Moto Morini X-Cape | Affordable, Attractive & Practical... But is it Good?

[@BigRockMoto]

EDIT: My bike was an early USA model... and details were still being sorted out. A few things that Moto Morini clarified for me post-production. Front suspension travel is 6.9 inches, not 6.3. Rear is 6.5, not 5.6. Weight is actually 514, not 520. Rear preload is adjustable without shock removal. They also pointed out that due to the closed cartridge forks, making some adjustments with compression clickers will make more difference that expected and can help with the bottoming. It's my fault for not taking more time during testing to adjust and re-test. Thanks. 🏍TODAY’S GEAR: ⚡ Klim Krios Pro Helmet: imp.i104546.net/WD9gOM ⚡ Klim Adventure GTX Glove: imp.i104546.net/Eax204 ⚡ REV'IT! OffTrack 2 Suit: imp.i104546.net/3eYVVr ⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: bit.ly/3OiE5Ss ⚡ MSR Base Layers: bit.ly/3K3bQ8s 🏍BEHIND THE SCENES / DISCORD SERVER / CHAT WITH ME! ⚡ Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia 🏍 SUPPORT BIG ROCK MOTO BY USING MY AFFILIATE LINKS! ⚡ Rocky Mountain ATV/MC: bit.ly/33kgRIz ⚡ Revzilla: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN ⚡ Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto ⚡ Amazon: amzn.to/3viGZ0A ⚡ Merchandise: big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/

[@houjous5131]

If China was in a better spot economically & politically; yes I'd look at a kove. But China is flexing their military looking to start a war, a few of their politicians have been unalived and just about every loan China gave out to poor countries being defaulted on. I'm cautious buying any big ticket from built in China stuff. I have no idea what raw material they can get that is of quality we should expect. Before covid I would've said yes.

[@ThatOneMinority]

Chinese market evolved from only manufacturing into both developing/designing as well as manufacturing (which they now use Vietnamese labor). They have a professional economy now but Americans just stay bitter

[@pa4tim]

If they are as good as some of the Chjinese scooter-mopets I would stay far away from them. Plastic is bad fitting, absolute not service friendly, electronics is very bad in quality. Almost everything is plastic (even things you do not want to be plastic) A friend has 2 of them (Because they constant refuse to run) and I helped him a few times because electronics is my field of expertise, and those are also bad. But at least motor cycles in the USA are probably good test before they are allowed to be sold so they will be safe and Chinese can build good things if there is quality control done by a non-Chinese company and they produce for export, production for internal use is often even worse (and sold via things like Ali-expres, and many A-branded parts are just fake, they even fake their own Z- grade stuff ;-) )

[@pa4tim]

@@kayoedowner6711 Chinese electronics is even worse as most consumers think, number of fakes are huge and they go very far. I have see a batch of IGBTs where they cut of the legs of used ones, point-weld new ones, polish them, sand of the type marking and replace it by a more expensive one, and we talk about parts that cost less as a dollar. (I have seen many more ) At this moment I guess most of the parts sold via Ali expres or direct from other Chinees sources , are fakes. Many of the gadgets is just dangerous and will last very short. Specs are made up and often at least half of what they publish. (I am an EE and I do rather specialised electronics board repair)

[@ryaandnice]

No. There is no perfect nation. But giving money to Chinese business is giving money to the CCP, which is one of the worst governments on the face of the planet. Other options exist.

[@KiwiMoto72]

I have loved Morini Motos for a long time. I visited their Museum in Pesaro Italy a few years ago. A wonderful history. As for made in China. Who cares? All the components of most Motos are made all over the world these days. Looks like a great bike!

[@Ritalie]

5,500 RPM at 80 mph. This is the MOST important part of a motorcycle review: the gear ratios and engine vibration. The gear ratios are NEVER talked about in 99.99% of motorcycle reviews, as if riders forget that your fuel mileage, vibration, engine noise, and fatigue level on the highway, are all determined by having properly tall final drive gear ratios. MOST motorcycles have the wrong gear ratios, are all of the ADV bikes are geared way too low. It's a relief to see that the Moto Morini X-Cape 650cc might have the best gear ratios of any of the bikes.

