Moto Morini 3½
| Moto Morini | |
|---|---|
 A 3½ from 1974 in the Strada / GT version |
|
| 3½ | |
| Manufacturer | Moto Morini SpA |
| Production period | 1973 to 1983 |
| class | motorcycle |
| design type | Naked , tourer , sports tourer |
| Motor data | |
| air-cooled two-cylinder V-engine , four-stroke | |
| Displacement (cm³) | 344 |
| Power (kW / PS ) | 26/35 at 8,200 min -1 |
| Top speed ( km / h) | 166 |
| transmission | 6 courses |
| drive | Chain drive |
| Brakes | front drum brake, rear drum brake |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1390 |
| Empty weight (kg) | 144 |
| Previous model | 175 series |
| successor | 350 K2 |
The 3½ was a motorcycle from the Italian manufacturer Moto Morini , which was offered in the variants Turismo , Sport and GT .
background
Until then, Moto Morini had almost exclusively used single-cylinder engines with camshafts and bumpers below in its models. At the Milan Salon in 1971, the touring version of a two-cylinder V-engine was presented to the public for the first time .
technology
In order to build compactly, the designer Franco Lambertini used a transverse crankshaft . The V-engine had a cylinder angle of 72 degrees. In order to save overall height, an overhead camshaft was omitted in the head. The valves, which were arranged in parallel, were operated by push rods. For the first time in motorcycle construction, the camshaft was driven by a toothed belt. The ignition was contactless, the transmission had six gears and a ten-plate dry clutch . Unlike the Japanese competition, the foot switch was on the right-hand side. The 3½ had a kick starter . The design also relied on Heron combustion chambers to save overall height : the combustion chamber was not housed in the cylinder head, as is usually the case, but in the piston crown. The inlet ducts, which already gave the mixture a certain swirl, should ensure good combustion. The front suspension was with a telescopic fork from Marzocchi and the rear with two struts from Ceriani. The frame was a contemporary double loop frame made of tubular steel. Veglia supplied the instruments . In the beginning, the motorcycles were on wire-spoke wheels and braked at the front with a duplex brake . Later there were also cast wheels and, depending on the variant, disc brakes for the front wheel from 1976 .
variants
The original 3½ was later joined by models with 239 cm³ and 478 cm³, whose engines were based on the original design. From 1981 there was an enduro with the Camel - initially with 478 cm³ and later with 507 cm³ - with the engine concept of the 3½. A prototype with 478 cm³ and an exhaust gas turbocharger was also built. The variants described here all had the 344 cm³ engine. The differences were mainly found in the appearance, while the basic construction remained the same.
3½ turismo
The touring model, which was presented to the public at the trade fair in Milan in 1971, had a straight double bench seat and a chrome-plated luggage rack that also served as a handle for the pillion passenger. From 1973 the machine went into series production.
3½ sport
The model was built from 1974. With clip-on handlebars, a hump seat, black and red paint, high-shoulder rims and a double simlex brake on the front wheel, the machine looked different from its sister models. A modified camshaft brought some more power and that 28 kW (39 HP ) at 8,500 min -1 . For the German market, the motorcycle in this design did not meet the noise limits for approval. Therefore it was officially only sold with a damper insert in the exhaust, which reduced the power to 20 kW (28 PS).
3½ Strada / GT
The naked version was very similar to the Turismo, but did not have the luggage rack. It was initially offered with the name suffix Strada from 1973 and from 1980 under the addition GT. In addition, their line was distinguished by a slightly curved step bench with retaining straps.
reception
The 3½ was perceived quite enthusiastically in the motorcycle world as an alternative to the mostly significantly larger Japanese competitors. The economical long-life engine was praised, which seldom consumed more than 5 liters per 100 km and brought decent performance to the road. The good chassis, with the exception of the too soft telescopic fork, received a lot of attention. The name 3½ alludes to the three "full" hundred and "half a hundred" cubic centimeters of displacement (around 350 cm³). The motorcycles, especially the sport, still have a fan base today. It is no coincidence that Morini recalls the model names in the recent company history - such as the 9½ with 1187 cm³ which was built from 2006 to 2010 - of the 3½ series.
swell
- Driving report by Fred Siemer in Motorrad 13/1996, available online at Motorrad Klassik, accessed on December 18, 2016
- Comparative test by Fred Siemer in Motorrad 10/1998, available online at Motorrad Online, accessed on December 18, 2016
