Ducati Monster Forum

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/moto-morini-production-shuts/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/moto-morini-production-shuts/)

I'd love me that scrambler....

Man! I hate to see that.  If I had stupid money laying around I have a couple sittin in the garage.

I really like what they were doing.

Bummer.  :'(

LA

Pity.  The interesting motorcyling world just keeps getting smaller....

That stinks. I've only seen a really old one in person. I'd have certainly looked at 'em for a bike had there been a dealership within a few hours drive.

Exactly.  Just when Buell was showing some real promise they are done.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Benelli go under soon.  Guzzi has been on life support for years.  I hope Ducati is doing well, but I wouldn't be surprised to see their numbers way down.  Yamaha is shutting down their factories for a few weeks.  Suzuki is planning on bringing 0 bikes into the U.S. for 2010.  Before this is over, one of the Japanese manufacturers will probably go under.

Moto Morini was small, and from what I understand their bikes are unreliable. Maybe not a surprise they're having problems in a tough economy...although they did make some very cool looking motos.

Yeah...another one bites the dust..
I kinda liked Morini...but same as Buell, I would never think about getting one.
If I had the funds, I would get an Agusta...even a Benelli.
But...I 'just' got me a Ducati...Love is a battlefield...and Darwin is right [coffee]

Didn't Moto Morini make the engines for LEM?

The Morini name was bought from Cagiva at a good time, but then the worldwide $$$ went to shit and they were not running long enough to have stability.

They are also in Bologna so I guess Ducati and Malaguti will have some extra cheap labor.. .I guess if Malaguti's factory is still running.

I love the Morinis, always have.  They should have made a modern retro styled 3 1/2 or 500SD but wtf do I know?

Not so fast people

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2009/December/dec0909-Rumours-Moto-Morini-has-closed-rubbished-by-manufacturer/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2009/December/dec0909-Rumours-Moto-Morini-has-closed-rubbished-by-manufacturer/)

I guess this is better than being dead, but this line makes me think that is only a matter of time. 
"only producing bikes to order while they clear a backlog of machines in stock."
So basically the factory is not doing anything. 

Update: Paolo Berlusconi Buys failing Moto Morini

"Troubled Italian manufacturer Moto Morini has been bought for 2.5 million Euros by Paolo Berlusconi, brother of Italian Prime Minister Silvio.

Moto Morini declared itself bankrupt in September 2009 – a move that allows Italian firms six months breathing room to avoid paying debts. The firm has since scaled back production, building bikes to order while a backlog of unsold stock was cleared.

Paolo Berlusconi is no stranger to motorcycles: he also owns Garelli, and is linked with the potential purchase of MV Agusta, which is currently being marketed by current owners Harley-Davidson. Berlusconi’s investment nets him the Morini factory, equipment plus all the rights to the bikes and designs.   

Italian publication Motociclismo speculates that a new business plan will be in place and revealed in time for this year’s EICMA show in Milan this November."

Source: http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2010/April/berlusconi-saves-moto-morini/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2010/April/berlusconi-saves-moto-morini/)

Well hell, I could've bought it.

A rename would be in order:

Davo Moroni-"Ugly idiot proof machines for an ugly idiot filled world"

Sounds about right.

out of destruction new life inevitably emerges.


highly doubtful as each of the jap manufactures has a massive industrial complex backing them up.

the over specialized companies that never really put out anything spectacular *coughharleycough*  are the vulnerable ones.

all the japanese moto manufactures are part of much larger, well diversified corporations, they will weather the storm just fine. even if they have a sub-par product line they have the advantage of multiple revenue streams at the corp level.

they will stand the bleeding for now because the prospect for market share expansion in the near future in the moto market is not something they are willing to give up at this time.

with the US is finally beginning to prioritize fuel economy in personal transport purchase decisions, cutting a price competitive high  fuel economy vehicle segment would be a tremendously poor strategic decision.

This *sounds like* good news!

It sounds like the tagline for Birdman Weapon Systems "Unfriendly products for an unfriendly world"

(http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/nytesytes.jpg)

(http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/attachments/powder-keg/1432d1045880652-new-50-cal-)


Nuke50 - Nuclear handgun and ammunition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_XX2lIT1tQ#)

I get your point.  Are the Japanese moto manufacturers publicly traded companies like here in the U.S.?  If so, they would be under pressure to get rid of such an under performing part of the company.  If not they have the ability to wait things out and make better long term decisions.

of course they are publicly traded but asian culture is vastly different than ours.

For example, they know the last time that Mt. Fuji erupted, because they were there to record it 1200 years ago. they know it because they were there and they wrote down.


They understand longer timelines for ROI

Nah that's not it.  Japanese (and Korean) law has a different take on antitrust law.  The zaibatsus they have would likely not be legal here.  Honda et al can weather storms because they sell everything from cars and bikes to kitchen appliances and pianos (Yamaha).  They survive not by planning but by inertia and graft.

Fixed it for ya.

there are not US companies that sell everything?

There's GM, who sold SAAB, Hummer, and er....or is that not what you meant?

GE for example

Nope.  Not since the 1950s.

Mitsubishi:  Cars, trucks, diesels, scooters, rice cookers, refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners

Yamaha:  Pianos, violins/violas, drums, motorcycles, scooters, etc

GM:  Cars/trucks/heavy trucks



that's a very good example, except that GE is a holding corp that owns subsidiaries.  Zaibatsus are organized as a single company doing everything...

potatO, potAto. still mashes up the same
sorry, but wrong.

GE sells many products under the same brand name. medical imagers, washing machines, jet engines, and lightbulbs are all sold with the GE trademark stamp on them.

not the same thing.  i am very familiar with GE and its intellectual property as well.

GE is organized as subsidiary companies, all using the same logo under license from the parent which owns all the trademarks.

HMC is the same company that makes cars and that makes generators.

Likewise, Samsung is the same thru and thru for its phones, rice cookers, network devices, TVs etc

The Asian (primarily Japanese and Korean) model is to have everything incorporated under the same "roof" and tending towards family or close ownership, even if publicly traded -- only 20% or so of Honda's stock is publicly traded.  Liability is limited by statute -- Japan doesn't have product defect laws.

The American model is to have a holding company which owns the dependent subsidiaries to limit liability.  it isn't "potatO/potAto"..

agree with ducatiz.


big difference in BEING the same company, and licensing the same trademark for brand identity.