REVIEW : MOTO MORINI CORSARO 1200 VELOCE
CORSARO 1200 VELOCE. MOTO MORINI FREES ITS SPORTIEST SOUL.
Corsaro 1200 Veloce is the sport evolution of the Corsaro
1200 and its name, Veloce, Italian for high-speed, reveals its intrinsic
personality. The name is also inspired by the best tradition of the Bologna
motorcycle manufacturer, who in the early sixties gave the name Corsaro Veloce
to a sporty version of the Corsaro 125, a model blessed by success in that era.
The model brought out today is a motorcycle with top-flight
components and aggressive graphics intended for bikers who love Italian
motorcycling tradition. It is a naked motorcycle that can live up to the
desires of the most expert motorcyclists who expect the ultimate riding
experience on the road and on the track. The Corsaro 1200 Veloce is a “standard
produced special bike”, a motorcycle born to deliver total fun and absolute
performance worthy of a true racing machine.
THE BIALBERO CORSACORTA TWIN CYLINDER
The technological core of the Corsaro 1200 Veloce is the
Bialbero CorsaCorta 1187 cc twin cylinder engine, which develops 140 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, whose
advantages have been illustrated on other occasions. Summarizing briefly:
- the stiffness of the whole makes the engine a supporting element, serving to simplify the layout of the frame
- the ease in assembling and disassembling allows work to be done on the engine both during production and servicing
- easy access to gearbox and crankshaft eliminates the need to disassemble heads from the casing
- easy access to pistons and cylinders avoids opening of the casing and using the lateral openings instead
- there is no longer the need to join the two semi-casings, typical of motorbike engines, translating into great benefits for production, service and the cost of spare parts.
The performance of the twin-cylinder designed by Franco
Lambertini is already a standard for motorbikes in this category. Main
technical characteristics are described below:
The cylinder heads have 4 valves set at a narrow angle; the
timing system is bialbero; the intake pipes are vertical; the exhaust pipes are
split at the outlet; the one and only sparkplug is centrally positioned.
The engine has a forged piston measuring 107 mm, the largest
ever built for a motorcycle of this category. The stroke is 66 mm.
The crankshaft is built with a classic “split-type”
motorcycle technology and has the great advantage of mounting an integral
connecting rod, thus without crosshead bolts.
The gearbox is six speed with quick coupling. The clutch has
an anti-skipping device to limit the excess of braking torque and to assure an
optimum setup of the motorcycle even in spectacular breakaways and clean
entries into curves.
For lubrication, the designers have chosen a wet casing lubrication,
much simpler and more practical for the layout of the vehicle as compared
to a dry casing lubrication.
The pump is with lobes and is gear-commanded; the bypass
valve is positioned under the filter to avoid blockages.
The fuel injection system features an integrated injection
ignition system by Magneti Marelli, the throttle bodies are 54mm with a single injector.
CHASSIS
Moto Morini has equipped the Corsaro 1200 Veloce with
high-level components to upgrade the performance of the twin cylinder and to
provide the pleasure of a sporty ride. Essence of the chassis is the trellis
frame in high-strength tubular steel by Verlicchi.
The structure is extremely solid and combines all the
stiffness required to harness the power of the engine with a reduced weight and a muscular
look characterised by the main tubing with a 35 mm diameter. Wheelbase, steering rake,
and trail measurements are highly compact.
The function of the frame is aided by top-notch suspensions
which are even more sophisticated in this sport version. At front is a powerful
Marzocchi Magnum with 50 mm diameter legs with precise customisation of the
setting in compression and rebound thanks to a double adjustment: the adjuster
on the plug for the hydraulic damping of the
rebound is complemented by an adjuster for the hydraulic
damping of the compression placed at the foot of the fork. The positioning of
the scraper on the bushes improves the hold of the cartridge, the hard anodized
internal rod in ergal makes sliding more efficient and assures a greater
resistance to wear. The longer counterspring intensifies the thrill when
pulling out of a curve at high speed and guarantees better stability at the
front. On the whole, the visual solidity is echoed in a solid and even ride,
with the bike ready to conform to the slightest unevenness on the road and to
bear the thrust of deceleration in the most race-inspired breakaways.
The rear is characterised by an asymmetrical swing arm that
conceals a Sachs fully adjustable single shock absorber, with leg increased by
16 mm in diameter, adjustable spring in rebound with single ring nut and
internal counterspring for improving riding response.
While braking, the Corsaro 1200 Veloce never gives reason to
disappoint: the Brembo systems deliver powerful yet progressive
deceleration, granting the rider the sensitivity needed for optimum handling of
this difficult aspect of the riding experience.
The pair of semi-floating discs measuring 320 mm at front is
operated by axial callipers with four pistons with a differentiated diameter:
it is a solution stemming from a precise technical contribution, that of
lending safety thanks to a excellent modulability and awesome power. The rear braking
system features a 220 disc and a two-piston calliper. The exhaust system has
two slender and lightweight Termignoni silencers in a pure racing style that
produce a powerful hum while complying to Euro 3 emission standards.
The support of the rider footpegs is in ergal machined from
the solid and they have been set more towards the rear to offer better control
at the front, thus a racier feel.
Designed for road use, the Corsaro 1200 Veloce gives the
best of itself when manoeuvring between kerbs thanks to the control unit with
racing mapping delivered with the bike and that promises a definite upgrade in
performance. This sophisticated electronic component can be utilized only with
open-type exhausts and is therefore installed only for track use on request of
the customer.
The Corsaro 1200 Veloce flaunts its gritty style
aesthetically, too, which comes through in its “mean” graphics: the black
technical base and monochromatic upperstructures in red accentuate the sporty
character and enhance the qualities of the components, revealing an aesthetic
refinement appreciated by Italian motorbike fans.
|
