Moto Morini is one of those names that sounds exotic enough to get your attention, but not quite familiar enough to command instant respect—at least not anymore. Born in Italy, raised on V-twins, and now backed by a Chinese parent company (Zhongneng), the brand’s been quietly reinventing itself in recent years.
Out of all the bikes it has launched since its revival, the X-Cape is probably the most convincing thing they’ve done so far.
On paper, the standard X-Cape is already a solid middleweight ADV. It’s built around a 693cc parallel twin from CFMoto—yes, the same engine used in the 700CL-X and 700MT—and tuned for smooth, approachable performance. In reality, it's a reverse-engineered, slightly tweaked Kawasaki 650cc engine. So yeah, it has that boring 180-degree crankshaft that makes it sound a bit like a lawnmower. Nevertheless, it’s got the ADV styling nailed too: tall windscreen, 19-inch front wheel, upright ergos, and just enough Dakar flair to pass the campsite credibility test.
