Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR: First Ride & Impressions - Cheap Italian / Chinese Junk? Or Hidden Gem?

[@FoxParasyte]

Hey everyone, I've decided to make a Patreon Account. The whole idea is there so that i can afford the parts, software/hardware, products at a quicker pace that way I'll be able to produce and upload content on a more frequent schedule. If your interested & want to help out, be my guest i would be super thrilled to have you. If not, hey i get it no worries. Thank you everyone! www.patreon.com/Foxxy400

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Obscure. Herm Baver of Pennsylvania was the importer, distributor, dealer for Moto Morini for Many years. I bought 4 from him .. shipped out here to California.

[@MOTOPILOT6]

They offer a fender eliminator kit on their website. It's very clean and affordable.

[@MOTOPILOT6]

I have to agree, there is nothing cheap looking or feeling about the STR. It feels like a bike double its cost.

[@Darbymitch101]

I have this bike.. trust me, it's still a Chinese crapper can. It a nicely dressed cf moto basically. Looks great though!

[@leehart1498]

The bikes you compare it to are crotch rockets, there for more power. The MM is a naked bike that has a riding position to where you can actually ride it, and not be so jerky making it more able to ride more distances. 3 year unlimited mile warranty, with valve check at every 29,900 miles. Sounds good to me.

[@FoxParasyte]

Regardless they are all Naked bikes. Yes the bikes i compared if too are far more powerful because yes they are geared towards performance over comfort. MM is competing with that crowd since its virtually in the same classification of motorcycle. Its Major draw is exactly like you pointed out. Far more comfortable, easier to ride, long warrenty, ect...

[@davidebacchi9030]

6 1/2 is the literal meaning of the name in Italian (sei e mezzo => six and a half).

[@FoxParasyte]

I kinda figured that was the case when i saw the 6 1/2 graphic. Good to know thanks 🤠

[@ogasi1798]

excellent feedback

[@GeorgeConaway-w2b]

That Moto Morini is a LOT like my Benelli Leoncino. I'm wondering if it's essentially the same motorcycle with a larger displacement and some component changes. I have the Trail version of the Leoncino, and I would bet that the SCR version of the 6 1/2 has the same changes that Benelli makes to the street version of the Leoncino to produce the Trail. Even watching you ride the bike, I felt like I was watching a video of my own bike in the way it rode, handled, and reacted. It was kind of eerie. Thanks for the video!

[@FoxParasyte]

The Leoncino is a very pretty looking bike. A dealer close to me said i could make a video on it if i wanted. I bought my TNT 135 from them. Tried out their 302s and kinda hated it. I'll definitely hit the dealer up and see if I can check that bike out.

[@JMBuLLeTCL]

Thats the NK650 engine with engine cover.. good old kawa 650

[@8g8819]

❤ Tires: Pirelli (italian) Brakes: Brembo (italian) Electronic system: Bosch (german) Engine: Kawasaki (japan) Suspension: Kayaba (japan) Design: italian Who cares if it is assembled in China?

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Me. They are not a cultural Motor Cycle Country and they are clueless. Their quality standards are sub zero.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

If the new Chinese manufacturer made the exact copies of the original 250 sport, 3 1/2 (350) Sport, 500 Sport and the Kangaroo and Camel With quality materials and workmanship they would rule the market. What is shown looks Chinese.

[@Lemmingadventures]

they are selling for $5k brand new at my local dealer.

[@FoxParasyte]

Same here actually it's very tempting

[@marcosepe9956]

When you mention the fact that the power and torque the bike doesn't have in comparison to the Japanese models. But here in Ontario where insurance premiums for motorcycles are extremely high.. So the advantage is because of the underpowered aspects it may serve well as an urban bike that won't squish your wallet.

[@zunazuzareska2979]

Interesting motorcycle video Foxxy. I love motorcycles! ❤️ Why do you have to pay for the GPS? It makes no sense and it is a hindrance cause it should be free.

[@johnbible5963]

It's only $1.99 per month for the turn by turn directions. Or there is an option for $4.99 for "Season Card" which is probably 3 months? People spend much more than that on a coffee! And, once my GPS got old with HONDA they wanted to charge for updates. Regardless of offerings, I always clamp my phone to the bars anyway to use Carplay or my favorite Google Maps.

