Buncha haters...
Being an Excalibur owner, I can relate to the pleasure I get from just riding it, especially now that I've finally got the new carbs sorted. I replaced the very 80's rectangular headlight with a 7" roundy, and the large pullbacks with drag T-bars, which have given a little more room, but it's still a compact ride, nowhere to stretch out. Overall, great for commuting or half-day rides, but not very comfy at highway speed for very long, especially without a windscreen of any sort. I have tried scooting up the seat with my feet on the passenger pegs. The riding position then feels like a cafe, but looks ridiculous, not to mention most of my weight over the rear wheel.
The culture in the US towards Morinis, particularly the Northwest, is very different than back there in the UK. Most people, and many riders, here have simply never heard of Moto Morini, let alone an Excalibur.
For example, a couple Sundays ago, I went on the "Isle of Vashon" ride. I'd estimate there were easily 500+ bikes there, and during the whole day, I had less than a handful of folks come up to me, saying "I remember back in the seventies, there was a shop in town that sold Morinis." Furthermore, only one person approached me saying, he too, owned a Morini, a 500 Sport. However, he didn't ride it that day.
Over the past few months, I had been seriously considering converting mine into a cafe racer style, which would require modifying the backbone tube, engine cradle tubes, head tube, and seat/tail section tubes and supports. Not to mention a new tank and seat, different shocks, and modifying or replacing the forks. Not economically feasible.
Of those few who talked to me that day, when I told them of my idea, said "Don't touch it, don't butcher it. Leave it and ride it as is, it's the only one I've ever seen." As the saying goes, "A million people can't be wrong." Well, in this case four... Regardless, I'll take their advice and leave her be and enjoy.
Um, well, truth be told, if I were to come across a 3 1/2 or 500 rolling chassis, I'd be hard pressed not to throw that wonderful motor into such a frame. But the likelihood of finding of one those around these parts is pert near nil.
Steve