Moto Morini Corsarino ZZ

In any case, because Italians start everything with conviction, there were a lot of motorcycle brands. Moto Morini was certainly not the least of these. Our model is a Moto Morini Corsarino ZZ.

In the Netherlands, the credo has always been 'A heavy one is je ware'. In Italy it was different. In any case, the climate used to be much better there. The people were smaller than in Northern Europe and motorcycling was - and is - much more absorbed in life.

Moto Morini and dozens of other brands made light motorcycles

And because Italy was not among the richest countries in the world, most motorcycles were between 50-125 cc.

Beauty is paramount

Add to this the fact that Italians prevail beauty over quality or utility and you get the most beautiful things. In the early days of the fair in Imola, we Dutch people bought motorcycles en masse at that fair. The light Italians cost almost nothing and despite their obvious lack of practical employability, they were purchased quite en masse. There is still a lot of that, usually red clothing in sheds, garages and storage rooms waiting for better times. There is no other way. Trucks were even arranged in clubs on the purchasing side. The choice of a three-deck cattle trailer was a winner. Livestock = livestock, and livestock is not covered by the transport agreements. So the cattle trailer was allowed to drive to the Netherlands after the fair at the weekend. And that there were no cattle, but motorcycles? That is such a detail that only a non-Italian can be concerned about.

Corsarino stands for 'little (Corsican) pirate'

The last Morini Corsaros - and so a Corsaro is a Corsican pirate - were 1200 cc or so. How modern to be really exciting for us. But tailored to full sized Western Europeans. The former Moto Morini Corsarino was between fifty and one hundred and twenty-five cc. And they were small and so slender that they seem to disappear between the butt crack of a somewhat sturdy Dutchman. This makes them beautiful, elegant in an almost tough or at least brave way. But not very practical and not aesthetically pleasing with a great rider on it. The cry "Look, he's on a motorized hemorrhoid!" was demotivating to say the least.

The 48 cc four-strokes - our blue Moto Morini Corsarino ZZ is from 1980 - were made almost exclusively for the home market. Here in the Netherlands they received a 'no go' as a moped during the homologation. In Belgium they were allowed to go on the road.

Incidentally, 'Corsarino' means 'little pirate'. The Moto Morini Corsarino was available in different versions. The most common was the 'Z' with its 'double' seat, the ZT was a bit sportier, there was a scrambler and the topper was the ZZ, the 'Zeta-Zeta', the only super sports bike that could fit in an envelope.  

Not for speed freaks

With 50 cc, you won't make a dent in a packet of butter even with a Dell'Orto SH 14.12.2 or UA 15BS. But in the segment where every Italian motorcycle manufacturer tried to get their share, such a Pirate was a serious player.

And now? If you are considerably taller than 165 cm (the average southern Italian male height in 1961) and weigh more than a kilo or 65? Then you ascend to your height and weight on a Moto Morini Corsarino ZZ less seriously.

But a 48 cc Moto Morini Corsarino ZZ in the hall, in the room on a shelf in the bookshelf or above the fireplace? This shows a particularly good taste!

Also interesting to read:
- The Moto Morini 350: the other V twin from Italy
- Ducati 350XL. Calimero rules!
- APRILIA Motó 6.5. A new classic
- Peter's Pantah Plus Project
- The Italian way