Moto Morini Seiemmezzo Scrambler Road & Trail Review

Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler – the name itself is quite a mouthful, and I still can’t get around to pronouncing it right! The Seimmezzo (‘sei e mezzo’ in Italian means ‘six and a half’) Scrambler is the more off-road capable variant of the ‘six and a half’ models from the Italian-origin brand. Six-and-a-half, because of its engine displacement – 650 cc! The Seiemmezzo though is more Italian-Chinese, because the Moto Morini bikes are designed in Italy, but manufactured in China, by the brand’s new owners, Zhongneng Vehicle Group.

Also Read: Moto Morini Seiemmezzo Scrambler First Ride Review

Italian brand Moto Morini was founded in 1937, but now it's owned by China's Zhongneng Vehicle Group. The bikes are designed in Italy and manufactured in China.

The Moto Morini brand

In fact, Moto Morini as a brand is steeped in history, going back to 1937 when it was founded in Bologna, Italy. After the 1980s, the brand changed ownership several times, and following a financial crisis and eventual bankruptcy, Moto Morini was finally acquired by the Zhongneng Vehicle Group in 2018. In India, Moto Morini is represented by Adishwar Auto Ride India, the same company which is behind Benelli, Keeway and Zontes brands.

The Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler is based on the brand's 650 cc parallel-twin platform.

Also Read: Moto Morini X-Cape 650X Review

The Moto Morini Seiemmezzo Scrambler is one of two models launched in India last year. Along with the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 adventure bike, Moto Morini made its India debut a few months ago with the Seimmezzo 6½ as well, with two variants, the Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler and the road-oriented Seiemmezzo 6½ Retro Street. We’ve already sampled the X-Cape 650 adventure bike, and now it’s time to put the Seimmezzo Scrambler to the real-world test; on the road, and off it, to see what it offers.

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler certainly has presence, and it totally nails the neo-retro scrambler look!

Design

To my eyes, the Seiemmezzo Scrambler totally nails the neo-retro scrambler look! It strikes a handsome pose, with its compact proportions and muscular stance. The fuel tank capacity is 15.5 litres, but the tank looks fat and adds visual mass to the front part of the bike.

The 5-inch full-colour screen offers Bluetooth connectivity and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The overall quality of components and kit is quite appreciable as well. There are LED lights all around, wire spoke wheels (18-inch front and 17-inch rear) kitted out with tubeless tyres (Pirelli MT 60 RS). The 5-inch full-colour TFT screen offers Bluetooth connectivity and two display modes, and it’s got a simple and easily readable layout, and even offers a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler certainly looks well-built, and with 298 mm twin discs and a gold-finished, adjustable upside down fork, it doesn't lack premium appeal.

The 43 mm upside down gold-finished forks add a hint of premium-ness, and they offer adjustability, for rebound and compression damping. The rear monoshock however, is only adjustable for preload. Stopping power is taken care of by twin 298 mm front discs and a single 255 mm rear disc, with standard dual-channel ABS. The saddle, with a height of 795 mm, is flat and finished in tan to give it the ‘retro’ vibe, while the tail section is more neo, with a chopped-off, and slim rear fender with a neatly integrated tail lamp. In all, it’s a good-looking bike.

The 649 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine makes 54 bhp at 8,250 rpm and 54 Nm at 7,000 rpm.

Engine and Performance

Performance from the 649 cc parallel-twin is easy-going, but there’s a strong mid-range, which keeps things interesting. As long as you’re in the powerband, performance from the parallel-twin is quite likeable. It’s not extremely quick if one is used to bigger, more powerful motors, but the six-and-a-half is no slouch either. In numbers, maximum power output is 54 bhp at 8,250 rpm, and 54 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm.

There's a strong mid-range which keeps performance interesting, and it can hit 160 kmph effortlessly if prodded.

For everyday riding, you can sit at 50 kmph in top gear, and some added grunt just a downshift or two away. The parallel-twin will hit 160 kmph if prodded, not that we recommend exploring top-end performance in public roads. There’s no slip-and-assist function on the clutch, and the lever action is on the harder side. For anyone spending a considerable time in traffic, that could prove to be bothersome.