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

5,500 rpm is still a bit too high. I’d like to see 3,500 - 4,000.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 5500 at 80 mph is a wonderful result for this bike and engine. You can check other bikes in the category and then you will see... can check my content too. Cheers.

[@dantheman4life]

Great review, Ian. My wife and I almost fell off the couch laughing at you and Maggie! Seriously, great work, and thanks for providing quality content.

[@BigRockMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tonymillichap7943]

I have this bike and so far it’s been amazing a little under powered but great quality for the money and dose everything I need

[@JoseAlvarez-dl3hm]

I have been looking at this bike seriously for my second bike, updraging from a Honda cb250cc. It looks nice and your review put a big smile on my face, I am considering this one along with the QJ Motor SVT650X, which it is also chinese but it seems to be quite good too, both seem to be great competitive motorcycles.

[@bogdan1207]

"Just like me" - ok, that deserves a like! edit: you always know when it's an italian design, because they look good! Same goes with Benelli, for example. Don't really know about reliability / service life though...

[@cocchiam]

👉Would you buy an iPhone despite it's made in China? As already written, the bike is developed in Italy and built in China, like Nike, Converse, and even Ray Ban sunglasses

[@chrispekel5709]

The frame and engine are cfmoto copy of the er6 / ninja 650. So it's really a Chinese clone of a Japanese bike more than it is Italian - IMO of course

[@abcdefg-dw5jj]

@@chrispekel5709只有发动机是

[@wernerdenexter7750]

I’ve seen loads of reviews on this bike, it kind of grows on me. This review is one of the best, thnx!

[@Karbonara05]

It's really cool that your reviews include the pillions opinion since its also one of the important factors that many buyers consider ! Thank you Ian and hoping you continue with this very nice reviews!!

[@nathanthepostman]

Hi Ian. Great review. I've had an X-Cape here in the UK for just under two years and about 9000 miles. I swapped a Guzzi V85TT for it. I prefer the Morini of the two. Just more enjoyable to ride. I find it a more engaging road bike. Both equally limited off road. I've not had any major problems with it. The quality seems good and no signs of wear and tear. I've had a few engine management lights flicker on but have cleared themselves. It once cut out in Ireland and restarted in heavy rain. Haven't needed to order parts for it bar the oil filter, which seems to be a unique fitment for the Morini, which seems a bit odd given the engine's origins. All in all I like it. But we've just got the Benelli TRK702X which has 10bhp more and is officially £500 less. Tough market in the mid capacity sector.

[@nickzourb190]

I bought a V85TT after considering and testing various motorcycles, including the X-cape. The only reason I can think of why you sold the Guzzi for the Morini is that you really needed the cash....

[@nathanthepostman]

​@@nickzourb190It was a direct swap for a two year old guzzi for a brand new morini. So no, I didn't need the cash.

[@nickzourb190]

@@nathanthepostman The Morini isn't bad, it's stable , has good wind protection, good brakes, suspension, it's beautifully designed etc. But it's a second grade bike, plastics feel cheap, metals look of mediocre quality, engine was emitting more heat in the winter than the Guzzi in the summer etc. And the quality of the handmade Guzzi is second to none. What did you see in the Morini that made it a better choice than the V85TT for you?

[@nathanthepostman]

​@@nickzourb190 the guzzi feels a more premium bike than the morini, no doubt about it. I had troubles with a drive shaft leak in the early days and I lost the master key which was going to be over £1k to replace. So I didn't gel with the ownership experience and I just didn't gel with it as a bike to ride. Lots of character but for the weight it lacked some performance and I couldn't help but feel for the money a second hand gs1200 would have done everything better, held its value better been cheaper to service (from experience of owning a gs1200 it was). I liked the guzzi but never loved it. The morini I admire as it's much better than I anticipated and I find I have more fun on it. Objectively I think they're both sub par bikes but subjectivity I prefer riding the Morini.

