Test Ride: Moto Morini X-Cape 649

[MotoNews]

Published in: Bikes

In this review, we take a quick spin aboard the latest from Italy—the Moto Morini X-Cape—a taste test that left us wanting more with this new player in the midsize ADV space.

It was a fleeting five-day affair, all too short a time to spend with this handsome Italian, but I’ll never forget this whirlwind romance. The exotic ride aboard the Moto Morini X-Cape took me through rural backroads, down twisting highways, and high into misty mountains onto double-track trails. Along with the fun came day-to-day errands and a few hundred miles of freeway. From the casual to the heart-pumping experiences, I felt I was falling in love. But alas, five days was all we had before saying goodbye.

As much as we squeezed into our time with the Moto Morini X-Cape, there was much more to explore with this all-new model. Someday we will sit down for a feast to follow our antipasto, but for now, here’s what we can tell you about this new mid-sized ADV.

• Who is Moto Morini?

 Moto Morini is practically unknown in North America, as the Milan-based firm has had an on-again/off-again relationship with the U.S. for decades. While it may be new to us, this is a legacy brand in its own right. Moto Morini has been in the game since 1937. Bought by the Zhongneng Vehicle Group in 2018, Moto Morini’s design is still headquartered in Milan, Italy, while units are now manufactured in China.

In January 2023, the company announced a revitalized effort in the U.S.; fast-forward a few months, and Moto Morini USA is up and running in an all-new factory-backed headquarters in Irvine, California. A range of Morini’s 650cc parallel-twin motorcycles are arriving to the growing dealer network, including the Seiemmezzo 6.5 STR (sport naked) and Seiemmezzo 6.5 SCR (scrambler), and of course, the X-Cape.

• The Nuts and Bolts

 While they aim to be a modestly priced, no-frills option, Moto Morini also intends for the X-Cape to be a viable contender for the serious off-road rider. At $8299, the X-Cape starts with a proven 649cc parallel twin engine and chassis platform—proven by CFMoto, to be precise—and adds to it a host of components such as the Marzocchi closed-cartridge fork, KYB shock, Bosch EFI, Brembo brakes, Pirelli tires.

Nothing in there sounds exactly “budget,” so where does the Morini cut back? For one, there is no IMU, and therefore no fancy electronics package. That’s not to say there are no onboard electronics, as the Morini shows off a tasteful 7-inch TFT dash with a clean and well-lit display. In it you’ll find a modest host of options and features, but no lean-angle-sensitive traction control with linked ABS or any other such advanced whiz-bangery that you’ll find on higher-end ADV motorcycles. What you will find are Ride and Off-Road settings, Bluetooth connectivity with phone, music, and maps options by way of an app. The Off-Road mode displays a knobby tire in place of the dial on screen—a nice touch. Rear ABS is disengaged in Off-Road mode, but that’s about it. There are no switchable engine maps, and no traction control to alter. You also will not find cruise control, a quickshifter, or a steering damper. If these are all features you can live without, then keep reading.

The display screen offers a tachometer, trip meters, gear indicator, and monitors engine temp, tire pressure, oil, and fuel levels. Settings even monitor tire pressure, which is a somewhat surprising, yet welcome, feature. The tapered aluminum handlebar is six-way adjustable with three mounting points on the triple clamp and reversible bar mounts. A single socket to the left of the screen offers dual USB ports.

The windscreen is manually adjustable—or is intended to be (I needed to loosen the screws to get it to move). Fortunately, adjustments are easy enough with an onboard tool kit stashed under the seat. Handguards would be nice, as would a full-coverage skid plate for more aggressive off-road use. I found it strange that the stock skid plate is split down the middle to allow room for the header pipes. Umm… what exactly are we protecting here?

All X-Cape models come with tubeless spoke wheels in the U.S.; no mag wheels here—only in other markets. Wheels are 19-inch front and 17-inch rear, wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. LED lights are strong and capable, and the all-LED lighting with backlit switch blocks is another nice touch.

• How’s the Ride?

 From the moment you swing a leg over the X-Cape’s comfy saddle, you know you’re on a solid machine.

The seat has a nice deep curve, locking you in place. It’s comfortable, but I found it to be a bit wide at the front, which made it more challenging to get a foot on the ground. Morini does offer a low seat, but even at 5 feet 8 inches tall and with a 31-inch inseam, I wouldn’t opt for that since the overall height is not tall, just a little wide. If it were tapered near the front of the seat, it might make it easier to reach the ground, but the width also translates to ride comfort, so it’s likely more a matter of preference.

