Moto Morini Seiemmezzo

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler gets a distinctive retro design with wire-spoke wheels, a golden fork, beak-like front fender and small flyscreen. Its sculpted fuel tank, round headlight and slim tail section add to its rugged appeal. However, the test bike showed some fit-and-finish issues despite having only 300km on the odometer.

The riding position is upright and comfortable, with a reasonable reach to the handlebar and neutrally placed footpegs. The wide handlebar offers good leverage but makes filtering through traffic harder due to the limited turning radius. The seat looks good but its shape and cushioning are not ideal for long rides.

The 649cc parallel-twin engine produces 55hp and 54Nm. It has a strong mid-range and pulls well until the 8,000rpm redline. Despite its weight, the Scrambler is quick, completing 0-100kph in 4.71 seconds. The clutch is slightly heavy, while the six-speed gearbox works smoothly. A quickshifter would have been a useful addition at this price.

The suspension feels stiff at low speeds and can be jarring over sharp bumps, but ride quality improves as speeds increase. Both ends get adjustable suspension, although the adjustment range is limited. Despite weighing 215kg, the Seiemmezzo feels planted and is easy to lean into corners.

The Scrambler gets LED lighting, backlit switchgear, adjustable levers and a TFT display with Bluetooth and two display modes. It also gets dual-channel ABS. Braking power is strong, but the ABS can intervene too aggressively in some situations. The wire-spoke wheels with tubeless tyres are another useful feature.

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler offers distinctive styling, strong performance and good equipment. However, its high price, questionable reliability and aftersales concerns work against it. It remains an appealing choice for buyers who want a motorcycle that stands out.