[@nickzourb190]

@@nathanthepostman Well it is better build with better quality materials, better fit and finish etc. Also, the shaft issue was common on first bikes. Warranty fixed. Either overfill with oil or a faulty seal. About the master key, didn't you have the code ? Looks like the dealership was the issue, not the bike. And maintenance is actually the cheapest you can get for a premium 850cc bike. About the R1200GS, maybe you compare Guzzi dealership service vs indie mechanic work on the BMW? But yes, really enjoyed riding the Morini as well.... You should have given the Guzzi another chance with another dealership though. Just my opinion.

[@ridingwithrusso7790]

Another great video! A local dealership had a demo day last week, the bike looks great in person. Took for a 15 minute ride around town so not very thorough but my thoughts; felt easy to ride, comfortable riding position, great digital dash, brakes felt strong, seems like an incredible value. Transmission wasn’t as positive feeling, I ride a Versys 1000. Overall seems like a great option. I hope they do well.

[@calebogilvie6678]

Your wife just made my day🤣

[@JIMWSMITH]

Iam on a Facebook page in the uk , and there has been no issues with these bikes , one rider Nathan millward has put over 7000 miles on his travelling around the uk Cornwall to Scotland, and uk to spain. He rides his bikes hard , and its giving him zero issues. Everyone on that page thats riding one is a happy customer. These bikes along with cf moto , voge , are proving they can make a competitively priced well built bike , the question is will it last 30k +

[@IndependentVictor]

definitely the most thorough reviews on KZbin

[@DickLewis-w4m]

Moved to France in 2019 from Canada. Brought my Ducati 1200 Multi Enduro with me. Long story short. Will cost half the price of the Ducati to have it licensed here and then to add insult to injury: French admin does not recognize Canadian motorcycle license !!! So… as no one was going to stop me riding I passed my test here…. Yes all of it!! Now I’m a young rider again 😛🤪😂 So I have to drive a 47.5hp bike for 2 years 🤪 My local Ducati dealer hear in SW France also sells (amongst other makes) Moto Morini…. So here I am riding a Moto Morini X-Cape for now almost a year. Engine light came on in first week on the bike… broke down completely 200m from the dealership. Got a loaner bike and the whole electronic system was changed. Not good. However… now the have 16000km on the bike. Mostly traveling 2up ( my wife loves traveling on the back but not so keen to drive her own). We’ve driven up and through the Pyrenees and the Alps loaded with camping gear etc. Can’t fault it since the first problems had. Touch wood it’s now perfect. It’s not my Ducati of course… but I have a lot of fun in the French countryside twisties. Almost hate to say this. But it’s growing on me. I will see what I get into in a year when I’ve finished my probation period…. maybe the new 1200 Morini?? 😁 Love your content… always excellent info.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

The bike has a great design. Apart form being too heavy and having a bit budget suspension it is a great value for the money. I didn't read a lot of negatives about it. :) Great video Ian, just like always. In depth and that is something that is really appreciated. :) Cheers.

[@SoDakTwisties]

I feel like that would be considered a good 80% paved/20% light off-road bike, given it's suspension specs. I looked up all the specs online and I see a 19" front and both spoke wheels are tubeless! I think that's about perfect. I feel like I'd still go Japanese at the end of the day, for most of the reasons you've listed: Unknown long-term reliability and dealership network. As always, great review with tons of attention to detail! I always appreciate your comprehensive content!

[@jmreynoso6990]

i just purchased this bike about a month ago, it is my every day bike as my Multistrada V4 S is an expensive every day ride, i feel that i got a great deal and i feel its a good bang for your buck, still early but for around $7k i got the bike with all 3 cases so i decided to give it a try, before i had a V-Strom 650 and a KLR 650 and this bike feels better than both, on road it is smooth and comfortable, sure it has things i dont like but again ill take it over the KLR and the Baby V Strom.

