Newbie concerns
Posted: 22 Jan 2026 18:35
Hi after a 5 year love/hate relationship with a big British single, I decided to get a smaller more modern classic.
The Morini 3 1/2 was an obvious choice,and definitely on the bucket list!
After searching for a while, bikes were thin on the ground,so I decided to consider Mototrans Ducatis as well, not thoroughbreds, but in my budget.
After looking at a 350 Strada MT duke advertised as 99% there, but turned out in reality to be 60%, and an electric start 350 MT in the Pyrenees, which was uneconomic to get to the UK because of Brexit import taxes, I finally found the holy Grail--A Morini.
I usually searched in the usual auction websites and Facebook, but then I thought I would try just putting a general search into Google.
This flagged up a '77 Strada on the Car and Classic website, better still only 4 miles from home! Result!
After a viewing on a freezing snow laden morning,the deal was done and I collected the machine in my son's Transit.
Only a short wheelbase one ,so we had to have the front wheel on the handbrake and the rear light lens removed.
Started the bike up a few days later and was mildly concerned by a rattle at tick over , sounding like it's coming from the Generator area.
To add to worries,the Red 'oil light ' was on .Oh, no, it's all right, on early bikes , this is the ignition on light.Silly me, I don't yet speak fluent Morini!
Just a whiff of throttle at about 1750 rpm the noise goes and the engine sounds sweet as the proverbial nut.
Is this a normal noise? It's not loud, could it be loose stator windings?
I will pull the Generator rotor off tomorrow and take a look.
If any of you experienced people out there have any ideas , I would be grateful for your input?
TIA
The Morini 3 1/2 was an obvious choice,and definitely on the bucket list!
After searching for a while, bikes were thin on the ground,so I decided to consider Mototrans Ducatis as well, not thoroughbreds, but in my budget.
After looking at a 350 Strada MT duke advertised as 99% there, but turned out in reality to be 60%, and an electric start 350 MT in the Pyrenees, which was uneconomic to get to the UK because of Brexit import taxes, I finally found the holy Grail--A Morini.
I usually searched in the usual auction websites and Facebook, but then I thought I would try just putting a general search into Google.
This flagged up a '77 Strada on the Car and Classic website, better still only 4 miles from home! Result!
After a viewing on a freezing snow laden morning,the deal was done and I collected the machine in my son's Transit.
Only a short wheelbase one ,so we had to have the front wheel on the handbrake and the rear light lens removed.
Started the bike up a few days later and was mildly concerned by a rattle at tick over , sounding like it's coming from the Generator area.
To add to worries,the Red 'oil light ' was on .Oh, no, it's all right, on early bikes , this is the ignition on light.Silly me, I don't yet speak fluent Morini!
Just a whiff of throttle at about 1750 rpm the noise goes and the engine sounds sweet as the proverbial nut.
Is this a normal noise? It's not loud, could it be loose stator windings?
I will pull the Generator rotor off tomorrow and take a look.
If any of you experienced people out there have any ideas , I would be grateful for your input?
TIA
