As an owner, I highly recommend the (this) Morini K2

[SLDMRossi]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-moto-morini-350-k2/

No connection to Seller...

Steven Rossi
East Haddam, CT

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've owned two - an '86 bought new from Fred Heistand Motors in '88 and more recently an '85 (sold last year). Looking forward to getting my '77 3 1/2 Srada finished.

[thechief86]

Saw one of these for sale in the swap meet at Barber Vintage last year.
Almost picked it up for the wife to ride, but then learned that it was right side shift, which I didn't want to mess with for a girl who is only barely adventurous enough to ride in the first place...
She ended up with a Guzzi 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Saw one of these for sale in the swap meet at Barber Vintage last year.
Almost picked it up for the wife to ride, but then learned that it was right side shift, which I didn't want to mess with for a girl who is only barely adventurous enough to ride in the first place...
She ended up with a Guzzi 

The K2 is left foot shift as are most Morini v-twins sold in the US market. Very early ones (such as the '74 3 1/2 Sport I restored for a customer) were right foot shift though. It is fairly easy to convert a left foot shift bike to right and vice versa.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Wow. What a beauty..wonder what it will sell for?

[SLDMRossi]

It's at $1,985 with 6 days to go...

SR

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just guessing... around $4500.

[brider]

Just curious (a beauty, BTW, wish I had the means to own one), but what consideration do you need to take when tuning the carbs, for the decidedly un-level float bowls? Do you set as if they WERE level, then let thermodynamics take over?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just curious (a beauty, BTW, wish I had the means to own one), but what consideration do you need to take when tuning the carbs, for the decidedly un-level float bowls? Do you set as if they WERE level, then let thermodynamics take over?

Set float level to spec. just like any other bike. Nothing special...

[thechief86]

The K2 is left foot shift as are most Morini v-twins sold in the US market. Very early ones (such as the '74 3 1/2 Sport I restored for a customer) were right foot shift though. It is fairly easy to convert a left foot shift bike to right and vice versa.

ok, yeah the one we looked at was an older 3 1/2. It was in very nice shape, and low mileage. I was somewhat afraid parts would be hard to come by, so we let it go.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

My main parts supplier: https://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/morini-parts.html

[Roebling3]

Moto Morini's always turn my head. I'd still like to have one and this one is a beauty, butt. I've heard repeated tales of starter-generator electrical and mechanical problems. I'd enjoy knowing how serious those problems may be.
BTW: Many yrs. ago a fellow w/a 350 MM, easily and repeatedly made a fool of me in a very dusty/sandy underground, private 2 bike, hare & hound tour. At the time, sadly, I rode a K75S. Wupped b4 the start? R3~ 

[dguzzi]

Looks like Cagiva used that look for the Alazzurra(s).

[TDF]

There might be a silver K2 stashed in my barn.  Now if only I could talk my little brother out of it. 

TDF

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Moto Morini's always turn my head. I'd still like to have one and this one is a beauty, butt. I've heard repeated tales of starter-generator electrical and mechanical problems. I'd enjoy knowing how serious those problems may be.
BTW: Many yrs. ago a fellow w/a 350 MM, easily and repeatedly made a fool of me in a very dusty/sandy underground, private 2 bike, hare & hound tour. At the time, sadly, I rode a K75S. Wupped b4 the start? R3~

I stopped listening to all of the warnings about vehicles I was interested in a long time ago and have never regretted it. A lot of it is exactly what you wrote: "tales". I never would have bought my Bertone X1/9, any of the Morinis, Guzzis, Benelli 650s Tornado etc. if I'd paid any attention to the "experts".

However, the electric start on K2 was a rather "Rube Goldberg" setup, basically a heavy duty wiper motor driving a chain, that spins a centrifugal clutch, which engages a drum on the flywheel. It's easy enough to make it work again when something wears out - the motor is easy to rebuild and the most commonly worn gear is available again as a reproduction. The shoes of the centrifugal clutch can be relined, just like shoes of a drum brake. No biggie. Plus, there's still a kickstarter! Kickstarter only prior to '79 anyway.

"Generator" issues: it's actually a permanent magnet alternator and is very reliable.

Perhaps you meant ignition issues. I had the same issue on both of my K2s: the winding/coil on the alternator stator that supplies power to the "transducer" (think coil packs) went weak and the '86 would start hard, the '85 only ran on one cylinder (100 miles home). Once I had that rewound, both bikes went back to starting easily and running strong. There have been owners who've experienced transducer failures, these can be replaced with inexpensive Vespa parts. My customer's 3 1/2 Sport had a pickup fail, I swapped in a good used one and that fixed it. New ones are available. Aftermarket ignitions are available for those who like to spend $$.

Mechanical issues: very early 3 1/2s had con-rod bolts that could fail, fixed by Morini in the first few months of production. Later upgraded to bolts with nuts, no more issues. Early bikes have ball-bearings supporting both ends of the crankshaft with a sized sleeve on the timing side that was supposed to allow for expansion. It didn't always work out that way and one of the bearings would fail. This is what happened to my 3 1/2 Strada project. The fix is to upgrade to a roller bearing on the timing side. Every bearing in the engine can be purchased for less than $100. A few folks have spun rod bearing shells - this is usually due to low oil levels or lax maintenance.

Very early engines had alloy shift forks with could wear quickly or bend easily, these were changed to steel by '75.

