At the EICMA in Milan, Moto Morini presented the rebirth of the legendary 3½ Sport, the model that put the Morini name on the map in the 1970s. According to the Italian brand, which has been in Chinese hands for almost 10 years, the new 3½ Sport will reach dealers in the first half of 2026.
Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen. Because let’s be honest: although the takeover by the Chinese Zhongneng Vehicle Group in the autumn of 2018 saved Moto Morini from collapse, the rollout of new models has been anything but smooth from day 1. That started with the first X-Cape 650, which took almost two years to arrive after its presentation.
The second model, the Seiemmezzo, was similar in that respect, while the launch of the new
Those two new seven and a half models were announced for 2024, but were notable for their absence that year. Instead, at the 2024 EICMA, the Corsaro GT was announced for – you guessed it – 2025. But again this year, no news came from Italy (or should we say China, because that’s where the engines are produced.)
Experience shows that at Moto Morini there can be quite a few kilometers between an exhibition stand and an actual delivery, and so if you don’t mind, we will keep a close eye on when the motorcycle will actually be available.
Retro charm with modern technology
Good. That said. The new 3½ Sport pays tribute to the original Moto Morini from 1974, designed by Franco Lambertini. The classic, sporty profile has been retained, but translated into a modern, refined design. Under the skin is a 350 cc V-twin with Euro 5+ homologation, the performance of which has not yet been released.
The only thing that Morini has announced is that it has a dry weight of 154 kilos, to which, including the 15.5 liter full fuel tank, approximately another 15 kilos of fluids (petrol, oil, battery) can be added.
The 350cc V-twin is mounted in a steel double cradle frame, with a 37 mm upside down front fork with 130 mm of suspension travel at the front and an aluminum swingarm with cantilever monoshock with 120 mm of suspension travel at the rear, the spring preload of which is adjustable. At 1,420 mm, the wheelbase is actually quite long for a light motorcycle, just like the seat height of 795 mm is not super accessible. Although there is some confusion there. The technical sheet mentions 795 mm, while the text of the press release mentions a seat height of 780 mm.
What else do we know? As for the brakes, a single 300 mm disc with radial 4-piston caliper is used at the front, while the rear wheel is braked by a single 255 mm shock with 2-piston caliper. The brake calipers are also provided with the Morini logo for the first time, but we have the impression that they were produced by Bybre.
The whole is completed by LED lighting and a round TFT display with integrated navigator, making both visibility and connectivity completely modern.
For those who prefer a relaxed seating position, a traditional handlebar is mounted, but those looking for more sportiness can opt for the optional clip-ons. The retro accents, such as the classic fuel cap, the saddle with the Moto Morini logo and the sleek exhaust line, make it clear that this is not just an entry-level motorcycle, but a conscious ode to an Italian icon.
Sounds promising, but…
Sounds promising, but until now it has always been a surprise at Morini when the bikes were actually delivered, causing some distributors such as Sima in France and MotoMondo in the Benelux, Germany and the United Kingdom to end the collaboration.
And so: on paper the 3½ Sport looks like a light, accessible V-twin full of charm, style and modern technology. But until we actually see it on the road – and not just on the exhibition floor in Milan – it remains a promising promise, which we still view with a healthy dose of Italian distrust.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.