Moto Morini has had the sort of typically turbulent history that ' s often associated with Italian motorcycle brands , but after dipping in and out of solvency for years and even an extended period of dormancy from 1993 to 2004 , it finally has some solid footing after being bought by China ' s Zhongneng Vehicle

Group in 2018 . Currently offering a four-model range based around two bikes , the adventure-style X-Cape 650 and retro Seiemmezzo street bike , both with the same 650 cc , CFMoto-based parallel twin engine , Morini has plans for substantial expansion , bringing back the 1,187cc V-twin engine

X-Cape 650

that appeared when the brand was revived in 2004 , but also launching a range of new models with an as-yet unseen 750 cc V-twin . The largest engine , which powered several models until it was forced off sale by Euro 4 emissions limits , will return in revised form in the X-Cape 1200 adventure bike , which has appeared in China in prototype form , and as a set of detailed design registrations , but the 750 cc engine is more of a mystery . The 750 cc bikes have been confirmed via documents filed with the NHTSA ( National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ) in the USA , part of Morini ' s official return to the U . S . market . These documents explain how to decode the VINs of the company ' s bikes , explaining the meaning of each set of numbers and letters . The document shows that while bikes with ' M ' in the fifth position of the VIN will use the 61 hp , 649 cc parallel twin

that ' s in the X-Cape 650 and Seiemmezzo machines , there will also be bikes that have a ' U ' as the fifth digit . This , according to the document , means they will have a 750 cc V-twin , liquidcooled engine making an impressive 97 hp . It ' s not clear whether the 750 engine will be manufactured by Morini or , like the 650 twin , be bought-in from another brand , but there are few candidates that match that 750 cc capacity and 97 hp output . The old Aprilia Shiver 750 engine would match those numbers , and is due to be reintroduced in 900 cc form by China ' s Zongshen in the near future , so could be a candidate . It ' s also unknown what type of bikes the new engine will go into , although Morini ' s current range of adventure bikes and retro roadsters is a good indication of the markets that the brand is targeting .

1200 V-twin