Moto Morini 3 1/2 Strada

[FLATTOP]

Nothing to do with me but I've always liked these Bikes.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=141905543175&globalID=EBAY-GB

[Dave G]

That looks very nice, I'll be surprised if it stays that cheap at the end though but you never can tell with ebay.

One day I'll get mine finished, though it'll never be as nice as that one.
It'll be cheaper when I do sell it though.:mand:

[cactus]

Yeah, nice bikes those, strange with the left sided kickstart.

[Nottsbiker]

More worried about the electrical fuel tap

[Mr Gazza]

I've got a very soft spot for the 3 1/2.
North Liecester Motorcycles have one for sale just like wot I had...A 1975 Sport in Red and Black with wire wheels and double sided 4ls brake....A cool seven grand..!!

Guess I won't be owning another one of those any time soon.

This pile of un-bagged bagsh1te came up for auction a week or so back.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morini-350-Strada-project-Barn-Find-Spares-or-Repair-/121893725822?#ht_670wt_963

It sailed merrily past what I was prepared to chance on it and then soared to £880 or something and failed to reach the reserve....WTF does the seller think it is worth??

Oh! Quite a lot by the looks...It's re-listed as a classified....What a joker.

[Albie]

Shuffy and GT must be wanting that wee beastie for sure.

[jonzi]

WTF does the seller think it is worth??

If sold to a hipster, probably quite a bit.

[Darren69]

For a nearly 40 year old bike, it looks to be in pretty good condition. The thing to remember with anything Italian that age is that the electrics are likely to be a complete nightmare. When I did my Laverda there was modern for the late 70's early 80's electronic good quality Bosch components coupled with bakerlite block connectors with bare wires and fuse boxes and wiring that was laughable even then! It looked like the fuses could jump out if you went over a bump!

Would make a nice bike no doubt, but I always thought the 500 they did was in principle the better version of the breed, not that I've ridden either mind you.

[Mr Gazza]

Darren if you ever get the chance to ride one, a 350 or 500, grab it with both hands.

I have spoken to owners who have gone to a 500 from a 350 and been dissapointed.
A 350 (Sport) can give you the impression of riding a 750..A very nimble 750 at that.
This is atributing it with the qualities of a machine over twice it's capacity. The same is not so with the 500. There does not appear to be an impovement pro-rata with the capacity increase.
The 350's are sweet harmonious machines that cover ground with such accomplished ease, they make an average rider look and feel good.
The 500 is a little bit longer and heavier than the 350, they just don't seem to have the same zing and sparkle...Not that I would turn down a 500 mind, but they are even rarer than the 350.

I'm not dissing the 500 models, they are doubtless very good motorbikes, but when compared to what the amazing 3 1/2 does with only 350cc, they could be seen to under-achieve, in expectation anyway.

I had the very good fortune to ride my Morini back to back with a Guzzi Le Mans of the same era...I just wish I could do the same with a 3 1/2 and a 500 Morini...That would be a good day...:biggrin:

[DrD]

Oh look what's up for auction at H&H Classics Donington Park Auction - 24th February 2016
: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C708170

[DrD]

And if you wanted a 31/2 then this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORIGINAL-1977-MOTO-MORINI-3-1-2-STRADA-/141905543175?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

[Dave G]

If your after a project then this is a better start than that last pile of rust that Gazza linked.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morini-350cc-Moto-Morini-3-1-2-Not-Ducati-bevel-desmo/111913203119?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D2d7bce91ef004c72832 a0ba14722e5d5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26 mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D141905543175

[Mr Gazza]

I spotted that one Dave...I would have had a look if it wasn't so far away from me.
Much more honestly described than the first and more sensibly priced too.

Phoar...That 500 looks nice DrD...Of course I would need a good test ride before I decided...:biggrin:

Forgot that some of the 500s had an electric start too...Bonus.

