Fact – Moto Morini SCR 650 “Seiemmezzo” is officially the Latvian motorcycle of the year in 2023. It was awarded this status by a vote of a 16-person jury and by only a narrow margin over the electric Energetic Eva Ribelle RS, which is a motorcycle in a completely different category, at a different price, in a different reality. The Energica was an impressive unit, but it seems that a large part of the jury realistically realized that it is not a practically recommended motorcycle, both because of its price and because of the still very small electric charging network in Latvia. The first place in this competition and voting went to this Morini, which surprised with its simplicity, easy control and affordable price. One of the Kursora electromobility enthusiasts will probably write about Energica in more detail. You can read short first impressions of each of the 20 test bikes here.
We have written about Moto Morini before, looking at the purely coherent X-Cape 650 touring model, which shares exactly the same engine with the smaller SCR 650 and, as it turns out, also sells quite well in Latvia. I’ll skip the insight into the Moto Morini brand, you can read about it briefly in the introduction to the X-Cape 650 review, but the point remains the same – Morini is an Italian cantor that was recently acquired by a Chinese moto giant. It is neither the first time nor the first brand that has experienced such transformations and revived as a result. Be that as it may, the Chinese money has allowed the brand to continue creating and marketing new models.
“China”
I should start with a small disclaimer. The argument “from China, so it’s good for nothing” is morally outdated long ago and has remained a bad prejudice. The Moto Morini 650 is just as “from China” as the BMW F850GS or the KTM 790 Adventure, as the BMW engine and some other components come from Lonchin, while the KTM model is manufactured at the CFMOTO plant. Both in China. Triumph are also made in Asia, although a pure and clear UK brand. Well, when everyone has stopped shouting “Whoa, whoa, what a Chinese”, calmed down and simply accepted as a reality that almost everything in our everyday life is partially or completely made in China (including the device on which you are reading this), we we can go further and look at the Moto Morini SCR 650 for what it is, not what it is not.
What it is, what it is not
It is clear that this particular Morini is not a long-distance touring bike. It’s not a Speed Junkies Anonymous bike either. It is not the last and only motorcycle that will be in the garage, but for 8000 EUR (incl. VAT) it is a lot of things that will suit many different riders. I can honestly say that the Morini 650 is, if not the best, then certainly one of the best bikes for beginners. It is not too heavy, has a low enough seating position, and is easy to drive. It has a dynamic but not overly sharp engine and power, it is comfortable enough for city or shorter trips. And while all of these things make it an excellent entry-level bike, it was voted “best bike” by a panel of 16 fairly experienced local riders. Why?
Yes, why?
I cannot answer for the vote of the other members of the jury, but I can answer for mine. In my rating table, among all 24 contenders, this Morini scored the highest, and this rating had two components. One was the first impression, the first absolutely irrational feeling, driving the first 500 meters with it. The feeling, the appearance, the handling, the dynamics – all this together left a smile on the face and this is one of the most important aspects of the evaluation. The other component to the assessment was in a way… political. I just really want to support the new, small, lesser known and less mainstream brands to give them a chance. In Latvia, it is difficult for small players with little-known brands to break out, and the big, well-known ones have long since disappeared. I have walked into a Honda store several times and been met with complete disinterest. Same with Motofavorite (Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, Indian, etc.). I made my last purchase, a Moto Guzzi V85TT, at a Lithuanian dealer, because the local Motofavorite salesman on the phone sounded as if I had interrupted him at the dinner plate. I have even gone to the dealer already decided on the purchase of a motorcycle, but I don’t say it right away. I drove up on a scooter, in a soiled t-shirt. I enter the salon as a completely random guy from the street, I get interested, I ask questions. At the moment when I can clearly see that no one wants to mess with me, I approach the “cashier” and say – “This, please. I’m buying her,” and then look at their faces. Pleasant 😊
Therefore, my vote for a small-volume, little-known manufacturer is also in a way a vote for the Morini dealer, who is very anti-home and in fact the complete opposite of a large part of the dealers of known manufacturers. And also about the motorcycle itself, of course. I would also like to vote for the other “newcomer” in the market – Fantic, but objectively some demo bikes of this manufacturer did not create such a universal liking. About Fantic – in another article.
Coming back to the Morini SCR 650
In a way, the Morini SCR compares well with the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, which we already wrote about. Both have the same engine displacement and very similar dynamics, although the Enfield is air-cooled and the Morini is liquid-cooled with a massive, fat radiator under the front forks. Both of them are at a similar price – Morini is slightly more expensive, but for this price it also delivers more – it has a high-quality digital screen, has LED lighting, button lighting, Brembo brakes, the ability to connect a phone and other things that the Interceptor does not have. The Morini has a modern, scrambler design, while the Enfield has a distinctly analog, retro look and feel. These two motorcycles are not supposed to compete but come with a similar offering. In general, there are not that many good 650s. There is the Versys 650, which is more touring-oriented, there is the BMW F750GS and the Honda NC750X or the Transalps, which are however in a different price category. The 650 is such a good average all-rounder, a good balance and compromise between price, weight and engine dynamics. And the Morini SCR has a very good balance between price and features.
