Giancarlo Morbidelli opened a metal working shop in the mid fifties, and immediately started producing innovative woodworking machines. His success in business allowed him to indulge in his real passion, motorcycle racing. During the 1970s the small race shop, working out of the back of the machinery factory, had been a contender in Grand Prix road racing, winning four championships. The company's success faded in the 80s and it was decided to produce the ultimate road going motorcycle. Work began on an inline 850cc V8 with shaft drive. The styling job went to Pininfarina, a company better known for its great work in cars. Big mistake, a car is not a motorcycle- as the DeTomaso motorcycle designs of the seventies had shown. And... wow. The design is now 26 years old and time has not improved the styling one bit.
Only four prototypes were made.
And I do...
ReplyDeleteI looked at some other pics online, in the hope that it really didn't look so bottom-heavy and unattractive from other angles. Unfortunately, the pic you posted represents it's best angle.
ReplyDeleteI can envision, though, an electric motor and battery back as a direct bolt-on replacement for the V8.
To me, keep the v8 engine,then start over. It's all that the bike has going for it! It's bizarre that a concept like that could get developed that far.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Giancarlo Morbidelli had considerable success designing and producing precision woodworking machines, and used that to fund his passion to a large extend.
ReplyDeleteOh! Sorry Mr G, you just said that :-)
ReplyDeleteTo make up for it, I remember that the model's promotion included a scheme whereby the bikes would be flown back to the factory for maintenance.
Price tag around 50.000 in 1997 $, IIRC ?
Have you seen the new Harleys?
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