[@cirneco1581]

Know a guy who owns an x-cape, as well as other biles that fall under ADV. He uses this for easier offroad as well as commuting and general use. Rides this bike the most almost daily. I do know he has put over 12,000 miles in its first year, not one issue. Its not designeed for heavy offroad, it does make a great bike for easy off road, twisties and commuting on road, powerful enough to handle most riding environments and it has a reliable motor and looks great, and not expensive. It is what it is.

[@TonyHands-r6l]

Hi there I have one and love it iv down sized from 1200 1400 due to age and weight of bike just done Ireland 2k miles next Morocco Egypt via Italy hope this helps

[@zrkn1]

Excellent real world review, as usual, thank you.

[@bigj2345]

That KLR stock photo made me snort laugh. Great work.

[@chadmckenzie2095]

Excellent review. It's a great looking bike and a great start into the adv market.

[@marcelomendes5444]

Excellent analysis!! Congratulations!! (From Brazil)

[@Cult1022]

"I'm designed in Germany, and made in the USA" wifey: "okay..." she has put up with you for a while, hasn't she :D

[@SKgeostrat]

Really good review IAN! You are improving every month! Your organisation and structure keeps improving and you cover more issues. Well done. Personally, I would not buy that bike. If I wanted to go offroad just a little, I'd buy a V-Strom 650 XT. If I wanted mostly a road bike, a Versys would win every time, in spite of the price. For more off road, a 800 DE or a Transalp wins every time! This is for a guy on a budget, who is not too far from a dealer and trusts the warranty. It might turn out really good or not, but he is close to a dealer.

[@MauriceTarantulas]

Went with a Himalayan as first learner bike, this was a close second. My reason was parts easier to get for Himalayan plus 2k less...(found out adv gear needed + camping stuff comes to about the price diff😉)

[@chrispekel5709]

If you're not doing highway miles the Himalayan is the better choice imo.

[@MauriceTarantulas]

@@chrispekel5709 So far had no probs on motorways...70 ish.. P.s no speed demon sure😉

[@malone-np3ip]

Your the only reviewer mentioned the weight difference which is a big deal of course in wind on highway that's a positive nice looking bike

[@BERZERKERSV4]

If MM had greater dealer network, this bike or the Ibex 800 would be in my garage in a heartbeat… between the MG V85TT and the X Scape, they are by far the best looking “ADV” bikes by far….great review… BTW , I purchases a V85TT in late July 2023 and just completed a 6000 mile , 6 week cross country trek from Daytona to Cedar City Utah, mainly 2 lane roads, some highway droning and a fair making of fire road trial riding…. The V85TT was flawless… zero mechanical issues .. thank you MotoPlex Daytona.. As a side note, excellent new “dimension” to your reviews by showing access to critical bike components…you should also consider, when comparing competitors, a dealer OTD price….that reality check is why these bikes will be making serious inroads in the US market…

[@trevorkarrett3041]

Yeah, I'd like to see Ian do a full V85TT review. It makes more power than this, weighs less, and has more suspension travel. I got my V85TT Travel for just over 11k USD OTD and for that price I can't think of anything that comes close to competing. I've only had it for a bit but will be doing my first longer ride on it this weekend, I'm sure it'll perform great.

[@BERZERKERSV4]

@@trevorkarrett3041 Excellent choice… as mentioned my go to long distance travel bike for the last 10 years was a 2013 GSA Oil Head…. but when I test rode a 2023 K1600B and GSA 1250… there was no way on God’s green earth that I could justify spending spending $30k on a 10 year old platform that has been mildly “refreshed” over the years… as for those who do… they are damn fools because the Latest greatest BMW models have progressed to the point of only being bragging points at the local pub and that’s it….As for the V85TT… I could not be happier adding it to my fleet ..

[@podunkman2709]

​@@trevorkarrett3041VT85TT is more "classic" than u expect 😊

[@trevorkarrett3041]

@@podunkman2709 Not sure why you think that? It feels like a bike that has every bit of modern convenience and a great modern chassis, with a classic powerplant/drive system, that still makes modern power with modern efficiency. There's no shaft jacking, the engine/shaft should be super reliable, and the electronics package is good too. I put nearly 500 miles on it this weekend and it was great. Wind protection is the only thing I'd like to improve but every ADV bike has the same problem, and if not then it's probably a touring bike.