[@niospartan]

I just got an scr and it left the dealership with a faulty rear left turn signal. The test ride was right turns only so i didnt carch it then. Its covered obviously with their warranty but kinda spoiled the new bike excitement. Was worse though when i previously bought an enfield interceptor, shipped from a sister dealership missing all the controls on the right side like wtf how were you guys allowed to sell this but that wasnt enfields fault. Also is that castlevania ost in the background?

[@markfortin8286]

As someone who is interested in these bikes, this is the most useful review I've seen. I'm disappointed to hear about the GPS paywall. If they need to make a little more on the sale of the machine, I think everyone would rather they just up the initial price. Don't try to nickle-and-dime after the fact. Morini's got some really nice stuff in the pipeline, it would be a shame if they turn off US consumers before they even get a foothold due to small, shortsighted moves.

[@FoxParasyte]

I 100% agree with you, and thank you very much for the compliment!

[@MOTOPILOT6]

Wow, the bike has a suuuper affordable price tag and you're harping over a monthly fee of $2.99. Plus the money is going to the developer of MotoFUN. Not Moto Morini. One less Starbucks coffee gets you 3 months of membership.

[@FoxParasyte]

I know what you are saying, but i simply don't agree with the entire idea. Idc if the bike is 500 bucks or 5 million. Pay walls of any kind are a negative point IMO. It concerns me because if GPS directions are fine to lock. What exactly is stopping devs or manufacturers from including paywalls for other things. For example, the bike you bought that has heated and cooling seats installed from the factory but unless you pay X amount of dollars a month, it's inoperable. Same could be done with any form of Bluetooth pairing or features like ride modes, ABS, TCS, TPSM, ect... Like i said i really like the bike (and all of the bikes in their line up) but i could never say that the paywall doesn't bother me. If it doesn't for you, hey thats great! and I'll absolutely respect that. But you can never convince me that this is a good practice to continue doing.

[@markfortin8286]

@@MOTOPILOT6 A different perspective, which I appreciate. I have a mentality that resists the subscription-based business model in general, hence my dislike of it. On a bike of this class the tech is basically "feature creep," anyway, in my opinion. It would be just as well suited with a set of analog clocks and nothing else.

[@djonly1831]

​​@@FoxParasyte I'm also pretty interested in the SCR, olive drab version. I've been keeping tabs on videos and articles related to it. Not many go into detail, regarding features. Especially, the cockpit interface. I really do appreciate your coverage of that aspect! You actually pretty much covered all the important points. Anyways, to me, that feature is something that SHOULD set it apart from other bikes. To my knowledge, this and one other bike have this feature. In the same price range. The 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401. I'm interested in trading in my Royal Enfield Meteor 350 for a new bike that has "smart" features. So, these are my 2 options at this point.

[@kostasjezuz4846]

Clunky gearbox??? LOL! Coming from a Buell XB12R (that I still own) and an SWM Gran Milano 440 (that I exchanged for the Morini), I can say that the gearbox is buttery smooth, to the point it feels boring to me compared to my other/previous bikes... I believe you can screen cast the maps to the bike's screen for free, not sure though as I haven't tried it yet. Paying for maps would not be a big deal for me (probably would never need to use it) , however, if it was like KTM where you have to PAY EXTRA to unlock things ALREADY INSTALLED on the bike, like quickshifters etc, it would be an instant SKIP for me....

[@patrickmcchesney6567]

It’s still made in Italy just owned by a Chinese company

[@MIflyer]

Call me a Luddite, but any manufacturer that puts paywalls on a vehicle - especially for features that you already paid for - automatically gets the middle finger from me. It doesn’t really matter how nice the product may be otherwise.

[@FoxParasyte]

Oh trust me, it's absolutely asinine to have paywalls on any vehicle point blank. I'm hoping that at some point there is enough complaining and negative reception that the manufacturer unlocks the GPS for everyone. As for the ones who already paid for it, give them a rebate that goes towards parts or service.

[@brandonwells9384]

I have the Moto Morini X-Cape. You can use the GPS like normal after downloading the free app. Not sure why that model would make you pay.

[@Riddle6EOS]

Moto Morini have gone Chinese? Sad. But how much of the company?

[@FoxParasyte]

I was under the impression it's the manufacturing plant.

[@MOTOPILOT6]

Main headquarters for design and engineering based in Italy. Mfg in China land. Tier 1 factory.

[@JohnSmith-sm6oy]

Says who

[@aleksskopje]

why CHEAP junk/. its not cheap at all..... is 7000eur cheap?

[@FoxParasyte]

Cheap as in, cheaply made and manufactured