Naked revival: Milano name returns to Moto Morini line-up with new 1187cc V-twin brute

While Moto Morini’s virtually all-new X-Cape 1200 adventure bike was the star of the brand’s line-up at November’s Eicma 2023 trade show in Milan, it was the similarly powered Milano naked that perhaps best represented the bounds the revived company has made.

Moto Morini rose to prominence in the late 1960s and early ‘70s with a range of 350 and 500cc V-twins before collapsing in the ‘80s. A revival came in the noughties with a series of potent V-twin 1200s before the name collapsed again 2010.

They continued to produce bikes sporadically up to 2018, before being bought by Chinese scooter manufacturer Zhongneng. A year into this ownership, they began producing a Milano naked powered by an 1187cc liquid-cooled 8v V-twin and dressed in bodywork inspired by the 1970s 3½. It was produced sporadically between 2019 and 2021.

Now the name is back, with both the new Milano and X-Cape 1200 powered by a ‘V2 Corsa Corta Evo’ engine that’s effectively an evolution of the old motor from 2019.

It shares the previous V-twin’s 1187cc and 87-degree layout, but now meets Euro5+ producing a claimed 125bhp. Although up on the previous Milano model, the same engine was also found in the firm’s 2018-on Corsaro 1200 ZZ super naked and produced almost 140bhp.

But although the new Milano shares the name, capacity, and heritage overtones of the old Milano roadster, in virtually every other respect it’s all new. For starters, the old trellis chassis has been swapped for a new ‘hybrid’ design comprising of a tubular steel rear section with cast aluminium top. There’s also advanced electronics, including four riding modes controlled via a 5in TFT dash.

The bodywork is all-new to match, with a new tank, side panels for the 800mm seat, mudguard, and tail section. That said, there are still shades of the old Milano’s heritage red, white, and black colour scheme.

The 17in alloy wheels are also a new design and even the brakes and suspension are different, too. Up front, there’s twin monoblock calipers with 320mm discs, with a 220mm rotor and fixed caliper on the back. There’s also a revised swingarm, now entirely made of aluminium, which cuts 4kg from the previous Milano’s chassis work.

Moto Morini Milano in detail

• Old and new: New ‘V2 Corsa Corta Evo’ engine is based on the old 1187cc, 87-degree V-twin but has been heavily reworked to meet Euro5+. Peak power is now 125bhp
• New looks: At a glance, new Milano looks similar to the old 2019 version, but the bodywork, frame, cycle parts and equipment are all new
• Revised chassis: The old tubular steel trellis has been replaced by a new ‘hybrid’ tubular steel/cast aluminium design which is claimed to be both stronger and lighter
• Quality cycle parts: The old Milano had Brembo brakes, fully-adjustable suspension and more – and so has the new version, but they’re all slightly different spec and with different finishes
• Uprated tech: There are four riding modes, cornering ABS/traction plus a 5-inch TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity