What year/model 500?

[OlyMoto]

Greetings, all. I've fetched my first Morini, a....198x 500 something. I'm lacking in clue and have plenty of questions, but I'm thinking I should start by figuring out what exactly I have.

Clues on year:

- EPA sticker on rear fender references 1980

- Paperwork includes an MSO showing model year of 1981

- Virginia registration/title shows year as 1982

- VIN: ZLMAW5360AB05xxx

There's a plate and frame stamp as well, pictured below.





Regarding model - all I know is it's a 500. That's all that shows on the side plates. Included with the paperwork were two vintage sales flyers, one for an Sei-V AT, one for an Sei-V AS. The only distinction I readily made out between them was color and the inclusion of a small quarter fairing on the AS. However, while the naked AT version looks like mine, it has a different paint scheme and I'm near certain mine is stock.

Included as a house warming/thank you gift - two PDF scans of the sales flyers, both of which are in very nice shape. Not sure who to contact about inclusion in the Library if wanted, but whoever handles that - have at it! I didn't see either of them there.

Moto Morini 500 Sei-V AT Flyer

Moto Morini 500 Sei-V AS Flyer

Thanks for any info!

[Emmohaswheelsagain]

Hi Oly, 500W would be a first generation model, 5 speed.
The 500 was available in red, metallic red and metallic grey.
My own 500 is metallic grey, registered in November 1979, although date of registration is not always a good indication of year or model. Not sure about the US but here in the UK new machines could spend significant time in the showroom.
The factory restyled the 500 in 1979, the frame was transformed by changing the steering angle and mudguards were replaced, painted steel instead of stainless steel. Later the factory uprated the gear box to 6 speed. I am sure others on this forum will be able to assist you with further info, worth you joining the MRC both for the knowledge and the spares, should you require.

Regards

Paul
I

[OlyMoto]

Thanks for the info, Paul. And yes, I'm guessing this one also sat for a while before first sale. The MSO in the paperwork shows the bike was transferred in December of 1984 to the dealer, even though it shows a model year of 1981. With the MSO presumably coming from the US importer at the time (Herdan Corporation?), 1981 seems like the best clue so far. It's definitely post-1979 given the painted fender.

I did fetch an MRC membership the other day, I've been going through the service manual since doing so.

Best,

Will

[morini_tom]

Hi Will,

we can do you a dating certificate for your bike. This is a free service to club members.

Please email photos of the bike from each side, pictures of the frame number and EPA sticker, and a scan of any paperwork you do have for it to the club machine registrar, and he’ll be in touch:

Machine_registrar @ Morini-riders-club . com

(Take out the spaces)

Tom

[Arthur Farrow]

SIX SPEED 500

The Sei V is either AT or AS versions are identical excepting touring or sport set up (handlebars) and in most markets the fairings were an optional extra......not sure about USA. This is commonly known as the 500W/1 and is a six speed...it was homologated by the Italian authorities on 22/10/1980 and would have entered production some time after as the new 1981 model I suspect. The small rectangular alloy plate on one of there near the headstock shows E3 500W/1 9R 37711 (NOTE this is NOT part of the frame number ...it's related to homologation in Italy)

FIVE SPEED 500 (your bike)

The small alloy plate on your bike shows E3 500W and 9R 32338 therefore it is the earlier 5 Speed machine HOWEVER it has the shorter front engine plates and kinked frame of the 6 speed model so it is an "in-between" edition and it bears the paintwork of a 5 speed.

We see there "in-between" or transitional models infrequently and I think one can understand that as a very small factory old models blended into new models with no clear swop over date. Your bike is 1980 production almost certainly exported to Herdan Corp (the USA Importers) in early 1981...they were expensive bikes that were slow sellers so it is not unusual to see (for instance) a 1982 model sold new in 1983 etc etc.

Hope this helps/clarifies

Cheers ARTHUR FARROW MRC registrar, DVLA dating officer and VMCC Marque specialist

[OlyMoto]

Tremendous info, Arthur - thanks so much!