Moto Morini 500 Camel

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Founded in Bologna in 1937, Moto Morini established a reputation for making fine lightweight sporting machines in the 1950s and 60s, narrowly missing out on beating Honda to the 1963 World 250 Championship by just two points.

In the early 1970s they launched the first of their famous 72-degree V-twins, the 350, which was joined in 1977 by a 500 version. A real ‘motorcyclist’s motorcycle’ the V-twin won a fiercely loyal following, renowned bike journalist Hugo Wilson (former editor of Classic Bike magazine) being among them, having owned the same 350 from new in 1982 and still using it as a regular commuter today.

In 1981 an enduro version of the 500 was launched, the Camel (or Sahara, in some markets), following successful forays into international competitions by factory prototypes. Morini's first production off-roader, it featured a new high-ground-clearance frame, long-travel Marzocchi suspension, a six-speed gearbox and a motor re-tuned for greater mid-range torque.

Bike magazine's Martin Christie rode one in an enduro on Salisbury Plain, concluding that it was “a far better off-road machine than something like the BMW R80G/S and as good, if not better, than some of the Japanese four-stroke singles. The handling is exceptional for a bike of its size and the engine sweet and responsive.” It was also rated a fine all-rounder, being relatively vibration-free and capable of 80mph cruising with excellent fuel economy. Although cheap when compared to the BMW, at £2,095 the Camel/Sahara was expensive for a trail-bike (costing over 50% more than a Yamaha XT550) and sold in commensurately limited numbers.

To prove the point about loyalty, this particular Camel dates from August 1981 and has had just one owner from new who, sadly, has only been parted from the machine by his recent demise. Displaying an unwarranted 31,400 miles on the clock, it was last ridden in 1985 and has been in storage since. Now in need of thorough recommissioning before use, it comes with a V5 and a workshop manual.