And the Morini 650 is such a good compromise. The bike does not promise anything and there are no special expectations for it, but it handles extremely well, feels quite dynamic up to 100 km/h, looks good, performed well and otherwise gives the impression of a very good bike. It shifts gears very easily, has a sufficiently neutral seating position, and understandable damping. The SCR variation is supposed to be a “Scrambler” variation, but there should be no mistake here – the Morini SCR is not suitable for anything more than the usual Latvian gravel road or some tidy forest road. 120mm suspension travel and ~220kg is not something that should be pounded on the stumps.
There are two models in total, SCR and STR, apparently standing for ‘Scrambler’ and ‘Street’. To be completely honest, even after studying the technical brochure, it was not clear to me exactly how these two variations differ. The only noticeable things are cosmetic – the SCR model has a slightly higher handlebar, a tall mudguard, spoked wheels and some alternative paintwork. I guess that’s enough to be called a “scrambler” nowadays. I would probably call these more Roadster, because this is definitely not an off-road driver.
Yes for the city, no for tourism
However, the Morini SCR is a very good city/street bike. I wouldn’t really recommend it for long journeys, because, like all small two-cylinder engines, it starts to vibrate quite a bit at 110 km/h and it could be annoying to put up with for a long time, especially since its vibration blurs even the view in the mirrors. However, the engine feels absolutely comfortable from 100 – 110 km/h (60 hp, 55 Nm), and I didn’t even have the desire to rev it faster, even though the revs were nowhere near the limit. The ride was stable, the suspension “eaten” well various small pits and gravel “stairs”, at the same time neither Morini nor my spine liked sharper pits. The passenger also appreciated the softness of the chair, although he complained about the discomfort directly on sharper potholes. It is understandable, Morini is not GS and not Africa.
The driver’s seating position is neutral and amiably low (810mm), although I wasn’t a big fan of such an upward-facing seat. The upward curvature of the seat means that the handlebars should be lower. With such an almost straight sitting position, the inclined seat just starts to put pressure on the coccyx after an hour long ride.
The seat and microvibration are also my only gripes about the SCR. And maybe a little exhaust sound – with stock trumpet Morini sounds more like a scooter than a motorcycle. But it’s easy to fix. These are all small things, because if you keep up to 110 km/h with SCR and go on slightly shorter trips, then neither the vibration nor the seat causes discomort at all. In contrast, the engine is extremely smooth up to 100 and sounds much nicer when revved to higher revs. Everything else about and around SCR seems high-quality, well-made, well-thought-out. And what else in this price range has illuminated controls? To no one.
VEF bridge test
One of the best tests for any motorcycle is to cross the VEF bridge in Riga. First of all, it is a very good opportunity to shake the motorcycle out of the mud by riding on uneven pavement, potholes and crossing sharp rails to understand if it is rattling somewhere. Secondly, slow movement at a speed of 20-25 km/h between trolleybuses perfectly allows to assess the mocha’s fuel and air supply and the calibration of the gas handle itself in conditions where it is intensively shaken by the pavement. Honestly, it’s a scientifically brilliant test of a motorcycle. The main thing is not to try too hard to slip the clutch, because it is of course possible to get a smooth ride by slipping the clutch. In the VEF bridge test, you should try to use 1st or 2nd gear with the clutch released whenever possible, as this alone can pick up uneven or overly sensitive gas calibration and/or mixture delivery.
Let’s just say Morini passed the test with satisfactory results. I wouldn’t say excellent, but normal. The throttle was a bit sensitive to rough roads and required active clutch modulation. The suspension was satisfactory, but the VEF bridge has been unsatisfactory for a long time.
Closing
If you are considering buying your first motorcycle and haven’t felt the retro charm yet (it’s okay, it will happen in a few years) – I highly recommend trying a Morini 650 SCR or STR (street variation) at their Latvian dealer Dudebikes. They, like early Royal Enfield and BMW, are the epitome of what a good motorcycle dealer with good customer service should be. If you are considering switching from your big, heavy touring motorcycle to something lighter, more nimble and happier – I also recommend trying the SCR 650. Maybe it will be able to unexpectedly surprise – just like part of the jury of the Latvian Motorcycle of the Year, where most of them were seasoned motorcyclists in leather vests. Thinking about it now in retrospect, I myself am surprised by the outcome of the vote.
If you’re looking for a cool, balanced street bike at a reasonable price with a good package, the Morini SCR is a very good option. If “pitch is not a problem” and you want the best, then the BMW RnineT Scrambler for the street or the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC/XE for the off-road are at the top of the list in this genre. But these motorcycles are almost twice as expensive.
Moto Morini, Brixton and Mash are distributed in Latvia and Lithuania Dudebikes. Take a look at a small gallery – the mozzie is a little dirty, but for scramblers it belongs in style.
2023-07-16 09:58:47
#Moto #Morini #SCR #Latvian #motorcycle #year
