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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Just Getting Started
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Just Getting Started
Joined: Mar 2011
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Bad News from Morgan.
Issues around whether the M3W is a motorcycle or not, and excessive vibration (revisiting a toned down HD engine is mooted) are now added to the tyre and drive belt ones.
Delays are said to be 'significant'.
Well here in the UK, the winter is around the corner so, I guess, the delay is not too disappointing.
Life is Better by the Sea
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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We've been talking about the class of vehicle on the Yahoo three wheeler group.
As far as can be told, at 500kg, the thing is too heavy for motorbike MOT rules. Limit for class 3 MOT which it ought to fall under for a motor bike based three wheeler is 450kG.
Not sure what the weight limit for driving licence class B1 is but again it's trying to fall into that group (you might not have B1 noted if you have B - car as it is included).
That being said, MOT class is not the homologation class and it's a minefield. I assumed Morgan had done their homework first.
Many Harley based choppers and Harleys use belt drive, and have done for a number of years. Thought Morgan were going to a wider belt to address the issues. Tooth skip as reported on some tests is actually a serious issue - a belt that skips teeth won't last long.
1930 Super Sports Aero 'The Elk'
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Goodwood Drifter Talk Morgan Addict
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Goodwood Drifter Talk Morgan Addict
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aha, another "COC" problem
Norton had/has such an issue too
Steven
sold: M3W, Aeromax,V6, 4/4 4seater
now: +fourLM62
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Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
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Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2009
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It's a shame this "launch" gets to drag on in such a way, as someone said better to sort it now than the British Leyland on the road way with the customer.
I can't help feel that dear old HFS Morgan must have a bit of a grin on his face watching his grandson trying to launch aM3W some 102 years later !
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjbqVF3q-zf_hgmjbFK--0BKQJv_hvRp2gEE7vO7ZSqMFP0vfc
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta
1999 Indigo Blue +8
2009 4/4 Sport Green prev
1993 Con Green +8 prev
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I cant say I am exactly surprised after all the news that was being leaked out about problems with different things for quite some time now.
It is a bit shocking that Morgan wouldn't have done its homework with the weight, but I'm not sure how they could lose 50kg at this point.
The other thing that is shocking to me is that Morgan decided to go with such a big engine to start with. Morgan could have easily gone with a much smaller engine, slightly less powerful, but weigh less, getting better fuel economy, potentially less vibration, etc.
Morgan could have always offered a more powerful version later on, once the M3W had been established for a while. M3WSport could have been the more powerful model. Plus, but using a less expensive engine, Morgan could have sold these for less and opened it up to a whole new market of buyers.
What could be a major success for Morgan could also be one of their biggest hickups if they dont tidy things up.
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I always thought that 500kgs was a bit on the heavy side frankly. There are 4 wheel cars around which don't weigh much more, Caterhams at 525kgs for instance. If Morgan had been watching the scales during development, I don't see why it shouldn't have come in at between 400kgs and 450kgs, and it would have been in the correct weight class for a trike too. Where is all this weight located anyway?
Paul
[At last, I have a car I can polish]
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I'd have thought the extra weight was in the chassis.
No idea if Morgan have used seamed or seamless tube, but seamed is heavier, less strong and if used on a historic Morgans rebuild, most folk go for two SWG points thicker - so heavier still.
1930 Super Sports Aero 'The Elk'
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Talk Morgan Regular
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73kg - S&S engine, exact number unknown, but this is for their 117, which I presume is smaller than the engine in the M3W
32kg - 2 Avon 65S MK2
34kg - Miata 5 speed transmission
these are the only known things.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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L - Learner Plates On
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L - Learner Plates On
Joined: Apr 2010
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if those news are reliable.....
.................
The other thing that is shocking to me is that Morgan decided to go with such a big engine to start with. Morgan could have easily gone with a much smaller engine, slightly less powerful, but weigh less, getting better fuel economy, potentially less vibration, etc.
Morgan could have always offered a more powerful version later on, once the M3W had been established for a while. M3WSport could have been the more powerful model. Plus, but using a less expensive engine, Morgan could have sold these for less and opened it up to a whole new market of buyers.
What could be a major success for Morgan could also be one of their biggest hickups if they dont tidy things up.
...just to provoke....considering S&S engine was the second choice (the first was H.D. 1.800 c.c. if memory serves me) why not a third choice? E.g. it could be a (Piaggio)Moto Guzzi 1.200 c.c. V8 100 cv(from Stelvio or Norge motorbike). Probably less weight issue, less vibration issue, no belt issue (with cardan joint) for a lovely and smoothly running..... But....at this point how many S&S engines MMC have just booked or bought? Regards Claudio _________ Visit Italy! Modified Morgans and other http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=motordesign&w=all
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Bad News from Morgan.
Issues around whether the M3W is a motorcycle or not, and excessive vibration (revisiting a toned down HD engine is mooted) are now added to the tyre and drive belt ones.
Delays are said to be 'significant'.
Well here in the UK, the winter is around the corner so, I guess, the delay is not too disappointing. How reliable is this information ? +1
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