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That new SWM V-twin looks like it's straight from Moto Morini

SWM V-twin: Familiar?

Written by Ben Purvis , Date 11:30 AM
Morini and SWM engines

A few days ago Shineray announced plans for a new range of twin-cylinder engines for its Italian SWM sub-brand. But the 1200cc SWM V-twin it revealed at the presentation was strangely familiar. Now it’s clear; the engine is Moto Morini’s Bialbero CorsaCorta.

A side-by-side comparison shows that the two engines are virtually identical but for the name on the side. That suggests SWM’s Chinese owner has done a deal to either licence-build the Morini engines or to get a supply of them.

The Morini brand has a long history of designing and supplying engines to others, albeit under the related Morini Franco Motori brand, so such a deal makes a lot of sense.

It means that we now know this is the ‘1200cc’ engine that Shineray promised. In fact, the Morini unit is 1187cc and has an unusual 87 degree V-angle. In its top spec it makes around 140hp and conforms to Euro4 emissions limits. The fact that it’s a tried-and-tested design, in production since 2005, also helps. Shineray indicated that the first of its new SWM V-twin bikes would be in production soon, and using an off-the-shelf engine will eliminate a vast amount of development work.

Specifications:

If the engine is as close to the Morini unit as it appears, the specifications will be as follows:

  • Capacity: 1187cc
  • Bore and Stroke: 107mm x 66mm
  • Power: 139cv at 8500rpm
  • Torque: 125Nm at 6750rpm
  • Electronic fuel injection
  • 54mm throttle bodies
  • Gears: 6
  • Clutch: oil-bath, multi-plate
  • Emissions controls: 3-way catalytic converter, Euro4
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