Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/879212
MOTO MORINI CORSARO 1200 ZZ FULL TEST P106 roads, using the good leverage from the one-piece handlebar to flick the Corsaro from side to side, then powering effortlessly and smoothly out of turns in a way that's undeniably satisfying, thrilling—and fun. While the Corsaro ZZ's 33.9- inch seat height will be a little daunting for shorter riders, Gus- tato says that Moto Morini has ways of reducing that as part of their custom build package, and matched with the meaty one-piece Accossato handlebar sourced from its Scrambler model, it deliv- ers an upright straight-backed posture that's pretty comfortable for riders of differing height. The footpegs are ideally positioned, too—high enough to avoid drag- ging your toes but without cramp- ing a normal-sized rider's knees unduly, while ideally placed to let them snuggle into the flanks of the well-shaped aluminum fuel tank, giving a good sense of control, of being at one with the bike. In spite of the tall seat height, you snuggle into the Corsaro, rather than sit perched aboard it, so thanks to it narrowing where it meets the fuel tank I could touch down both feet at rest. On the Corsaro ZZ with its massive hit of torque Morini has understandably opted to fit the wider 190/55-17 rear Pire- lli Diablo Rosso III compared to the 180-section tire on my bikes and later Corsaros, but the wide handlebar gives sufficient lever- age for this not to be a problem in depriving the ZZ of too much of the agility that's always been a feature of the trellis-framed Morini V-twin models. The 0.4- inch longer 56.7-inch wheelbase helps keep the front wheel a little closer to the tarmac under hard acceleration, but in spite of quite conservative steering geometry (24.5º rake with 4.1 inches of trail) the ZZ is pretty responsive and light steering. Nice. It was hard not to be impressed with the new model after spend- ing a day aboard it, and the main reason is the way Moto Morini has retuned that wonderfully torquey CorsaCorta motor to be so flexible and forgiving, fast as well as friendly. With its excellent handling, good steering, decent performance and upright riding stance, this truly is an everyday bike for all seasons, and all rea- sons. "Moto Morini is a hidden se- cret that everyone who discovers it falls in love with," says Rug- geromassimio Jannuzelli. "It's a genuinely historic Italian brand, with a successful road racing history, and we have to make it more widely appreciated, not only for its traditions, but for the excellence of its products today." Under such enlightened own- ership with deep pockets, Moto Morini has picked up where it left off, making great real world motorcycles that are full of per- sonality, and are rewarding and entertaining to ride. Let's hope that this time around, their ap- pealing character won't be such a best-kept secret as before. CN MOTO MORINI CORSARO 1200 ZZ (MSRP $24,000) ENGINE: ....Water-cooled, DOHC, 4-stroke, 4 valves per cylinder, 87° V-twin BORE X STROKE:......................... 107 x 66mm DISPLACEMENT: ................................... 1187cc OUTPUT: .... 137 bhp/102.5 kW @ 8500 rpm Maximum torque: . 125 Nm/11.5 kgm/92.25 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm COMPRESSION RATIO: ............................11.9:1 FUEL/IGNITION SYSTEM: .................... EFI w/ Athena ECU and 2 x 54mm Magneti Marelli throttle bodies, each with a single injector TRANSMISSION: ................................. 6-speed CLUTCH: .....Multiplate oil-bath APTC slipper clutch w/hydraulic operation CHASSIS: ............. Chrome-moly tubular-steel space-frame FRONT SUSPENSION: ............Fully-adjustable 46mm Mupo inverted telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION: Cast aluminum swing- arm, w/fully-adjustable Mupo shock and progressive rate link RAKE/TRAIL: ................................24.5°/4.1 in. WHEELBASE: ........................................ 56.7 in. FRONT BRAKE: ..... 2 x 320mm Brembo steel discs w/radially mounted 4-piston twin-pad Brembo Monoblock calipers, dual-channel Bosch 9.1 MP ABS REAR BRAKE: .......1 x 220mm Brembo steel disc w/2-piston Brembo caliper FRONT WHEEL: ................ 3.50 in. MT forged aluminum wheel REAR WHEEL: .................. 6.00 in. MT forged aluminum wheel FRONT TIRE: ............. 120/70-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso III REAR TIRE: ....190/55-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso III SEAT HEIGHT: ......................................33.9 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ................................ 14.6 gal. MANUFACTURER: ...................... Moto Morini srl, Via Beri 24, 27020 Trivolzio (PV), Italy S P E C I F I C A T I O N S