Moto Morini Revives Legendary 3½ Sport Name

• Moto Morini’s legendary 3½ Sport badge is returning to New Zealand
• New model combines retro styling with modern hardware and a V-twin engine
• NZ arrival expected in Spring 2026

Moto Morini revives the legendary 3½ name for an Italian lightweight with retro styling, a new V-twin engine and a focus on character over outright performance.

Moto Morini is bringing one of its most famous names back to New Zealand, confirming the reborn 3½ Sport will arrive here in Spring 2026.

For older riders and Italian bike enthusiasts, the 3½ name carries genuine significance. The original Moto Morini 3½ became something of a cult classic during the 1970s thanks to its lightweight handling, sporty personality and distinctly Italian approach to motorcycle design. Now the historic brand is reviving that formula for a new generation.  

Unlike many modern middleweight motorcycles chasing outright performance numbers and increasingly complicated electronics packages, the new 3½ Sport appears to focus on simplicity, rider engagement and character.

At the heart of the bike is a new Moto Morini-designed 350cc V-twin engine producing around 32hp and 31Nm of torque. While those figures won’t trouble modern high-performance machines, they suggest the 3½ Sport is aimed more at approachable real-world riding rather than outright speed.  

Moto Morini hasn’t released detailed technical information about the engine yet, but importantly, this appears to be a genuine in-house Moto Morini V-twin rather than one of the outsourced parallel-twin engines used in some previous models. That’s significant because it helps reinforce the bike’s connection to the original 1970s 3½, which was famous for its compact V-twin layout.

“The original 3½ became a cult classic thanks to its lightweight handling and sporting personality — and Moto Morini is hoping history repeats itself.”

The philosophy mirrors the original bike, which earned its reputation not through brute power but through light weight, agile handling and a fun, engaging riding experience.

The new machine combines retro-inspired styling with modern hardware, including upside-down forks, ABS brakes, full LED lighting and a TFT dash, while styling helps preserve the classic silhouette.  

And while Moto Morini remains very much an Italian brand from a styling and heritage perspective, the company itself is now owned by China’s Zhongneng Vehicle Group. The bikes are designed in Italy, with the company maintaining its design and R&D operations near Milan, while manufacturing takes place in China.  

That “Italian-designed, Chinese-built” formula is becoming increasingly common throughout the motorcycle industry. Importantly, our recent ride on the Moto Morini Alltrhike adventure bike left us genuinely impressed. The bike combined strong build quality, excellent road manners and plenty of character, suggesting Moto Morini is producing motorcycles that are far more than simply badge-engineered budget offerings.

Moto Morini New Zealand Brand Manager Ray Heron says the new model also represents an important shift for the company itself.

“This is an exciting moment for Moto Morini in NZ, as it shifts away from another manufacturer’s engine and moves to a specifically designed Moto Morini V-Twin,” said Heron.

“This shows Moto Morini is here, means business, and offers something new and exciting in the small bike category for Kiwi riders.”  

The timing is interesting too, with growing global interest in smaller-capacity bikes that prioritise style, personality and usability over sheer horsepower.

That could put the 3½ Sport into competition with bikes like the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, Honda GB350, Triumph Speed 400 and even the Moto Guzzi V7 at the premium end of the retro market. But unlike most of those rivals, the Morini brings an unusual small-capacity V-twin layout and distinctly Italian styling to the table.

Moto Morini says pricing and final NZ specifications will be announced closer to launch, with the bike expected to land in New Zealand dealerships in Spring 2026. For more info, check out your nearest Moto Morini dealer.