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Hi from a newbie

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:35
by miguel
Hi guys,

Having recently joined the forum I thought I would start a post to say hello....hello!

A few weeks ago I was hit by a car while riding my Benelli Tornado and since then I have had confirmation that my bike will be written off. As a fan of Italian bikes I started to look for something that I could use as an adventure bike and the GP has some fab reviews. So having read as many reviews as I can find I wanted to get the opinions of regular guys who have done more than a 20 minutes press event.

Any comments on how the bike rides on green lanes would be good? I have no plans on doing the Dakar but I would like to go to the Peaks or a couple of route around Wales.

How easy is it to get hold of spares? Some of the Benelli parts I had to order form Germany due to the lack of stock by Moto GB the UK distributor. Bennents of Barnsley have done my servicings and have been great so I am planning on continuing to use them if they have some experience. If not from what I can tell NLM are not to far and seem to read well.

Any buyers guide advice would be appreciated?

More questions are likely to follow but I think that will do for now.

Miguel

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 02 Dec 2015 00:07
by Painter
Hi Miguel
I love mine, it's great for north wales which is very close to me, excellent in the tighter twisties , very long legged on the motorway the 6th gear is like an overdrive making it very relaxing, best I have experienced amongst the big trail bikes I have owned.
The brakes are excellent, smooth gearbox no false neutrals , the engine is very smooth and quiet, I work on my own bikes so know quite a bit re engines etc, it feels very well built and refined, very much like a Honda VTR I once owned.
I have a 1098s which is much less refined although a very different beast, its still a big v twin, the morini inspires confidence in the build quality, the frames is beautifully welded and a great design.
The morini is ideal for the road not intimidatingly fast like the duke, lots of torque, great balance, you need to have at least at 31 inch inside leg to be comfortable at rest, as for trails my old elefant was a bit of a handful, so this I would imagine would be tricky, also the foot pegs and up out of the saddle stance are not great, but could be modified.
There would it appears if you read all the press and forums a big question mark over spares and reliability, you have had a Benelli so you know how much is scare mongering, as you have obviously not been put off by left field Italian bikes.
Nlm have lots of advice if you ring them, and I am sure between us all we can sort most stuff out. :

To sum up the best big trail bike I have owned, and I have owned or ridden most, a friend of mine has a hp2 enduro and he prefers the morini for pure road use, enough said, and yes it has really good lights.
Down side the fuel warning light is not, and the front forks are a bit hard, spokes corrode and engine paint is crap, indicators are not great, engine needs to be upto 25 degrees before moving off as it can stall, engine can run a little hot when normal running in town, fan comes on easily, I have fitted a big oil cooler to help.
Cheers steve

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 03 Dec 2015 12:27
by miguel
Hi Steve,

Thanks for the reply.

There is something about Italian bikes that I just love. I am willing to put up with ordering spares and I am definately not put of by it being italian therefore, it must be "unreliable" which is what I normally get told. I have had a few Italian bikes including several Ducati 748's, an Aprilia RS125 and a Benelli Tornado. I have always been asked how many times they have broken down, yet the most unreliable bikes I have ever owned have been Kawasaki's where I did have to call the breakdown services several times.

One of my favorite things about the left field italian bikes is you can always go out on your own and meet new people. I can put on my say nav, set it to a destination and go. When I used to get somewhere on my Benelli there would always be someone wanting to look at it and ask some questions about it.

Next year I am planning on a few more euro trips so what you have written sounds very promising...I think I will put a few more miles on my insurance policy next year!

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 17:22
by corsaro chris
Hi Miguel, and welcome to the MRC Forum!

I'm on my second GP now (just bought an 'As New' from the Factory) - we did over 25,000 miles on the first with very little trouble, and hope to do the same with the new one! All that Steve has said is the same with ours, which had taken us to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, as well as most of England and Wales. They're comfortable two-up, the fixing for luggage mean that panniers are no problem (and available from the factory via the web), and the fuel tank gives a 200 mile range. With mine the warning light gave a 40 mile range (at least - I didn't run dry) and usually 45 mpg.