Bottom line: treat it right - change the tiny timing belt annually and the oil frequently to avoid issues.

Like a Guzzi, the best owner for a Morini is one willing to do the work required to keep it running properly. If you're looking for an "appliance", then look elsewhere. 

[SLDMRossi]

Gee...I've owned four of them, with no horror stories.

SR

[SmithSwede]

I always lusted after these little Morni bikes.   Not in bike buying mode at the moment.  But one day, I’m going to get one of these. 

If someone here buys it, please give us a full report. 

[SLDMRossi]

Now at $3,700...

SR

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Gee...I've owned four of them, with no horror stories.

SR

I now own my 4th, no real "horror stories" either. I wouldn't keep buying them if there was. 

[not-fishing]

Even though I've lusted for many decades for Morini's I'll pass on the because the "Mornini" tax is just to high.

Now there's a SRX-6 within 3 hours of me at $2500 that's more in my budget.  I usually spend days driving to pickup / look at motorcycles and not just hours

Also I might have to replace my Spanish double barrel shotgun with something newer.  The state I'm in is moving to outlaw lead shot even at the trap ranges (private & public).  Hunting with Bismuth is not to bad because I don't waste many shots (probably because it now comes from China) butt trap / sporting clays is way out of my budget @ $200 a round for sporting clays in bismuth.

I wonder when another little Cagiva Alazzurra is going to pop up for sale - another lust

[Roebling3]

Thank you, Charlie. A great story in itself. Time is moving way too fast for me. Plus I'm failing @ down sizing.
I like your 'appliance bike' title for the obvious. Often times a quick risk assessment leaves 4 or 5 Italian bikes in the house to answer my question: 'Do you want to arrive on time, at both ends of the trip; with clean hands and clothing ride a  - - - . Good fortune,  R3~

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just guessing... around $4500.

Sold for $4100.

[SIR REAL ED]

Even though I've lusted for many decades for Morini's I'll pass on the because the "Mornini" tax is just to high.

Now there's a SRX-6 within 3 hours of me at $2500 that's more in my budget.  I usually spend days driving to pickup / look at motorcycles and not just hours

Also I might have to replace my Spanish double barrel shotgun with something newer.  The state I'm in is moving to outlaw lead shot even at the trap ranges (private & public).  Hunting with Bismuth is not to bad because I don't waste many shots (probably because it now comes from China) butt trap / sporting clays is way out of my budget @ $200 a round for sporting clays in bismuth.

I wonder when another little Cagiva Alazzurra is going to pop up for sale - another lust

Agree on the SRX 600!  Very unique looking bike.  Yamaha had a few organic curved gas tanks, that was one of them. 

The 85 K2 Moto Morini looks to be in superb condition, but I like the lines of Charlie's model better.  Too much body work on the K2.  The K2 looked like a factory attempt to modernize an old design to increase sales.  That never appeals to me.

[steven c]

 Or for if you want new you can have this . Kind of a cross between a Morini and a V7 racer.


http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/street/buccaneer_cafe.php

[Groover]

What would be the best way do describe them as far as character goes?

[john fish]

Or for if you want new you can have this . Kind of a cross between a Morini and a V7 racer.


http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/street/buccaneer_cafe.php

This fellow loves his:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/my-new-chinese-cafe-racer-ssr-buccaneer-250c.1366197/page-40

And instead of an SRX600 I'd look for one of these:



Better in all respects and probably cheaper, too.

[SIR REAL ED]

This fellow loves his:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/my-new-chinese-cafe-racer-ssr-buccaneer-250c.1366197/page-40

And instead of an SRX600 I'd look for one of these:



Better in all respects and probably cheaper, too.

Another bike I have admired and often thought about buying.  Cheaper no doubt.  One was for sale about 6 months ago about 30 miles west of here for about $2500 IIRC.  I saw a Scorpion Tour in Roanoke, VA last Tuesday.  Spent several minutes looking at it.  The British bike mags were never a fan of the 660cc Yamaha 5 valve single motor.

Practical Sportbikes featured a reader's custom Yamaha SZR 660 that was excellent!

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&ei=ZlFgXtjvJ7SeytMP2PeomA4&q=yamaha+szr+660&oq=Yamaha+SZR+660&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0l10.6224.8457..11469...0.0..0.78.223.4......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i13.qtsWftruJjw

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The Buccaneer would be no match for a Morini 3 1/2 of any vintage, much less a K2.

Maybe closer to a 1980 Morini 250 2C:
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Moto%20Morini/moto_morini_250_2c_twin%2080.htm
(24 hp, 6 spd., 275 lbs. )

Buccanneer:
http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/store/street/buccaneer_cafe.php#specs
(18.1 hp, 5 spd., 283 lbs.)

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I always liked Morini.
But, can a strada 350 cruise in the fast lane without being pushed?
Any Tonti can without a fuss, it'd be nice to know if a touring 3 1/2 could too.

I'll be finding out in few months.  How fast in the fast lane? My K2 would run 75 without any problem. Any Tonti? Even a V35? Tonti designed those too remember. 

[Laverda Rick]

Steve,
This very nice low mileage K2 now has a spot in my garage next to a very nice 1982 Jota that I am still enjoying, thank you very much!  I still have my 1977 3 1/2 and did not need another Morini but, at that price and with such low miles I had to bid.  Anyone need a 1970 Bonneville? How about a 1976 Bonneville? I think both will be up for sale to make more room for this little Italian.   

Rick