At £11,599 on the road, Moto Morini’s new X-Cape 1200 is the cheapest large-capacity adventure bike on the market. Debuted at the 2023 EICMA show and, it is now available in the UK market via Morini’s growing dealer network (now 14 showrooms strong).
This big-bore Chinese-built V-twin is aiming to tempt buyers away from the likes of Honda’s Africa Twin , Moto Guzzi’s Stelvio , and Suzuki’s 1050 V-Strom .
Reasons to buy: + Offers exceptional value at £11,599 compared to its rivals. + Loaded with premium features and tech as standard. + Strong wind protection for mile-munching.
Reasons to avoid: – Very heavy, which affects performance and handling. – Fuel economy is poor compared to competitors. – Poor ground clearance.
Attractive pricing isn’t the only thing helping the X-Cape stand out against proven opposition. Despite being £2400 cheaper (at the time of writing this July 2026) than a Suzuki V-Strom , £3296 less than Moto Guzzi’s Stelivo , and a whopping £4900 easier on the wallet than Honda’s Adventure Sports Africa Twin , the X-Cape’s list of standard fitment goodies and creature comforts is seriously impressive.
You get cruise control, heated grips, heated seats, a 7in TFT dash with smartphone and sat nav capability, five riding modes, three-stage traction control, cornering ABS, LED headlamps, cornering lights, a centre stand, Brembo brakes, fully adjustable KYB suspension, a built-in forward-facing camera, blind-spot detection, and dual USB ports.
Much of the above is usually reserved for top-spec £25K-plus bikes, like BMW’s R1300GS and Ducati’s Multistrada V4 , not a machine costing less than half that price.
The X-Cape is powered by an 1178cc motor that can trace its lineage back to 2005. Designed by Franco Lambertini, referred to as ‘Bialbero Corsa Corta’ (short-stroke twin-cam), and originally used to power Morini’s then flagship Corsaro model , the engine has since been heavily reworked with new internals, electronics, and a ride-by-wire throttle to meet stricter Euro5-plus regulations.
Morini claim 129bhp and 77.4lb.ft, which is a decent step up on its aforementioned rivals, but that performance is tempered somewhat by the bike’s hefty overall weight. The brochure quotes 256kg dry; fully juiced and on the scales that rises to 294 kilos, minus the aluminium top box and panniers that are also an additional £499 on top of the asking price.
On the road the X-Cape lacks the sort of instant punch you’d perhaps expect from 1200cc, a ride-by-wire throttle, and a whisker under 130bhp. Sure, it’ll romp along at reasonable pace, but even top gear overtakes lack the immediate push a 30bhp less (and much lighter) Africa Twin can muster.
Low-rpm fuelling can be snatchy too, but once above 3000rpm the delivery takes on a smoother, linear character that’s best served by gently meandering A-roads.
There are five modes to choose from – Road, Sport, Wet, Off-Road, and All-Terrain – as well as three traction control settings. Gear changes are slick and easy thanks to a light and effective up/down quickshifter, and cruise control is a doddle to operate via the lefthand switch cluster (that’s also backlit for easier operation in low light).
Most noticeable, however, is the sound. The standard fitment exhaust produces a crisp bark of surprising volume, as well as the odd pop and bang on the overrun. It certainly adds to the drama…
Weight plays its hand in the X-Cape’s handling as well as its performance. It’s a big bike with generous...