Four stroke, 87° V longitudinal twin,
DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Capacity
1187 cc / 72.5 cu-in
Bore x Stroke
107 x 66 mm
Cooling System
Liquid cooled
Compression Ratio
11.8;1
Lubrication
Forced with trochoidal pump
Induction
Magneti Marelli indirect electronic injection
with 54 mm throttle body
Ignition
I.A.W. electronic
Starting
Electric
Max Power
88 kW / 120 hp @ 8500 rpm
Max Torque
105 Nm / 10.4 kgf-m @ 6750 rpm
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate, anti-hopping system
Transmission
6 Speed
Final Drive
Chain
Frame
ALS450 steel tubular trellis with varying
diameters
Front Suspension
50mm Marzocchi upside down forks, 150mm
wheel travel
Front Wheel Travel
130 mm / 5.1 in
Rear Suspension
Single lateral fork with piggy back tank and
adjustable spring preloading
Rear Wheel Travel
130 mm / 5.1 in
Front Brakes
2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 220mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tyre
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tyre
180/55 ZR17
Rake
34.0°
Length
2170 mm / 85.4 in
Ground Clearance
166 mm / 6.5 in
Dry Weight
198.0 kg / 436.5 lbs
Fuel Capacity
21 Litres / 5.5 US gal
You can call it a road bike, a tourer. Or even a “naked” if
you like. It’s up to you. I just call it “my future bike” and it’s a 9 1/2.
The 9 1/2 was created for people who want to be free to choose their own
road. Straight or twisty. Slow or fast. Alone or in company. It’s all up to
you.
I found the bike for me. Because it’s driven by a powerful, smooth engine.
Because it’s aggressive but understands the pleasures of a quieter ride. And
because it knows how to grab attention. The Moto Morini 9 1/2 is an
attention-getter starting with its name which lets you think it’s a 950 cc.
Well, let me tell you one thing: IT’S A 1200CC. The music of its 1187 cubic
cm that rumbled from the lowest rpm as they smoothly pushed to 117 HP, all
while keeping within the Euro 3 emissions standards, just pushed me to fell
in love with this baby.
Taking in the 9 1/2 visually is a genuine pleasure too. I love the contrast
between the simple exposed frame and the refinement of the two-toned finish
on the tank, the elegance of its round headlamp and spoke rims juxtaposed
with the power of the engine and the exhaust pipe. All were designed to
create a unique style. And what a style.
How do we define the 9 1/2? A tourer, a naked sport bike, or
a motorcycle for daily transportation and city use? The 9 1/2 is all three:
it is an elegant road bike with a sporty soul featuring a powerful 1187 cc
engine mounted on a tubular trellis frame, evolution of the Corsaro, sport
bike par excellence. Those two elements fuse to guarantee a dynamism and
lightness completely unfamiliar to the competition. But the 9 1/2 is also an
extremely comfortable bike for both rider and passenger, thanks to a
virtually perfect riding position, a low seat ensuring comfort for both and
the shape of the tank, which is protective and accommodating.
All features that, along with its accessorizing possibilities, make the 9
1/2 a bike suited for touring. Agile, manageable, easy to ride, the 9 1/2
can also provide the solution for everyday manoeuvring in city traffic.
The bike’s aesthetics, the product of Marabese Design,
exudes a purity of great appeal. The main element of the motorcycle is the
high-capacity tank (21 Litres
) which stands out for its volume and aesthetic
impact. The recesses for the legs are roomy and the concave form in the
lower part lightens its appearance, lending it a distinct personality from a
frontal view. Its upper part features a clean surface that has been inserted
with strips called "braces" that form a perfect arch. The wide seat
practically fuses into the light tail, making it seem one piece, and the
colour choices only add to the sensation. Its shape and covering guarantee
total comfort and prevent the passenger from slipping forward when the bike
brakes. The technical base is totally exposed and is exclusive for the 9
1/2: the frame features an innovative heavily reinforced rear to accommodate
a cantilever side shock absorber combined with a strong swing arm with
oval-sectioned tubes. The rear of the bike unites visual lightness with
utter rigidity both in terms of stability and load capacity. On the
righthand side the single silencer, fully reflecting Moto Morini styling, is
thermally insulated to an optimum degree. Equally robust is the front of the
bike marked by a solid 50 mm fork with increased travel. A high priority has
been given to ergonomic features to ensure maximum comfort for the rider and
passenger; the high handlebar, the comfortable, spacious seat, the tank that
comfortably fits the legs and the position of the rubber-coated footpegs
ensure a snug riding position.
Components have been selected to create a blend of contrasts that add to
making the 9 1/2 a motorbike of exceptional character: the strength of the
trellis frame and the elegance of the two-toned tank; the refinement of the
spoked rims juxtaposed with the force of the Brembo 320 mm brake system to
ensure power and modulation; the muscular Marzocchi fork with 50 mm legs and
the use of the cantilever lateral suspension by Paioli with piggy back
reservoir; and the totally round front headlamp contrasting with a more
hi-tech led tail light.
