250 2C Road Test

[72degrees]

I found a scan of the July 1980 Which Bike 250 2C Road Test. This is *my* 2C - though now with a 375 engine

http://text2kml.co.uk/Morini/which_bike ... 50_pdf.pdf

[Cheerful]

Am thinking of buying a 250 1979 and fitting a 500 engine. could you tell me if that is feasible? thanks.

[72degrees]

Am thinking of buying a 250 1979 and fitting a 500 engine. could you tell me if that is feasible? thanks.

The 500 is the same stroke as a 250 single but the 2C frame is smaller than a 350. The rear cylinder would be the problem I think. The rocker cover of a 350 in a 2C frame is very close to the frame, so a 500 may simply not fit.

There are several 350/250s and 500/350s, 501/350s and even a 501/Dart over the years, so I suspect someone would have had that idea by now and found it not feasible without major modifications. You can do anything if prepared to start hacking a frame about. You can even get a Gilera 558 Nordwest engine ina 500 Saturno if you perform surgery on the frame.

Presumably you already have a 500 engine going spare? The state of tune of a standard 500 is pretty soft or is it a late 501? A tuned 350, or even better 375 or 400 top end, with hot cam and bigger carbs makes a very satisfying power plant in a 2C - I now have two

[EVguru]

I've seen pictures of a 250 2C framed bike with a 500 engine fitted, but it was so tight you'd be taking it out to do valve clearances.

[hendre]

the riunite racer has clear pictures of a souped up 344cc engine in a 250 frame
http://mayoreric.com/morini/riunite.htm
http://mayoreric.com/morini/images/rh.jpg
http://mayoreric.com/morini/images/lh.jpg
seems there is room at least in height, allthough to the back it may be gettin tight
http://morinist.dk/morini/tyskmoriniday.php
rear view

[72degrees]

Lovely. I built my first 2C/350 in 1982.

You can do the rear valve clearances OK, though it's a bit of a juggle getting a standard rocker box on and off.

To do a top end overhaul you have to remove the front engine plates and the top rear mounting bolt, so that you can pivot the engine, to get the rear head and cylinder off (after taking the front ones off first).

I suppose it might be possible to do the same with a 500 in a 250 2C to do the rear valves by letting the engine pivot downwards but it would still be a tight squeeze.

[Cheerful]

Thankyou all for that. Presumeably a 500 engine will fit into a 350 frame. If so I will have to look for a disk brake 350 with a dodgy motor or no motor at all.

[corsaro chris]

500 in a 350 frame? Tim Cox (South Wales) did one back in the late 70s - using a spare Double Drum Sport frame and tin wear. It looked very nice, but apparently not as much fun as the original - but back then we weren't obsessed with rare DD bikes... The disc braked version will probably not only look nicer but work better...

Do whatever you fancy - Morini riders are a broad church!

CC