I have no idea how they work off-road; it did several gravel roads but no more, but on road it is great. The new ones have a few minor modifications which improve the drive, and the clutch is better (but the original is good in any case), and I now have one with more road-orientated tyres. Spares from Italy don't seem to be a major issue, and there are three service centres in the UK which can supply these if the factory contact is slow...

Good hunting, and let us know how you get on,

CC

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 05 Dec 2015 10:00
by Painter
Hi Chris
Congrats on your new GP, I would consider buying another when my current one expires, the modern crop of adventure bikes all appear to be garnished with too many rider aids, I test rode a new multistrada when they first came out, in 2010
It was the fully loaded sky hook suspension model. It was light fast with excellent brakes, but felt like a sports bike, I wanted a more rugged machine, the morini is that bike, I hope they keep building them, as it has the perfect balance between modern digital ignition, can bus wiring without all the abs and traction control.

Please keep us updated, as I will, I feel that the more of us who tell it like it is re these bikes the better for morini and the wider biking public, as Miguel says, they do generate a lot curiosity , most people are really pleasantly surprised by the build and look of the bikes.
Cheers steve

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 11 Dec 2015 20:54
by Jay
Just to echo what Steve and Chris wrote...I just imported a white GP, just after Chris did, I n fact I was out on it today. Sounds fab, pulls like a train and big and hairy enough to put a smile on your face.

I tried BMW GS's, multistradas....none felt as poised or businesslike at the GP. I'm in the Midlands if that's near enough to come and tyre kick :mrgreen:

J

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 19 Dec 2015 20:19
by Painter
Congrats, on your new bike, we should try and arrange a gathering this spring, I will post a suggestion with a meet place that is OK for us all.
Just been out on mine today, monsoon weather in north wales, bike was great.
Cheers Steve

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:00
by miguel
Hi Guys,

So I have brought a bike from one of the forum members and so far I am very happy with the way it rides. There are a few parts that I am going to replace, refurbish, modify or add but that's something I do with all the bikes I own.I can now see behind me with mirrors that work, the wife has a comfy seat and the ride just seems a little more relaxed in comparison to my Benelli Tornado.

It practically falls into the corners and seems to want to keep leaning once in which I am assuming is because of the high CofG. It is a very big bike but that's part of what I really like as you can see so much of the road ahead. Power seems smooth and it has been a while since I have had a twin so I forgot how much engine breaking there is from them, which I like.

So far I have ridden around 40-50 miles and the only thing I do not like is that the clutch drags when you hold the lever in while sitting in traffic. It means that pulling off is unpredictable so I am going to have to investigate why. Not sure if its a common fault but if anyone has already had the problem let me know your thoughts.

Extra bits to go on include my TomTom Rider 400 (excellent piece of kit), Alarm (any recommendations welcome), power socket in the panniers, Auxiliary lights wired up for day time running, phone holder, intercom and when I finally get around to it a Digital Video Recorder with front, rear and helmet Cam's.

I have searched for a Workshop manual and have not been successful so if someone can email or put it on a share site that would be great.

As for club ride outs I am definitely up for that. :D

Below is a pic of me on the bike after a short run with the wife to Stratford upon Avon and Warwick:

Image

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 24 Jan 2016 19:01
by Red S
Painter wrote: engine can run a little hot when normal running in town, fan comes on easily, I have fitted a big oil cooler to help.
Cheers steve
Hi Steve

I was thinking of an oil cooler as mine runs a bit hot. Did that make much difference, and was it a MM oil cooler?

Regards

Dan

Re: Hi from a newbie

Posted: 22 Apr 2016 19:05
by miguel
Hi guys,

Just thought I would put a quick update about my experience.

The clutch dragging was down to the oil so as soon as it was replaced the problem went. It's now really easy to pull off all the time.

I have dome around 400 miles this week after the service at NLM and it's ran like a dream. They reset the throttle pots, adjusted the valve clearances, plugs changed, all fluids changed, etc.... It also had a set of silicone hoses fitted due to one of them splitting. Compliments go to the work they have done.

Sat nav and aux ports fitted. Luggage racks powder coated as well as a few other bits.

I now need to start designing my front luggage rack/crashbars/spot light frames...but it's going to be done when I have time and the weather is bad.

Stainless bolts on order...blah, blah

I just need to find some byways now!