards
John

[mantaray]

No it cant be a 78 drumbrake

Drumbrakes are build till begin 75

Its a 74 or early 75 Sports

A real Sport has an "S" stamped on the feet of the first cylinder (right site)
The exhaust looks a little strange, the black end is not original
Are they Lafranconi's ?
What is the vinnr ?

Restoring a bike with low milage ?

Leave it like it is, you have a real collectorsitem dont ruin the original paint

My morini was sleeping for 22 years , cleaned the carbs, fitted new filter, batterie and belt and running
Later i opened the engine and all the rubber rings where still in good condition
But you can change the seals and rings in the engine if you like and control the crankshaft bearings , but first off all mount a new cambelt (dont start or drive it, the risk is to high)

Buy a new belt , and not a original who was sleeping for years in someones collection
info about the belt
http://www.motomoriniclub.nl/tech.html

btw you'll find some American morinisti on the morini mailinglist
http://www.smoke.com.au/~ic/morini-list.html

More info
http://www.motomoriniclub.nl/devel.html

What is it worth ?

4.000 to 5.000 euros in Europe (in perfect condition)
prices for early morinis are rising


In The States ?
There was a perfect sports on ebay, sold for more then 10.000$, but that's not very realistic


workshopmanual
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downl ... hlMzI5NTEy

[Steve Brown]

Agree with mantaray, that is a pre-1976 sport and looks pretty original too. If the mileage is correct it should be anyway! The silencers look like they've been replaced, not Supertrapp by any chance? If your dad raced it I suppose he would have likely played about with such things.

I particularly agree with mantaray about not restoring it! If you do, it won't be worth as much in many peoples eyes. Go for a sympathetic preservation as suggested. If you pretty it up, it won't be the bike your dad remembered anymore-just another shiney 'collectors piece' -in other words you won't want to ride it in case it rains or a fly gets killed on the headlamp, and then you'll never get to know what your dad saw in it.
If you go carefully you can do exactly as mantaray suggests-a thorough overhaul/service and don't polish it too hard either-the paint and chrome wasn't exactly heavy duty in those years, use an oily rag to wipe it down and definitely no abrasive/cutting polishes.

Remember-it's only original once! btw, I do a nice line in imported Italian air, fresh from the mountains of northern Italy, at a very advantageous price to pump those tyres back up. (they always handle better on Italian air, y'know and that will only add to the value/originality.

Steve Brown.
President,
Preservation, not Restoration wing.
Popular Peoples Front
Middle England

[Steve Brown]

Oh, forgot.

Great find though, whatever you choose to do with it. (Do we have a smiley for jealous?)

[thormagnus]

John - Thank you very much for the contacts on where to find parts. Also for clarifying it as a sport.

Mantaray - Wow. This helps so much. Thank you! She's in the shop right now getting the previously mentioned service done. Ideally in a week or 2 I can confirm the "S" and the VIN. Would the VIN help figure out what year it is?

The exhaust is not original. I think that was one of the modifications he made when racing it. It was incredibly loud when it was running. I expect to try and go back to original pipes or similar.

Thanks for the heads up on the belt. I'll call the mechanic today and add that to the list of to-do's.

The links are great, much appreciated. The value is along what I had found too. The way I see it, if dad dragged it around 35(?) years then I should hang on to it. Thanks too for the manual. I sent it to the mechanic.

Steve - Thank you for the heads up on how polishing gently. The chrome was my next target once the mechanics are done. I'm glad you brought that up.

Maybe once all the essentials are done I'll throw a little luxury in there with that italian air!

You're right. The more I research the more I realize dad had some great taste and I'm pretty lucky to hold on to it.

Cheers!

[boris tarpit]

I agree with the above - don't restore it, after all restoration is only the eradication of the bike's history and surely you don't want to do that if it was your dad's?? . .

[mantaray]

Would the VIN help figure out what year it is?

!

Yep, see below
But the list is not complete
I own 2 Dart's 400 with vin 10053 and 10168 the list only shows

400 Dart 88-91 K5 10102-10150
The numbers are UK only ?

http://www.morini-riders-club.com/thebi ... llist.html

[thormagnus]

Spoke with the mechanic. He says there is indeed the "S" on the side and that near the VIN it actually says it's a '75. Not only answers that question but clearly illustrates just how little I knew about these bikes.

Your link confirms Mantaray, it is a 74/75. Thanks!

[mantaray]

Hi Thormagnus, i bought 2 morini's sports in the spring of 1976.
The drumbrakeversion was no longer available that time.
So i was cheating a little bit lol

Oh Yes end seventies drumbrakes were no good, everyone must have the "new" discbrakes.
Times are changing

[EVguru]

Fine though this forum is, I'd sugest also joining the Morini mailing list;

http://www.smoke.com.au/~ic/morini-list.html

You'll find many fellow Americans there.

[mgill]

Fine though this forum is, I'd sugest also joining the Morini mailing list;

http://www.smoke.com.au/~ic/morini-list.html

You'll find many fellow Americans there.

And Canadians!

[spub]

Thormagnus:

Congrats on a great find....have a 1974 Sport myself, but didn't have the great fortune of having my father leave it to me...I am in Pasadena if you need any help sorting it out (sounds like you don't.....are you bringing it to GP Motors?)

Spub

[thormagnus]

Update from the mechanic:
Carb kits, float needles and fuel filters all came in. All from Eurotrash Jambalaya in San Jose, CA. First step is finish carbs and change fluids. Should be done by next week.

Timing belt we've had trouble locating. Waiting for Herdan to open tomorrow. Went with a Gates that's supposed to fit well for now.

I'm torn on the exhaust. The pipes my dad put on are ridiculous loud. Especially for a 350, but I'm not sure I want to tackle that yet. Should have her running real soon though!

Boris - More I hear that sentiment, the more I agree. Thanks!

Manta - Any reason to keep the drum brakes? I mean if they work great, but shouldn't the discs be safer?

EVguru and mgil - Thank you, signing up!

Spub - It'd be great to have someone so close to talk with. Who knows, maybe I'll make it up your way and you can take a look once she's running! Haven't gone to GP yet. My friends neighbor is talented at restoring old bikes so I brought it to him. Wanted to work with someone I could discuss everything with rather than just drop it off and show up to a bill a few weeks later. Takes the discovery part out of it for me. GP is definitely the go-to shop in town but I thought for this stuff, let's fire her up first!

Thanks everyone!

[mantaray]

Manta - Any reason to keep the drum brakes? I mean if they work great, but shouldn't the discs be safer?

Without the front drumbrake, you'll reduce the value off the bike with minimum 20 %
And yes they are heavy ( 7 kilo's ) and the original chromed discs are not fantastic if you're driving in the rain.


If you really dont like that brake i'll be happy to buy it ...... and 1000 other morifans too i guess.