Moto Morini Coming to US

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It looks like Moto Morini’s Seiemmezzo roadster could be coming stateside. (Moto Morini/)

Moto Morini is a famous Italian brand with exactly the sort of turbulent history that such companies so often have had. Now in Chinese ownership, it’s selling a pair of 650cc parallel twins in Europe and has an eye on the US market with the same machines and an as-yet-unseen 750cc V-twin range.

Founded back in 1937, Moto Morini’s history mirrors several of its contemporaries. It saw postwar success, helping get Italy mobile and delving into competition against contemporaries like MV Agusta and Ducati. In the 1970s, its 344cc “3½” V-twins were lauded, but by the ‘80s Morini was struggling and the company was sold to the Castiglionis in 1987, joining Cagiva, Ducati, and Husqvarna in their portfolio of brands. Closed in 1993, the name was sold, along with Ducati, to the Texas Pacific Group in 1996, but remained dormant until it was bought by Morini Franco Motori in 1999. That led to an ambitious range of 1,187cc V-twin models, first launched in 2004, but Morini was dogged by financial problems, changing hands more than once before being bought by its current owners, the Zhongneng Vehicle Group in 2018.

Filings suggest that the X-Cape could come to the US as well. (Moto Morini/)

Now, Morini’s range is made of two models, the X-Cape adventure bike and the Seiemmezzo roadster, both using 650cc parallel-twin engines from CFMoto. Those models look set to come to the US, with “Zhejiang Morini Vehicle Co., Ltd.” (Zhejiang is Zhongneng’s home province in China) applying to the NHTSA to become part of its manufacturer information database (MID). The MID contains details of manufacturers’ VIN codes, helping to identify specific models and submodels and allowing the NHTSA to oversee product recalls. Morini’s explanation of its VINs reveals plans for as-yet-unseen 750cc V-twin bikes to join the 650cc parallel-twin models.

Related: A Brief History Of The 72-Degree Moto Morini V-Twin

Another image of the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo. (Moto Morini/)

Morini’s VIN decoder includes two engine types. The first is a 649cc inline twin-cylinder four-stroke, with liquid-cooling, making 61 hp. That’s the CFMoto-derived motor used in the X-Cape and Seiemmezzo. The second is a 750cc V-twin four-stroke, also liquid-cooled, that manages a much more impressive 97 hp. This engine hasn’t been seen yet, and it’s not clear if it is developed in-house by Morini or will be brought in from another brand. The VIN decoder allows for as many as 16 different models to be made around the engine, but that doesn’t mean that many will actually be offered. Initially, it’s likely that the Morini 750cc offerings will mirror the 650s, with an adventure bike and a naked, retro roadster.

Another image of the Moto Morini X-Cape. (Moto Morini/)

Although not mentioned on the NHTSA filings, there are rumors that Morini will debut a 900cc version of the V-twin engine. Although far from certain, this could be an indication that the engine will come from China’s Zongshen, which has just started making its own version of the DOHC liquid-cooled V-twin that was first seen in Aprilia’s Shiver. That engine was originally made in both 750cc and 900cc forms, and the 750′s power output was close to the 97 hp mentioned on Morini’s NHTSA filing. Also omitted from the NHTSA document is Morini’s home-grown, 1,187cc Bialbero Corsacorta V-twin engine. This was used in various Morinis from 2004 until 2020, and has recently reemerged in design images and photos of a new Morini adventure bike.

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