Oh Christ, what have I done?

I've bought a Morini, that's what.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633945849

Now, if it's as good as it looks and sounds, I reckon I have one hell of
a bargain. Or it could be a money pit.

Time will tell.

Timo - how easy is it to find a rev counter for a 500 Sport? Of course,
it might just be the cable, but I bet that's wishful thinking.

 

Bad form etc

Timo has just reminded me that the 500 has an electronic tach of
unbelievable complexity, arcane construction. antique components, and
ability to go wrong.

Subject of many a posting in Morni forums, it appears.

Ho hum.

 

CIHAGM ?

 

You've got my email bugged, haven't you?

 

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 16:18:31 +0100,

Well, it *looks* pretty.

I'm not the only one buying dodgy Italian Vees, then!

 

Slightly weird mirrors.

 

Hmmm.


Hmmmmmmmmm....

Silencer(s) aren't original (they're way too short). Nor are the
mirrors, despite what I said on the phone, or the wheels - as mentioned
they should be gold or silver.

If the exhaust is a two-into-one, well, the bin is over there ---->.

Despite what people say (usually those who want to sell you one), the
only 2-into-1 that works properly is AFAIK the Valentini one. And
they're rocking horse poo for a 3 1/2, dog only knows if they ever made
a single one for the 500.

The 'leccy foot most likely doesn't work or barely works and that's a
case of "they all do that sir". However, it should start first kick (in
this weather with *one* of the chokes on, not both), if not it's time
to peek into the carbs - the O-ring at the bottom of the choke jets is
likely to be kaput.

Painted front mudguard again looks correct (the logo isn't, it's the
50s/60s Morini logo, there shouldn't be one on there), the one at the
back doesn't look correct to me as it should also be painted. OTOH they
bolted on whatever they had so it may well be original.

The rearsets look like they still have the right-side gearshift, the
way they are supposed to be (if they're the same as the 3 1/2). The lhs
gearshift was achieved by a complicated linkage that would have a
certain Mr Heath Robinson decidedly worried, so if it's rhs gearchange
that's good.

Mind ewe, in the absence of a photo of the other side of the bike we
can only speculate what the rearsets look like there after the kick
start hit them once too often .

Oh, and he never mentions if it's a five-speed or a Sei... My guess is
five-speeder as the Seis usually proclaimed that fact on the side
panels.

If it turns into a bit of a keeper, get the heads gasflowed - this
makes a lot of difference once the carburation is sorted out afterwards.

 

Most of them have - only very few 3 1/2s have mechanical tachos, AFAIR.

 

Thanks for that. Allegedly it starts well on electric or kick and the
rear guard is stainless steel.

Yes, I figured the exhaust wasn't OE.

I hadn't even thought about right-foot gearshift.....

Well, what do you think, given the price? I reckon it's worth fiddling
with and if it drives me insane, it goes back on Fleabay.

 

Oh, that is nice looking.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a
Every post contains Nutri-Ceramide-R and Pre-Biotics
for your reading pleasure.
Folding@Home Team UKRM
http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=47957

 

If he got the electric start to work properly, that's fairly impressive.

You get used to it. It'll lead to a few comedy moments initially when
you're trying to engage the rear brake by stamping hard on the gear lever
while simultaneously pulling up the break lever in an attempt to get the
bike into neutral...

I'll reserve judgement until I see it - remember what I told you about the
3 1/2 I went to see yesterday? That also looked rather decent in the
pictures but it was a tad less decent when viewed IRL.

*cough* dibs *cough*

 

I don't think $4.5k is exceptional for one as lovely as that. There
again, I dunno how esteemed they are in the US.

Hey, look at this:

"Bub Exhaust system - sounds absolutely amazing. Not too loud either.
$350"

Wonder where I can get one of those?

 

Looks quite nice, but they shouldn't have the K&N cone filters on them.
They usually run better without them.

From a UK price point of view, it's a tad high as 500s aren't that
sought after here. But for one that nice...

 

Site doesn't even mention Morinis.....

Oh well, I'm sure I can sort something out.

 

Yay! Enjoy. From what I can see it looks played about with but
fundamentally sound. You'll be wanting to sign up to the Morini
discussion list (email based). And the Morini Owners Club is one of
the better OC that I've encountered.

The Ricky Racer 2-1 on my 3 1/2 seems to work OK, though I've not
ridden a standard set up to know if it does make a big difference.
Sounds great though.

And my tacho doesn't work either. There's an guide to testing them on
the MRC site.

 

TOG wrote > I hadn't even thought about right-foot gearshift.....



How do you think I feel? Four bikes, three different gear patterns.
Suzuki - left side, down for first, Triumph and Morini - right side,
down for first, Norton - right side, up for first...Argh.

 

We shall see.

Sounds good. Details? Url?

 

http://www.morini-riders-club.com/ ?

 

TOG wrote

MRC: www.morini-riders-club.com

They do an annual track day at Cadwell that I have yet to make it to,
tool lendinglus the usual technical stuff etc etc.

Morini list: http://www.smoke.com.au/~ic/morini-list.html
You can elect to subscribe or to get a digest. I get the individual
emails which are manageable - it's not anything like the volume of
UKRMC, maybe 10-20 emails a week. But certainly worthwhile for
contacts and tech queries.

And you'll need these guys: North Leicester Motorcycles:
www.motomorini.co.uk Top blokes and service second to none.

 

Good job only one of them actually goes, then, innit?