The Dart is
seen by some as not a real Morini. A result of the Cagiva takeover,
it's based on the Freccia a 125 2-stroke (the forerunner of the
Mito) and is a mixture of C9, C10, and C12 Freccia parts. Although it
lacks the charisma of the earlier bikes, it's still a fantastic ride
and holds up the Morini tradition well.
The late
version of the engine is much quieter and with an improved gearbox
action, but I had to do something about the breathing. The airbox and
exhaust system rather strangle the engine in the mid range, just
where you would expect a Morini to shine.
Intake
and exhaust mods
I bought
another Dart via the Morini email list at a price too low to ignore.
It had a fairly recent factory 400 barrel set (the last NLM had) and
heads by the now defunct Mez Porting. Although it had 6 months tax
and MOT, the bike was in poor condition. At leat half a tube of Blue
Hylomar had been used to assemble to top end (some of which I had to
fish out of the pushrod tunnel with a pearlcatcher), nothing was
tight, the aribox was in bits, and one tappet was so far out of
adjustment that the pushrod had eaten the end of the rocker.
It took quite
a time to sort (fortunately without having to spend any money) and
went very well, although I was never happy with the rear brake. I
think an Excalibur mastercycliner (smaller bore) had been fitted and
it made the rear brake way too sensative and spongy.
Due to a
medical problem I don't find Dart seats comfortable any more and they
had to go.
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