2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport Review

June 6, 2024

Moto Morini is back! Of course, that elicits the question from many riders: “Were they ever here?” Well, yes, though the Italian marque was, at best, a niche brand in America. Although Moto Morini has been around since 1937, when Alfonso Morini founded the company in Bologna, it never made serious inroads in the United States. Eighty-seven years later, I’m test riding a 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport, and the now Chinese-owned company is looking to bring the classic brand to a larger market. But, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Let’s enjoy a relatively brief history lesson, which includes the usual Byzantine twists and turns—not unusual for Italian brands.

1937 probably wasn’t the best time to start an Italian motorcycle company. Moto Morini got rolling with utilitarian shaft-drive three-wheelers until World War II began, and the factory was drafted into building parts for airplanes. Predictably, that resulted in the Allies bombing the facilities.

Shortly after the conclusion of WWII, Moto Morini bounced back with a 125 two-stroke, with four-stroke appearing in 1953. Moto Morini also got involved in racing. While Moto Morini did accumulate Italian championships, a World Championship eluded the company. However, it is worth noting that Giacomo Agostini’s first racebike was a Moto Morini Settebello.

Alfonso died in 1969, though Moto Morini remained a family concern with his daughter Gabriella at the helm. While the company continued to do well in the 1970s thanks to the legendary 3½ V-twin, the 1980s were not so kind. As a result, Moto Morini was sold to Cagiva in 1987. Moto Morini withered under Cagiva, and Moto Morini was sold off, along with Ducati, to the Texas Pacific Group in 1996. That looked to be the end of Moto Morini. But wait, there’s more.

1977 Moto Morini 3½. Photo courtesy of Bonhams.

Three years later, Morini Franco Motori (a company founded by Alfonso’s nephew Franco in 1954) bought the Moto Morini name from Ducati and went to work reviving the brand. New motors and models were developed in the ’00s, but the global financial crisis of 2007-08 forced Moto Morini into bankruptcy in 2009.

Eagle Bike, an Italian company, purchased Moto Morini in 2011. Two years later, the production of limited-edition bespoke motorcycles began. This business model persisted until 2018 when Moto Morini was sold to Zhongneng Vehicle Group (aka ZNEN Group) of Taizhou, Zhejiang, China, and that’s where we are today.

Similar to the Benelli business model, Moto Morini motorcycles are designed just outside of Milan in Trivolzio, and built in China. This brings us to the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport, which is a celebration of globalism.

The motor used in the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport and the rest of the Moto Morini lineup is built by CFMoto. As you may know, CFMoto has a decade-long association with KTM and builds some of the Austrian brand’s motorcycles, including the 790 Adventure. However, there’s yet another twist.

The motor used by Moto Morini is licensed from Kawasaki—fans of the Ninja 650, Vulcan S, Versys 650, and Z650 will instantly recognize the liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin. From there, we can add into the mix KYB suspension from Japan, Brembo brakes from Italy, Bosch electronics (ABS and EFI) from Germany, and Pirelli Angel GT tires made in China, with the latter, once again, designed by Italians. Okay, so that’s enough of that. Let’s get back on topic—the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport.

One of the most enjoyable challenges about riding an all-new bike by an unfamiliar brand is that you have no idea what it will be about. As it turns out, the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport is a mixed bag. Many aspects of the motorcycle make it an excellent bike for a new rider, and others favor an experienced hand.

2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport Review: Kawasaki-designed and CFMoto-built engine. — The 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport’s 649cc parallel twin is licensed from Kawasaki and manufactured by CFMoto.

Firing up the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport is simple enough. Just turn the stylish key to the on position, make sure the kill switch is in the on position, and tap the start switch. This is a good time to mention that the high-quality switchgear is backlit and looks great at night. The 649cc motor comes to life; however, you’re not quite ready to go.

If you try to ride the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport before the engine warms up, it coughs and sputters at anything below half-throttle. So, you must be patient—something we’re not always used to doing in the EFI era, where you can usually just put the start button and speed off.

While it’s warming up, you can experiment with the beautiful TFT dash. You have two display layout choices, both with an analog-style tachometer, a gear position indicator, and the fuel range. Dig into the menu, and there’s a tire pressure monitoring system, a high-end feature. Add in two different backgrounds—light and dark—and you’re looking at a premium dash.

If you’ve downloaded the compatible MotoFUN-Int app from China and paid a subscription fee, you can enjoy turn-by-turn navigation on the dash. Pairing my iPhone 12 Mini to the dash was relatively painless. Things are looking good before the throttle is activated.

Once the twin is up to operating temperature, the stumbling problem disappears—as it should. However, it didn’t take long to discover that the engine is anemic below 3000 rpm. Low-rpm torque is not a strong suit of the Kawasaki-designed 649cc motor in this tune, something of a surprise given the Bosch EFI system. If you find yourself in too high of a gear, you’re in for a surprise when you get on the throttle, especially at low speeds. The engine doesn’t respond as expected, which isn’t confidence-inspiring. Above 3000 rpm, everything is fine. All told, it’s not a desirable powerband for urban riding.