Its muscular stance looks almost Triumph Tiger-ish, but the Morini’s Italian bravado belies the friendly, docile nature of the engine. And that’s a good thing. The 649cc DOHC eight-valve engine makes excellent use of its 60 ponies with a well-spaced six-speed transmission. Fed by Bosch EFI, the smooth engine pours on steady, predictable power. You won’t find much aggressive snap anywhere in the RPM range, but you will find capable performance on- and off-road (its docile nature means the lack of traction control is hardly an issue). At freeway speeds, even up a steady grade, the little twin will maintain power and can still pour on a little extra for overtaking when needed. It’s not without some effort, but if you give it the beans, it’ll squeeze out some espresso.

My only complaint about the power was the fueling right off idle. I found it a little notchy and felt it could be smoother down low. Another minor snivel was the feel of the shift lever. Shifting action was smooth, but the throw of the lever was a bit long for my liking.

The standout feature of the X-Cape is the chassis. Based on a sturdy, neutral and well-balanced steel-trellis frame, the X-Cape adds a beefy 50mm Marzocchi closed-cartridge fork and Kayaba shock out back. Full adjustability, including spring preload both front and rear, implies this bike is ready for off-road action.

We only had a small taste of the X-Cape, and an even smaller taste of its off-road prowess. And with a suspension setup like that, you’re not tapping into its performance without setting sag and working through the off-road suspension setup, the same as you would with a motocross bike. You also won’t get very aggressive in the dirt with those stock 80/20 tires, but we’d be very eager to dial in suspension, slap on some knobs, and see what the X-Cape can do in the dirt.

From our limited time off-road, we can say that the performance potential is definitely there. Suspension isn’t what we’d call plush—action is very connected and responsive in a way that lets you feel what’s beneath you. This is already an advantage over the Triumph Tiger 850 Sport or the baseline Honda Africa Twin with their ultra-cushy forks. That might feel nice gliding over potholes but start getting rowdy off-road, and you’ll quickly find the limitations of a plush suspension setup.

The X-Cape’s firmer chassis allows you to put the wheels exactly where you want them and hold a line. A playful hop off some water breaks showed the X-Cape can handle some air, and landing was without painful clacks. Outstanding Brembo stoppers allow you to maintain control on descents or coming up suddenly on Jeeps in the trail. Front ABS does not disengage in off-road mode, but I found the front ABS action to be light and not too intrusive or off-setting.

Speaking of brakes, these are another standout feature of the X-Cape. The dual-disc Brembo setup on the front wheel with steel braided lines provides solid stopping power, and the Marzocchi fork also helps here. The firm, predictable action of the X-Cape’s front suspension gives it confident road-holding ability (as do the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs) when setting up for a turn on the pavement.

Road handling is wonderfully smooth and responsive, and the Morini is a delight on twisty back roads. It’s not as sporty in the canyons as the aforementioned Triumph and Honda counterparts, which have more cc’s and much punchier power. So, if you’re looking for more of a sport-touring adventure bike, this might not be it.

For the right buyer, the X-Cape has much to offer for a modest price tag. If you’re seeking more chassis capability than outright muscle and can live without the creature comforts, then take a look. The Moto Morini has more potential than we could tap in our five-day intermezzo, but from what we can tell, the beefy chassis and docile motor amount to a very solid and capable machine.

• All In….

 With no shortage of mind-bending power, technological whizbangs, and creature comforts on today’s premium ADV machines, the humbler Morini has its place. At $8299, it’s not the lightest price tag for its displacement, but with only the essential features and solid components throughout, the X-Cape checks in at a darn good value. After all, you can always accessorize, but there’s no substitute for a solid foundation.

Morini, through its fledgling American dealer network, offers a handful of accessories, including a larger windscreen, low seat, side cases and top case, crash bars, hand guards, and aluminum skid plate. Head to the website for details.

Moto Morini also promises more this year for the U.S. market, including some all-new models. Whether or not the X-Cape piques your interest, watch this space for what are sure to be interesting developments from a new player.

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Jean Turner is a freelance journalist/photographer in the powersports industry. She has been riding and racing motocross and enduro for over 18 years, during which she has worked for a number of publications such as Cycle News, Dirt Rider magazine, Dirt Bike magazine, Racer X, Motocross Action Magazine, and international publications in Europe, Japan, and Australia. Turner grew up riding in the Southern California desert with her family and now travels the world as a media correspondent covering and shooting motorcycle races, manufacturer intros, and off-road/adventure tours. Follow her travels and stories on Instagram @kalamity_jean

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