[Dave G]

It does have a few things worth paying attention to if you were to consider it though, firstly the castle nuts securing the downpipes arent there and lots of little details that quickly add up to an expensive refurb job so while it's cheap now it wont be that cheap to sort out, it's possible they are present but just not shown but thats for the seller to confirm I would think and a big oversight by not including them on the listing.
(The disc is gubbed and cant be fixed for instance, they were chrome plated and it'll need a new one)

[Mr Gazza]

Yeah, fair play Dave. You would have to commit to spending some serious money to get it nice....That's a nut and bolt re-build there for sure.

I didn't notice the disc, nor realise that they were originally chromed, but I think I would want to skim it flat and remove any remaining chrome. As I always used to on my OIF Triumphs....A bare Iron disc with soft pads if much better than a plated one.

[Dave G]

I bought a cast iron ducati pantah disc as a replacement for mine but then just couldn't find anywhere local to machine a few mm's off the caliper mount to get the slightly different offset it needed ( wont send anything away by post, so if I cant access local I need another solution), I ended up getting a new -old stock replacement from NLM with the proviso that it needs soft pads to match otherwise it will wear very quickly.
Things like castle nuts are available from NLM but they are steel whereas the OE ones were bronze, and when your screwing them into soft alloy cylinder heads you need to be a bit careful, I got my set from Italy made from plated bronze.
Also that seat and rear light cluster are from something else so that would need looking at too I think. ( the light will probably be fine though not sure about the seat- and they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them)

[Mr Gazza]

Ah, so you have a Wee Vee?..Please show us some pictures...:biggrin:

Yes I remember the castle nuts now...Didn't realise they were bronze though as the plating was still intact on mine.

NLM are brilliant for spares and service...I popped in several times during my Morini ownership.
I saw a lovely brand new Strada seat hanging on the wall one time....And couldn't resist buying it on impulse. It was a straight swap for the Sport one, so I could change it at will when Mrs Gazza wanted a ride...We could get 90 with ease two up.

As you say, the seat and tail light unit are wrong on that bike, but I think it is a candidate for a bit of gentle customising, so the exact right bits are not such a big issue. Having said that Morini bits are always going to be best, if and when they become available.

I always found that my Sport was so very rewarding to ride, but was never particulaly comfortable...It was too small for clip-ons and the forward footrests didn't go with the clip-ons.
My Ideal Morini would be a Strada with a Sport engine (Or a Sport, with a Strada top Yoke and straight bars). With the footrests further back in more of a Monster like position.

As I said, If it were closer, I would be looking seriously at that one. More so if I didn't have a particular SRX-600 in my sights..:biggrin:

[Dave G]

Very much a work in progress...... with not a lot of progress recently.

I was so sick of looking at it scattered over my garage I bolted it all back together (mostly) and even managed to start it though the carbs need balancing etc after being stripped and a seal kit fitted.
I'm just not getting the time so when it's road capable I'll probably sell it with a view to getting something thats already sorted.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xsIEsnDnU0/VhT7Xxf6noI/AAAAAAAAAaE/0ZNGLWNeTHQ/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG

[Mr Gazza]

That looks really nice...Original silencers too..:thumbsup:

Looks like it's only a couple or three weekends from being very nice indeed and rideable when the better weather comes along....:biggrin:...I wouldn't be able to leave it alone.

[Dirty]

Definitely needs a tail chop!

[gary tompkins]

Shuffy and GT must be wanting that wee beastie for sure.

Nah.. been there done that

the 12 years I owned my 3 1/2 sport was fun but I wouldn't buy another one. Flogged mine for £900 in 1999 and would probably be worth 3 grand today. Spares are very difficult to find now especially engine parts. That was one reason I sold mine - the motor had over 60,000 miles on it and well thrashed so was a bit of a time bomb.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11954639_1199016416790617_3726191441979596208_n.jp g?oh=cdc09d509daa36109649e53b2a2017ec&oe=57598EAE