The 9 1/2 is a large-displacement road bike mounted with the
1187 cc Bialbero CorsaCorta twin-cylinder engine that develops 117 Hp at
8500 rpm. The engine’s layout is compact, strongly characterised by the 87°
V layout of the cylinders and by the innovative solution of the integral
casing. Compared to traditional solutions, it offers diverse advantages: the
stiffness of the whole makes the engine a load- bearing element, serving to
simplify the layout of the frame; the ease in assembling and disassembling
means that work can be done on the engine both during production and
servicing (for example, the lower part of the engine can be opened to give
access to the gearbox and crankshaft without the need to disassemble heads
from the casing); the pistons and cylinders can be disassembled without
opening the casing by using the lateral openings; and there is no longer the
need to join the two semi-casings, typical of motorbike engines, which
translates into huge benefits for production, service and the cost of spare
parts.
The engine by Franco Lambertini has been specially conceived for this bike
and vaunts thermodynamic features different from those of the twin-cylinder
engine designed for the Corsaro. Efforts were made to reduce the intake
pipes and the diameter of the valves and to upgrade engine timing, while the
compression ratio was increased to improve the progression at low rpm and
reduce fuel consumption. The result is a powerful engine — 86 kW with 117 Hp
at 8500 rpm — with a high torque 102 Nm with 10.4 Kgm at 6700 rpm — well
distributed over the whole rpm range, one that while maintaining a sporty
soul, adapts ideally to the characteristics of the vehicle, enhancing
handling rather than pushing performance to extremes. The exhaust system
with a single lateral silencer under the seat meets Euro 3 emission
standards.
Frame
Core of the chassis is the trellis frame in high-strength
tubular steel by Verlicchi based on an exclusive design by Moto Morini. The
structure offers unparalleled solidity which has been additionally stiffened
in the rear part of the subframe, a stiffness required for adopting the
solution of the cantilever lateral suspension. The values normally assigned
to wheelbase, steering rake and trail are compact, especially considering
the fact that we’re talking about a bike with a 1200 cc engine capacity.
Because of the harmony achieved in the tuning of the components, the product
of this "alchemy" is immediately perceived from the outset: the weight,
already reduced to just 198 kg in running order, magically disappears once
the bike is in movement and the swift response during cornering never
produces undesired instability, even at the highest speeds.
Swingarm and Suspension
The function of the frame is assisted by top-flight
suspensions. At front is a mighty Marzocchi Magnum with 50 mm diameter legs,
with exclusive lightweight plates in light alloy. The visual solidity
reflects a likewise solid performance, ready to conform to the smallest
bumps on the road or respond to the hardest braking. The rear fits a
powerful swingarm, made with a 150 mm diameter oval-sectioned tube, aided by
a suspension with piggy back reservoir, fully adjustable in rebound and
compression.
Rims
Excel spoked rims with aluminium alloy channel enable
mounting of tubeless tyres for travel in maximum safety.
Brake System
The Brembo systems we have chosen guarantee powerful,
progressive braking, allowing the rider to develop a heightened sensitivity
and master this challenging part of the ride. The pair of 320 mm
semi-floating discs at front is operated by axial callipers with four
pistons with differentiated diameter, a solution that responds to a specific
technical requirement to provide safety through great modulating capacity
and sheer power. Too often racing systems that are transferred to road bikes
produce reactions that are abrupt and difficult to control, especially on
roads open to traffic and on surfaces offering poor grip.
CPU and Electrical System
While representing Italian mechanics at their best, the 9
1/2 reflects the giant steps made in the field of electronics. The CAN line
serves to transfer the information between the Magneti Marelli engine
control unit, the fully equipped instrument panel with onboard computer and
the latest generation sensors. Included among the functions of the
instrumentation, the rider can refer to two different trip meters, including
average speed and lap time, but also check outside temperature, engaged
gear, clock and maintenance intervals. Starting is automatic: just a short
press of the button gives the cue to the CPU to start the electric motor
until the V-twin comes to life. Even the old lever of the starter is a
distant memory thanks to the sophisticated mixture enrichment system
controlled by the stepper motor in response to the climactic conditions.
Notwithstanding this, technology is never invasive: the rider never loses
control of the situation and even from an aesthetic standpoint, the cables
disappear from view and most components are neatly ordered in the under-seat
compartment. Both the strong front headlamp and the led one in the back turn
on automatically upon starting in accordance with the most recent road
rules.
Tank
The fuel tank, with its prestigious two-toned finish echoing
the glorious Morinis of yesteryear, is built in shock-proof nylon. With a 21
litre capacity, it can be lifted to permit access to the large filter box
underneath.
Exhaust System
The exhaust system gives an unmistakable look to the bike
thanks to the Termignoni silencer and its powerful sound. Aesthetics aside,
however, meticulous design matched with closed loop technology with
three-way catalytic converter and oxygen sensor has resulted in emissions
that fall under the limits established by the rigid Euro 3 standards.
Accessories
Moto Morini Competizione, the catalogue of Moto Morini
accessories, devotes a range of items to the 9 1/2 to make the ride more
enjoyable:
Windshield kit that integrates ideally with the bike’s styling and
provides protection at all speeds without compromising stability;
Expandable side panniers in tough fabric. Different sizes, the largest
expands enough to hold a full-face helmet and has a capacity of 25 Litres
;
Tank bag complete with handle for use as luggage and with straps to
turn it into a backpack, 26 litre capacity;
Rear case in expandable tough fabric;
Tank cover embroidered with the Moto Morini logo;
Passenger handles, a sure grip when travelling in two.
Clothing: Helmets based on full-face and Jet Arai products with 9 1/2
hand painted graphics, and on request personalised with the customer’s
data;
Leather and fabric jackets, embroidered sweatshirts, T-shirts with
prints, gloves with protections and embroidery.