Strada ID and seat

[Bison]

Hello Folks,
I've just become the owner of a Strada, registered with a Y plate 1983, I think however it's a K model from 81/82?. It was metallic blue (now red), Silver/grey wheels, electric start cases, but from what I can see a flywheel without the drum, and no starter assembly, I'll remove the casing soon to find out, no mechanical rev counter drive, which I think is correct for the K?. It has the little tail piece like the 500, not the duck tail of the 1983 onwards Strada, and the small plastic linking pieces that go from the back of the side panels to the tail piece. It has a round headlight, but it looks aftermarket.The frame has the kinked front downtubes The only obvious thing that's missing is the seat, I'm sure it's the hinging type, does anyone know if it's the same as the 500 Strada seat?. Does anyone have one they are willing to part with?.
The bike is a bit of a mess, but better than my other 3 1/2 Sports when I got them. Looking forward to getting it on the ramp, just got to finish the bike that's on the ramp now!, there's no hope for me!!!
Thanks in advance,
Alan.

[Morini Jen]

Hi Alan.

Your bike sounds very much like a K Strada. It should have a hinged seat. At the risk of sounding obvious (see photos), there should be a couple of hinges on the left side of the frame, and on the right a lock and hook, or possibly two holes where they used to be. I don't know for certain but I think a 500 seat would be a bit longer with the hinges in a different position.

I do have a fairly scabby K Sport seat that I would be willing to part with. Same base as a Strada but with a hump in the foam and different cover. I'll post some photos if you're interested but it's not a pretty sight.

Jenny.

[Morini Jen]

I've just noticed that Rocker62 has a 500 Strada seat currently for sale.

By way of comparison, my seat is:-
Overall length: 670mm.
Width at front end: 205mm.
Width at rear: 245mm.
Width at widest point: 290mm.
Length beween outer edges of hinges: 260mm.
Centre to centre of rubber buffers: 185mm.

If you need me to do any more measurements I can do.

[Bison]

Jenny,
Great photo's and info, thanks.
So useful primarily because a previous owner has cut off the mounting tubes on the frame in an attempt to fit a seat to make it look like an earlier Strada, so I'll have to weld mounting tubes onto the frame, the photo gives me a great start as to where to mount them. No locking/release bracket or any mechanism to lock it into place either, I'll have to keep an eye open for that.
I will ask Rocker62 to measure his 500 seat up with your measurements, and although I would like a strada seat, please do send a photo or two of your sport one.
Thanks again,
Alan.

[Morini Jen]

Hi Alan.

I have attached some photos of the K Sport seat which is surplus to requirements. It wouldn't take too much to refresh it but as you can see it is missing the plate for the lock to engage with and also the rubber buffers.

Interesting to hear that the previous owner of your bike cut off the mounting brackets in order to fit an early style Strada seat. I am part way through doing something similar although it is a bit of a tale...

My bike is a K1 Sport which as you know has a fibreglass unit running from the fuel tank to a large-ish tail piece which also has a handy storage compartment. The seat itself locks on top of that. I quite liked the look of it, but some time ago I had a sit on my friend Sally's K Strada and found that the seat was a good inch lower than the K1 and, having short legs, that appealed to me. Upon removing the K1 tail unit I was surprised to find that as well as the K1 mounts on the frame, there were also two seat hinges, two pairs of threaded brackets for side flashes, two holes in the frame for the seat lock, two holes in the mudguard and two small holes in the rear light bracket. In other words, all that is necessary to fit the K style seat and tail.

So, I picked up a couple of K seat bases, side flashes, and a tail piece from an autojumble somewhere and bought the lock mechanism and key from NLM. I merrily set to, cutting off the surplus K1 frame fittings. Like an idiot I also cut off the brackets for the side flashes so I couldn't fit all the K parts I had but it wasn't too bad really as I was aiming for the look of the early Strada seat anyway. As you can see I have reshaped the K seat base and it all works and locks as it should but I still need to sort out the foam and cover.

I'm pretty sure the K seat base is the same for both the Sport and Strada, just the shape of the foam and cover is different. It wouldn't be like Morini to make two items when one would do!

Still, here are some photos. If you need any more measurements just ask.

[Morini Jen]

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[Morini Jen]

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[MickeyMoto]

Alan,

Photos attached of 1981 Strada. Original round headlamp and chromed indicators. Silencers were originally chromed not black, but the Riservato Competitione are better looking.

Tacho is electronic.

You will like the Strada engine over the Sport, I think, as it pulls through the mid range.

Oh, and my chain oiler!

[Bison]

Thanks everyone,
Great info, and reference photo's. I do like the colours of that year, and the styling too. Is that the original pinstriping?.
So, I sneaked out while the paint was drying on the kitchen wall, and my missus was lunching, to have a quick inspection. The lady I got it from said that a couple of her late husbands friends had tried to get it going but with no success, not really surprising as there's no ignition stator in it!!!. Luckily I have a spare.
It has the black electric start casing and rocker covers , but the left side casing is plain aluminium, it also has the non electric start flywheel rotor, no starter drum. The pickup is black. I wonder if the engine might have been replaced at some time?. There's no engine number, so are there any obvious tell tales between the electric start engine and the older non electric start?. I'll look up the dutch site, perhaps they will have info?.
I have the competitioni's on my orange sport, they do make a nice noise!
Interesting you say the engine is nicer than the Sport, looking forward to riding it.
Alan.

[julianharty]

... cut ...
I'll look up the dutch site, perhaps they will have info?.
Alan.

Alan,
FYI we migrated the Dutch site to this website https://www.morini-riders-club.com/Nederland/ as the Dutch club disbanded about 2 years ago and they kindly agreed we could preserve their website (and their forum in read-only mode) so that they'd still be available. I agree their site is very very helpful and useful. If you would like to provide any updates or additions based on their site I may be able to help publish it (I helped to migrate their site to ours).

All the best
Julian