Moto Morini Corsaro 1200 ZZ revealed

For many manufacturers, 2017 presented a challenge as the incoming Euro4 emissions meant they had two choices: tweak their non-compliant engines and extend the life of the product, or design something completely new. Small-volume Italian brand Moto Morini opted for the latter– and this new Corsaro 1200 ZZ is the result. They say they did keep one thing, though: “The indomitable, furious and fearless soul of the bike.” Sounds good to us.

Home brewed

In true Italian fashion, the powerplant is a torquey, 1200cc V-twin that delivers 137bhp and 92ftlb of torque. Despite the 1187cc Bialbero Corsa Corta engine first debuting in 2005, Moto Morini say they have managed to rework it to conform to the Euro4 standards without losing its character. A big part of this was designing the engine to work with the new Zard exhaust system, which not only helps with both emissions and noise, but has also helped improve the fuel consumption.

TOP STORIES

• Cheap scoots: Honda SH125 vs Kymco Agility City
• Would you ride a hybrid motorcycle?
• Honda Monkey 125 concept appears in the metal
• Ducati Experience comes to MCN Festival with 45 bikes!
• WSB: MCN’s exclusive Donington Park ticket offer

Rounding out the technological innovations in the drivetrain are a new quickshifter and slipper clutch, as well as new dual-channel ABS from Bosch, which can be turned off if you want to get a bit lairy.

Il Tricolore

Moto Morini say they wanted to keep the Corsaro ZZ Italian through and through, so with the odd exception (like the German-made Bosch 9MP ABS system) the bike is Italian-made throughout.

The engine itself is built in Trivolzio, south of Milan, while the fully adjustable front end comes from Bologna firm Mupo. It’s the real deal, too, with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping, as well as the option for a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the stanchions.

The Italophilia continues elsewhere with radial Brembo monoblock calipers and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres. Even the electronics follow the theme, with the 5in full-colour TFT dash coming from Italian firm AIM.

So how do you go about buying one? Each new Morini is unique, and all the orders are currently handled direct by the factory. They then build the bike precisely to your own specification, and Morini will then get it individually type-approved, to ensure you will have no issues later down the line. As you may have guessed, this does come at a price. €19,900 (£16,855) to be exact– but at least you can be pretty sure you won’t see another in the bike bay at work.

There are currently no UK Moto Morini dealers, but they have confirmed they’re looking to chang ethis imminently – in the meantime, order direct, and Morini will ship your bike direct to your door.

Looking for the perfect two-wheeled companion? Visit MCN Bikes For Sale website or use MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.