MRC Forum- brought to you by www.morini-riders-club.com

I have just acquired a 250 frame, it's smaller lighter tubing and a shorter wheelbase than the 350, only thing that seems odd to me is that the frame number begins with a K, is that normal for a 250? The other thing I would like to know is when did the 250 go into production, I'm aware it was bought into the UK about 1980 but was it in production in other countries before that date?

I now have three 250 frames and I'm pretty sure they all start with a 'J'. I'll check later.
I don't think they were in production in Italy before 1980. My V reg one was the original UK test bike in early 1980. I hadn't realised until now that they carried on production until 1985 (though it seems with high bars and naff K2 type rear plastics for some markets at least). Not sure any late ones were officially imported by Harglo though.

The 250 twin came about because of a purchase tax concession for bikes under 240cc in France. Don't know the date, but it was after the 250 single that was made largely for the 'Parks Municipale'.

Ahh, whats the possibility of the 250 single frame number starting with a K? this is definitely smaller in all respects than a 350 frame, but the K prefix seems odd to me.

As far as I know the 250V was built from 80-84, the frame and motor was marked with "J"

The 250T was built from 77-80, frame and motor marked with "T"

The frames marked with "K" schould belong to a 350 K (79-81 motor maybe an "A" or "K" I´m not sure), K1 (82-83) or K2 (83-87) both motors marked with "K". This "K" are the 350 Knick frames (we talked about the knick frames a few weeks ago)

I don´t believe that a 250V frame is marked with "K".

saludos

norbert

welded in a 350 frame number plate (with papers) to get it roadworthy without going through the hassle of having it approved without the proper 250 paperwork?

hendre wrote:welded in a 350 frame number plate (with papers) to get it roadworthy without going through the hassle of having it approved without the proper 250 paperwork?

That´s what came to my mind as well

Smart

It's a possibility, very well done if it is, thing is that it's a race bike with a 350 k series engine, it's possible that the plate came from the donor bike but why would you bother with a race bike?

Scrutineering at race meetings these days includes checking engine and frame numbers. Numbers that have obviously been tampered with are a no-no.

72degrees wrote:Scrutineering at race meetings these days includes checking engine and frame numbers. Numbers that have obviously been tampered with are a no-no.

check! at a Dutch classic race meeting I once saw a Morini standing... 3 1/2 from '72
I gratulated him on having the only prototype left in the world and he stated lauching... racing regulations only allowed bikes up till '72 and he manged to get his '82K entered by beeing a bit creative with the frame number and paperwork
Once had a Cagiva Alaverde 350... on paper. In fact it was a 3 1/2 from Italy which had been made "road legal" by the previous owner by adding the Cagiva numbers to the steeringhead and the real frame number welded in and grinded flat

Wooho, this is all starting to make sense, the bike was registered in Italy for racing and was down as a 1970 hence my other question as to whether the 250 came before the 350, obviously not.

you bought a Frankenstein

I race a frankenstein Aprilia. Not quite a MM but still fun.

hendre wrote:

72degrees wrote:Scrutineering at race meetings these days includes checking engine and frame numbers. Numbers that have obviously been tampered with are a no-no.

check! at a Dutch classic race meeting I once saw a Morini standing... 3 1/2 from '72
I gratulated him on having the only prototype left in the world and he stated lauching... racing regulations only allowed bikes up till '72 and he manged to get his '82K entered by beeing a bit creative with the frame number and paperwork
Once had a Cagiva Alaverde 350... on paper. In fact it was a 3 1/2 from Italy which had been made "road legal" by the previous owner by adding the Cagiva numbers to the steeringhead and the real frame number welded in and grinded flat

Hello ,

as I wanted to race with a 3 1/2 in Belgium I needed to know the real date for the first 3 1/2 . A friend Stephan Rafay who was selling Moto Morini between 1960 to 1980 told me that the 3 1/2 was on show at Milan salon in 1971. After that I went to Italy to see the former importer Moto Morini for Belgium Enzo Bevilaqua and he told me that in 1972 the first frame number was 1000 and for 1973 it started at 1093 . He also told me that iat the end of 1972 92 bikes were produced and some were send to pass the German TUV and maybe for other country registrations .

Christian .