The 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport is not a fast performer off the line in everyday use. The midrange power is okay, but the bike is a heavyweight. Moto Morini doesn’t quote a curb weight—only a meaningless “dry” weight. Even then, Moto Morini admits it weighs 441 pounds “dry”. Add at least another 30 pounds for a “curb” weight, and the STR Sport tips the scales at over 470 pounds—that’s about the same as the also retro-styled Kawasaki Z900RS Café ABS and not even close to the same-engined/themed Kawasaki Z650RS ABS, which hits the curb at 412 pounds. That is a huge difference, and one you feel whether you’re accelerating, cruising, hitting the canyons, or pushing it around the garage. This bike needs Ozempic, stat!

Now, all is not negative when it comes to a heavier motorcycle. Associate Editor Kelly Callan used it for commuting over the notoriously rough Los Angeles freeways and relates that the heft is reassuring. We all know that the lighter a bike is, the harder it is to set up the suspension. In the case of the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport, the fully adjustable KYB suspension is impressively compliant at highway speeds, making it a superb commuting motorcycle. Still, it lacks the agility you want when splitting lanes during rush hour. Instead, the STR Sport has a stately feel of something like a BMW R 1250 R. The top speed of the STR Sport is just north of 100 mph.

When the weekend arrives and it’s time for some recreational riding, the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport is a motorcycle that will appeal to the right kind of sport rider.

If you’re a rider who likes stability, predictability, and a forgiving nature, you will be quite satisfied with the STR Sport. While the Moto Morini doesn’t want to change direction quickly, the chassis holds its line tenaciously—something a newer rider, or simply someone less aggressive, will appreciate. We don’t have any rake or trail numbers, but we can tell you that the geometry is relaxed; certainly, the 56-inch wheelbase is roomy.

Adding to the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport’s dignified manner are the sporty Pirelli Angel GT tires and the superb KYB suspension. Whether the corner is rough or smooth, the STR Sport is wonderfully composed. You must put in real physical effort to change direction, though that can be a good thing if you aren’t a budding MotoAmerica competitor. Slight errors are blurred rather than put into sharp relief. The motorcycle does not do anything unexpected.

In tight canyons, you won’t be keeping most of your riding companions in sight. The STR Sport is not about point-and-shoot. Acceleration is hindered by the weight, and hard braking also reminds you that this is not a lightweight ride. Fortunately, the Brembo braking system is very progressive. This gives it a soft initial bite before ramping up to impressive deceleration when you put the squeeze on the brake lever. The rear brake isn’t powerful, though it has a role to play as it stays planted when on the twin front binders. The Bosch ABS system is on the conservative side, so you might feel it engage when you aren’t expecting that assistance. Also, you might have noticed the seemingly overengineered rear brake caliper bracket—it’s there if you want to install a tire-hugging license plate holder.

If you’re on a road with big sweepers, the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport comes into its own as it confidently asserts itself at high speeds. While the midrange is adequate, there’s a bit of a boost from 7000 rpm to the 9k redline. If you keep the mill on the boil, that helps overcome some of the weight-associated performance issues.

That’s not as hard to do as it might sound, as maximum torque kicks in at 7000 rpm, and horsepower peaks at 8250 rpm. As a bonus, the parallel twin, with its traditional 360-degree firing order, is smoother near the redline than in the midrange. The excellent Pirelli Angel GT tires contribute to the fun, even with the retro-style 18-/17-inch wheel pairing. You can lean the STR Sport over confidently until the peg feelers touch down.

On these all-day rides, you’ll be very comfortable, and the 4.2-gallon tank means you can ride a long time between fuel stops. The seat firmness and shape are ideal, and the rider triangle is completely natural. Higher speeds are an invitation to tuck in a bit, though. The controls work as intended, and the brake and clutch levers are adjustable. While we mentioned the backlit switchgear, the buttery action of the turn signal switch stands out as a positive. The STR Sport differentiates itself from the standard STR with a bikini fairing, chin fairing, passenger seat cowling, and fender-mounted license-plate bracket.

Although we have established the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport’s setup peculiarities, there is no denying this is a nicely finished motorcycle. The paint on the tank is top-notch, with the rest of the paint executed nicely. The machined case covers are outstanding. The STR Sport’s plastic is attractive and impressively integrated. History buffs will love the 6½ on the side covers, which recall the classic 3½ model of the 1970s. Oh, if you’re wondering what Seiemmezzo translates to, it’s “six and a half” in Italian. While it looks hard to enunciate, the pronunciation is “say-eh-mezzo” with the double-z t-sound you know from pizza.

No doubt about it, the 2024 Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR Sport does the marque’s name proud. It is a stylish motorcycle that is fun to ride, be seen riding, or pulling up to a waterhole aboard. However, all is not perfect. The STR Sport weighs far too much. Also, the motor needs to be tuned for a torquier response off idle to make it easier to ride for the many newer riders that will be attracted to its presence and $6899 price—comparable to the Honda CB500F and a Royal Enfield INT650 with a premium factory paint job. Take care of those two issues, and the STR Sport is a solid standard with an irresistible Italian brio.

Photography by Kelly Callan

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