[@jacobwilliams1285]

Agree with you that this X-Cape and the V85TT are some of the best looking bikes in this class ( I would add the Tracer 700/7) and considering both. The V85 secondhand costs about a 1000 EUR more still than a brand new X-Cape. I lean towards the secondhand MG though.

[@mattevans5812]

I watch bits and pieces of the adventure bike reviews but I watch the whole reviews of bikes 300cc and smaller. I love Ian's review on the KLX230. He was having laugh out loud fun off road. I'm done with adventure bikes over 400 pounds. The compromise on tires alone is too great. They are sketchy on wet roads while mediocre at best off road. I'd seriously rather tow a little dirt bike or dual sport with a touring bike. That's closer to the best of both worlds. But a smaller bike will get me anywhere on he backroads. The highways are boring anyways. To me, I ride for fun and if I wanted to try a made in China bike for off road adventures I'd get an XR150 for a few thousand and push its limits and have laugh out loud fun instead of a crap my my pants experience on something twice as heavy.

[@KentwoodWarrior]

100%

[@BERZERKERSV4]

You need to expand your riding environment beyond the over 55 RV park…

[@mattevans5812]

I live in mountains. Anyone who rides can get further into the wild on an XT250 than a 1250GS.

[@tieoneon1614]

Exactly what I did. I lived where Ian does here, it was dual sport paradise with all the mnt and desert trails. Went from a Tiger 800xcx to a KLX250 < and the cheapest bike I ever bought new was 100% most fun I ever had out there. I had Border Patrol asking how the hell i got into where I did, LOL. Riding around town, back roads, trucking to offroad is best move I ever made

[@notesonwheels]

I test-rode it and the absolute dealbreaker was the silly excessive heat coming from the right side. It is by far, the hottest running bike I ever rode, especially when it comes to off road riding where the speeds and air is not enough to keep it low. It was a big fat no for me.

[@jmsmikey]

Thanks for posting~ I live in Las Vegas & it's very hot for about 6 months out of the year. I just don't get why so many manufacturers release motorcycles with horrible heat management problems. I'm looking for a new bike to replace my aging VFR800, based on this criterion, it looks like two finalists are the new Transalp 800 & Yamaha Tracer 900GT~ different bikes, but both run cool. I'm just waiting to see if Yamaha will release a Tenere 900.

[@G-Loco]

That's weird, been riding this bike for more than a year, never experienced that.

[@rufcut2273]

Interesting! I rode one in Dallas, TX yesterday (97F) and had no issues with heat. Also, per the dealer, the check engine/starting issue has been rectified ( I asked).

[@podunkman2709]

This is great looking bike. But quality and practicality is on a slightly different level than known brands.

[@jameslee5428]

My wife who is also from China is still laughing. Really great informative video as always. PS I look forward to hopefully a long-term review of Moto Guzzi V85TT. As always keep the rubber side up, and enjoy life to the fullest.

[@kgun10]

Great review and I love the intro ! 😂 ✌️

[@yorkchris10]

Akront is a big name from my dirt bike days. Can-Am used them when production went to the UK in the mid-eighties. I believe Akront disappeared for a while, but now I see they have a variety of wheel types. No-one in my family looks like anyone else in the family. My brother and I did come from the same hospital.

[@sspirito3130]

The X-Cape is actually designed and developed in Morini's factory in Italy, and in my opinion the styling looks good. Production is in China. A bit too heavy and underpowered for my liking, but glad to see some more affordable options in the ADV space

[@lifeoutdoors3953]

He said that it was lol

[@podunkman2709]

Sure, you bet! 😂 "In October 2018 Zhongneng Vehicle Group acquires the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Morini for 10 million euros, pledging to maintain production and plants in Italy."

