The Moto Morini brand has history . Some good , some dreadful , but the bikes themselves were always built well and performed . In 1937 Alfonso Morini lived in Bologna , Italy , and had been working with cycle manufacturers when he saw a way round the country ’ s punitive tax laws of the time . Three wheelers could be driven without a license and were a third of the price of a truck and were viable transport options . He started a factory and built 350 , 500 and 600cc models – and that thinking delivered considerable success . The Morini name was established , along with the golden eagle logo . By 1946 despite having had his factory bombed out of existence , and rising above the ashes of the fascist horrors , Alberto decides to rebuild and focus on making a two stroke 125 cc engine . He builds his first Moto Morini ‘ Corsaro ’ motorcycle and it becomes the ‘ success of the year ’. Morini builds 175 ’ s and 250s through until the mid 50s , the brand winning the Shell Cup in 1959 at Imola . By the mid-sixties , with many European victories under their belt , they start exporting to the USA , selling bikes with names like ThunderChief , Jaguar and Hurricane . ( You may have seen capacity displayed on each side in old school fractions - 3 1 / 2 for 350 ) Cagiva purchased Ducati in 1985 and in 1986 they also acquired Moto Morini . By 1990 Morini has been dissolved into Ducati , ostensibly over an engine that may have been better than the buyers . However , in 1999