Storied Italian bikemaker Moto Morini has expanded its line-up with the introduction of the new Calibro – a 650cc cruiser. As the displacement suggests, it’s powered by the same 649cc parallel-twin motor that does duty in Morini’s existing models, the X-Cape adventure bike and the Seiemmezzo scrambler.
In those two bikes, the CFMoto-sourced engine (which bears a suspiciously strong resemblance to Kawasaki’s 649cc parallel-twin) produces around 60hp and 54Nm, and you can expect similar figures in the Calibro as well. However, the company says it will also sell the cruiser in an A2-compliant guise, with power capped at 35kW (47.6hp).
As for differences with Morini’s other bikes, the Calibro gets a conventional telescopic fork and twin shock absorbers, as well as a single brake disc at each end, bitten by J Juan calipers. The alloy wheels measure 18 inches at the front and 16 inches at the rear, and come wrapped in Timsun rubber, with the seat height standing at a very accessible 720mm.
Full specs and details will only be revealed at EICMA later this year, but for the moment, we do also know that the fuel tank measures a healthy 15 litres, which should allow enough distance between fill-ups. As for styling, it’s more of a stubby, sporty cruiser than a long, raked-out one, much like the new Kawasaki Eliminator. The fuel tank is fairly slim and slender, you get a small headlight shroud for added sportiness, and the fork gaiters also look neat.
Pricing information will likely be shared at EICMA, which runs from November 7 to 12 in Milan. With Morini’s existing two models already on sale in the country, there is a chance that the Calibro could make it to our shores as well. Then again, cruisers aren’t as popular a format in India as ADVs and scramblers, so it’s far from a certainty. Only time will tell.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