Despite its 215 kg kerb weight, turn-ins are easy, and the Seiemmezzo Scrambler feels well-balanced and planted.

For a bike which gets adjustable suspension, Pirelli tubeless tyres and Brembo braking system, the absence of a slip-and-assist clutch is a miss, in my book. The gearbox is precise, particularly while upshifting, but downshifts sometimes become stubborn, which leaves you wanting for some finesse and precision, particularly from a bike costing upwards of Rs. 7 lakh.

Ergonomics are comfortable, with an upright riding position and wide handlebars. Overall ride quality is planted, but in lower speeds, broken patches and bumps are felt through the suspension.

Ride and Handling

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler has comfortable ergonomics. You sit upright, and the wide handlebar offers good leverage. The riding position is neutral, comfortable and reach to the handlebar feels natural. Ride quality is planted, and the bike offers very good stability and balance, over the usual city surfaces and during turn-ins. While the 215 kg kerb weight may sound like a little too much, around corners, the Seiemmezzo Scrambler offers the right combination of stability and balance, something even newer riders will appreciate.

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler may feel a little heavy, but handling is pretty good, and the bike feels well-balanced and stable.

But when you do hit broken patches, the bumps can be felt coming through the suspension. The front feels bouncy at city speeds, going over large bumps and broken patches. But as you increase the pace, the ride quality improves somewhat, but some bumps and potholes are still felt through. The adjustability in the suspension should take care of this issue, even though it’s limited.

Off-road is where the Seiemmezzo Scrambler's capability shines through. It's a very good step-up to a bigger adventure bike, although experienced off-road riders may soon note its limitations.

Off-Road Capability

When you leave the tarmac behind, the standing-up ergonomics are quite nice, and neutral. The 215 kg kerb weight may seem to be on the heavier side, but the Seimmezzo Scrambler offers a very good balance of weight and handling. And it’s in the dirt where its capabilities start shining through even more. Off-road balance is superb, and the Pirelli tyres offer very good grip, over loose sand, and even over rocky terrain.

Limited ground clearance and suspension travel are things which need to be kept in mind by experienced off-road riders. But overall, it still is a fun scrambler to hustle around!

The limited suspension travel (120 mm up front and 118 mm at the rear) and 170 mm ground clearance though tend to display the limitations of the bike. For real off-road work, these things need to be kept in mind. Over rocky and technical terrain, the underbody lacks clearance and serious protection, so one must keep those things in mind. Overall though, the Seiemmezzo Scrambler is still a fun bike to hustle around in the dirt!

The Moto Morini Seiemmezzo Scrambler is a fun bike to hustle around, whether in the dirt, or on tarmac.

Verdict

The Moto Morini Seimmezzo 6½ Scrambler offers a level of kit and capability that’s right up there with the very best bikes in the premium scrambler segment. But there are a few negatives. The hard clutch is painful, and the occasional stubborn downshifts a let-down. And for someone familiar to performance, the 648 cc parallel-twin becomes a tad predictable. It has enough for someone new to this kind of engine displacement, but occasionally, the easy-going performance will leave experienced riders wanting for more.

Priced at Rs. 6.99 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo Scrambler's drawback is a relatively unknown brand, and limited sales and service network.

Then, there’s the price. At Rs. 6.99 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Seiemmezzo Scrambler still comes across as a slightly expensive proposition, particularly for a brand which isn’t that well-known, and has limited sales and after sales network. For customers though, there’s a two-year, unlimited kilometre warranty to offer peace of mind.

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler looks good, has easy-going performance and is a fun bike! Qualities which make it deserve a test ride at least!

Beyond its minor niggles though, as a product, the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler certainly has its positives. It looks good, has unintimidating performance, and has good all-round capability, making it a fun bike, on the road, and off it. That’s more than reason enough why it shouldn’t deserve at least a test ride, in my book.

(Photography: Apoorv Choudhary)

Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler has a lot going for it, despite its minor niggles and rather limited brand network.

Specifications

Moto Morini Seiemmezzo 6½ Scrambler is priced at Rs. 6.99 lakh (Ex-showroom)