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When we write about adventure-touring motorcycles at accessible prices, a common reader response is something like, "That looks great, but I really wish it had [insert feature of your choice here]." Part of the promise of producing motorcycles in lower-cost settings is not just a low price, but also being able to include more features for that price.
The Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 is an example.
Like Benelli, Moto Morini is an old Italian brand now under Chinese ownership with designers based in Italy but manufacturing in China. The X-Cape 1200 is a heavily street-biased, full-size adventure bike and at first glance the $12,999 MSRP looks interesting. What makes the price look even better, though, is the long list of standard equipment that comes with it.
Think of features, big or small, that you've been disappointed to see missing from a motorcycle before and the X-Cape 1200 probably has them. Cruise control? Yes. Bi-directional quickshifter? Yes. Tubeless spoked wheels, fully adjustable suspension, lean-angle-sensitive traction control, and ABS that is lean-angle-sensitive and can be switched off at the rear? Yes. Even a center stand. All standard.
Beyond that, the X-Cape 1200 offers a seven-inch TFT display with integrated navigation, five ride modes, blind-spot radar warning, tire pressure monitoring system, adjustable windscreen, Brembo brakes with steel-braided lines, and not just heated grips but also heated seats. There's even a built-in dashcam.
Start adding all those options (or at least the ones that are available) to the established adventure-touring brands and you could easily add up to double the price of the X-Cape 1200. Of course there are downsides, too. For one, there's the old engineer's saying of "Light, strong, and inexpensive. Choose any two." The X-Cape is not light, with a claimed dry weight of 523 pounds. It's also worth noting that while it has spoked wheels, the Pirelli Scorpion Trail III tires and the 19-inch front and 17-inch rear sizes show the bike's bias toward street use, not serious off-roading. Plus, the 1,187 cc V-twin, making a claimed 129 horsepower, is known for producing power in the upper end of the rev range, also more suitable for street use than dirt riding.
No doubt trying to overcome skepticism about a lesser known brand, as well as bias against Chinese-made products in some corners, Moto Morini is offering a three-year, unlimited-miles warranty. The other obstacle for many buyers who might be interested is that there are currently fewer than 100 Moto Morini dealers in the United States.
For U.S. riders who have a dealer nearby and want a motorcycle with all the features, the X-Cape 1200 might be of interest, if only because it's hard to find many competitors at this price point with such a long a list of standard equipment. While we were talking about the X-Cape, Spurgeon pointed out that the Yamaha Tracer 9 (though more fully street-focused with its 17-inch front wheel) nearly matches it and costs a little less and weighs considerably less. But even the Tracer's list of features falls a bit short. The Moto Guzzi V85TT is a more direct comparison, an Italian alternative without the China connection, but it offers less power and it also lacks some of the X-Cape's features, especially if you compare the base model Guzzi, which is closest in price.
Now fully mature, the adventure-touring segment offers more options than ever before — not just the expanding middleweight category, but also full-size ADV bikes with varying degrees of off-road worthiness. Having more options is rarely a bad thing.
| 2027 Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $12,999 |
| Engine | 1,187 cc, liquid-cooled, eight-valve, V-twin |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain |
| Claimed horsepower | 129 @ 8,750 rpm |
| Claimed torque | 78.2 foot-pounds @ 7,000 rpm |
| Frame | Aluminum and steel trellis |
| Front suspension | KYB 48 mm inverted fork, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 6.7 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | KYB shock, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 6.3 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Dual Brembo radial-mount four-piston calipers, 320 mm discs with ABS |
| Rear brake | Brembo caliper, 280 mm disc with switchable ABS |
| Rake, trail | N/A |
| Wheelbase | 60.8 inches |
| Seat height | 33.1 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 6.5 gallons |
| Tires | Pirelli Scorpion Trail III, 120/70ZR19 front, 170/60ZR17 rear |
| Claimed weight | 523 pounds (dry) |
| Available | Now |
| Warranty | 36 months, unlimited miles |
| More info | motomoriniusa.com |
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