Morbidelli’s New Electric-Charged Comeback!

🏍️ An Italian Icon Rides Again! Morbidelli’s Electric-Charged Comeback! ⚡

There’s a major gear-shift happening in the motorcycle world!

The legendary, history-steeped Italian brand Morbidelli—a name synonymous with racing glory and exquisite craftsmanship—has just been snatched up! Who’s the new suitor? None other than MBP Moto, a vibrant brand operating under the umbrella of the mighty Keeway Group.

Think of it like this: A youthful, dynamic racer (MBP Moto/Keeway) just acquired the esteemed, old-school champion (Morbidelli) and is giving them a high-voltage makeover!

What’s the plan?

This isn’t just about polishing up old trophies. The Keeway Group is injecting serious horsepower (and maybe battery power!) into the deal:

• A Full Fleet is Coming: Get ready for a complete line-up! We’re talking road bikes, crossover models, and yes, even cutting-edge electric motorcycles! Morbidelli is going green and mean!
• The Style Lab: They’re establishing a brand new Centro Stile Morbidelli in Bologna. This is the heart of Italian design, folks! The mission? To brew a perfect espresso shot of historic heritage and sleek, modern style. Expect retro charm meets futuristic tech!

It’s a story of a classic Italian legend being brought into the 21st century by a global powerhouse. Morbidelli is back, and this time, it’s personal… and possibly silent (if it’s electric!) 🤫

🏆 The Legend: Morbidelli’s David vs. Goliath Story

The Morbidelli brand’s fame wasn’t built on mass production; it was forged in the high-speed fire of Grand Prix racing.

The Passionate Founder

• Giancarlo Morbidelli (1934–2020) was a self-made man and a mechanical genius. He didn’t start in motorcycles; he built a hugely successful company, Morbidelli Woodworking Machines, which manufactured high-precision tools.
• His True Love: He poured the profits from his machine tool business into his all-consuming passion: motorcycle racing. His operation was famously run out of a small workshop behind his factory in Pesaro, Italy. It was the ultimate “David vs. Goliath” effort!

Grand Prix Glory (The 1970s)

• Morbidelli was an underdog giant in the 125cc and 250cc classes, taking on major factory teams with a tiny, dedicated crew.
• World Championship Wins: They achieved incredible success, securing four Grand Prix World Championships (six, if you count the spin-off brand MBA):
  • 125cc: 1975, 1976, 1977
  • 250cc: 1977
• A Familiar Name: One of their famous riders in the late 70s was Graziano Rossi—yes, the father of the modern racing legend, Valentino Rossi!

The Exotic V8

• Morbidelli’s final, eccentric masterpiece was the 1994 Morbidelli V8—a groundbreaking, shaft-driven, 847cc V8 sport-touring bike.
• World’s Most Expensive: It was a technical marvel and so exclusive that the Guinness Book of World Records listed it as the world’s most expensive motorcycle in 2001. Only a handful were ever made.

Morbidelli’s racing DNA is what the new owners are banking on to bring the brand back to prominence.

🌐 The Backer: Keeway Group & MBP Moto

Morbidelli’s new home is part of a global motorcycling empire that is rapidly acquiring and rejuvenating classic Italian names.

The Keeway Group Ecosystem

• The Parent Company: Keeway is a brand under the massive Chinese manufacturing group Qianjiang (QJ) Motor. QJ Motor is a publicly traded company that produces a huge volume of motorcycles, scooters, and engines.
• The Italian Connection: QJ Motor also owns Benelli, another historic Italian brand, which it acquired in 2005. This means the Keeway Group already has deep experience blending Chinese manufacturing scale with Italian design and heritage (in Pesaro, coincidentally, the same town as Morbidelli).

MBP Moto: The Passionate Acquisition Vehicle

• MBP Moto stands for Moto Bologna Passione (Motorcycle Bologna Passion).
• It was launched by the Keeway Group in 2021 as its premium division, headquartered in the Italian motorsport hub of Bologna.
• The Mission: The acquisition of Morbidelli was done through MBP Moto, which has now been officially renamed Morbidelli MBP. This move clearly signals their intent: to fuse their modern vision and global resources with a name that is absolutely dripping with Italian racing history and passion.

The New Plan in a Nutshell: Use the global power and manufacturing scale of the Keeway/Qianjiang Group to produce a full range of high-quality motorcycles (125cc up to 1000cc, plus electric) designed in the new Centro Stile Morbidelli in Bologna, making the once-exclusive racing name accessible to the world.

o understand the Morbidelli MBP vision, we need to look at the machines MBP Moto has already developed.

These models showcase the Keeway Group’s strategy: high-spec components and Italian design flair built around robust, modern engines, all at a competitive price.

Here are the heavy hitters from the existing MBP Moto lineup that hint at the future Morbidelli models:

🛣️ The Future of Morbidelli: Power, Tech, and Passion

The new Morbidelli MBP range will likely draw heavily on these core platforms, giving them a distinct ‘Centro Stile’ (design center) makeover with Morbidelli branding.

1. The Mid-Weight Naked: MBP M502N

(The “Road Motorcycle” of the new lineup)

This is the bike designed to take on the hugely competitive 500cc class, blending punchy performance with premium features.

🔥 The Takeaway: This is where the volume and accessibility will be. Expect a Morbidelli-branded version to get a unique, perhaps retro-inspired, styling treatment over the raw streetfighter looks of the M502N.

2. The Flagship Adventure/Crossover: MBP T1002V

(The “Crossover Motorcycle” of the new lineup)

This is their big-ticket, long-distance touring machine, built to compete with established adventure bikes.

🌍 The Takeaway: This platform is where the “Crossover” models will come from. It proves the group is building bikes with high-performance, European-spec components and advanced safety features.

3. The Cruiser: MBP C1002V

(The other 1000cc V-Twin platform)

There’s also a large-displacement cruiser that shares the 997cc V-Twin engine, focused on low-slung, comfortable riding.

• This model uses the same core philosophy—premium brakes (J.Juan), quality suspension, and a bold design—but wrapped in a classic cruiser silhouette.
• This points to the full range the new Morbidelli MBP brand aims to cover: Naked, Adventure/Crossover, and Cruiser, all powered by a blend of twin-cylinder engines.

The Morbidelli name, with its Grand Prix heritage, is now being stamped onto these modern, globally developed, and highly-specced motorcycles. It’s the perfect blend of Italian soul and Chinese scale!

Source

Official Website URLs

Here are the main websites for the core entities in the acquisition:

Our Social Media Handles

• Instagram : LivingWithGravity
• Medium : Akash Dolas
• YouTube Channel : Gear and Shutter
• Facebook : LivingWithGravity