Picture special: Moto Morini 1200 Sport joins the retro bandwagon

Moto Morini jumps on the retro bandwagon with its new 1200 Sport, but it’s actually a damn fine motorcycle.

Remember the colours of the Aston Martin Le Mans race cars of the late 1950s? A lighter shade of traditional British Racing Green blended with yellow highlighting – a combination which became famous around the world because of the success of the cars.

Well, those colours are now back, and in the unlikeliest of places. Fifty years on they’re not to be found slathered upon the flanks of a British racing car but instead covering those of an Italian road motorcycle, the brand new Moto Morini 1200 Sport.

The Moto Morini 1200 will be available in two retro colour schemes the Aston/Lotus green and yellow or a more fetching ‘Gulf Porsche’ reminiscent pale blue and orange combo.

Overall, the 1200 Sport impresses in most respects, but particularly the engine. And as an overall package it both demonstrates how much and how fast Moto Morini has moved on in such a short period of time. Performance-wise it has motorbikes like Ducati’s Sport Classic and the Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport flailing. But just as importantly for this kind of bike, the 1200 Sport has the style and detailing to make it a serious temptation, too.

The Moto Morini 1200 Sport will be available from late May for £7999. For more specifications check out this week’s MCN 9May 21, 2008).