[@mofm1639]

Hey Ian you missed the trick of raising the windscreen. There's a place to put your thumb at the top of the slide, then it's really easy to do it one handed

[@stefanhansen5882]

Another great review. Your calm presentations are refreshing. PS I hope you'll review the new BMW soon! :)

[@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC]

Looks like a better Versys 650. Seems like it was really hard not to blurt out “this bike sucks off road” during the off road segment. 😅

[@auroratours6716]

Very informative! Thanks👍

[@BigRockMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bumstead1383]

Great review. I would be hesitant to commute everyday, beat on it since it isn’t a proven name. Hey price point sells bikes and for the money it isn’t a bad deal. Not something I would buy tho , but if times get worse for me then I won’t say never. I like the vstrom 800 right now….hell I just got a KLR-S model & it’s fine. Leaves me wanting more juice at times, gets a bit boring but I knew that.

[@herrdirektor1969]

Hi, I noticed your navigation is selectable. Just curious, since it is not in Europe. Something to do with mirroring restrictions of apps on vehicle screens. How does this work for you? Enjoyed this review very much. I have this model since 2022 and so far so good.

[@MotorcyclesandZen]

Did you figure out why you have a check engine light?

[@andrewpeter6128]

It’s fascinating; low ground clearance is commonly noted as a bikes limitation; yet I rarely/never see videos where a bike is so low slung that it becomes a limiting factor.

[@TheMehlvin]

Ian put a hole in his oil pan on his KTM 890 adventure which is for sure a higher riding bike than this so I think it's just gonna happen no matter what, that's why a proper skid plate is a must on ANY bike

[@andrewpeter6128]

Exactly my point

[@chrispekel5709]

​@@TheMehlvinI've never put a hole on any road bike ever. You mean on any bike that's going to be used off-road?

[@Texmotodad]

YES Check out their 1985 501XE Camel in white and red so can see where they got the current styling from. I had one with the Euro exhaust. Damn fun bike!

[@geecee4746]

They certainly got the looks right, shes a beauty. I don't mind that its made in China, the engine just wouldn't float my boat, otherwise i like it

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

What about the bike though?

[@rtdude1]

@@SWTrailsAndWheels😆

[@thaicraft1219]

Seriously considered this bike but I’m still leaning T7 because of off-road.

[@Charlie-fc1mh]

Sounds like a bargain for sure. However, you couldn't even give me that bike. Nice review as always ❤

[@chrispekel5709]

Yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't take it if someone left it to you 😂

[@Charlie-fc1mh]

@@chrispekel5709 I turned down a 2021 Hyabussa a couple of years ago. Moto Bob couldn't even belive I said I wasn't interested. I have a 2024 mt10 sp on order

[@lluis9377]

Great review!!!!

[@donnyjackson1908]

I like this. I have a 2024 CF Moto Built KTM 790 ADV and I would consider this Moto Marini as a second bike. It’s a lot of bike for the money. CF Moto is going to make some waves in the market in the next 10 years. They do a good job at making quality bikes for a good price even if they are based off of other manufacturers engine designs.

[@BishBosh2010]

Pretty honest bike and a great honest review. I'm thinking a bit too heavy, slow and desparately needs longer legs. Brilliant value though.

[@chrispekel5709]

Disagree on the power, you really don't need more. It's nice but not required unless you like breaking laws. But too heavy I agree, could lose 30 pounds

[@cyclopathic998]

In my opinion as the improvements go this bike needs: - exhaust reroute for more clearance - HyperPro rising rate rear shock spring - more relaxed head angle - longer travel suspension which if they increase clearance they can achieve without increasing seat height - some weight loss; those rearsets are cast(!)

[@ttrguy9952]

Ian Another excellent review! Interesting motorcycle for the price. Their mountain to climb is, as you said, establishing a dealer network. You can't sell a motorcycle without exposure. Mannequin approved video Sir! 👍👍

[@rufcut2273]

Just viewed this again since I have been looking at alternatives to Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha.... Test rode one yesterday and while it was a nice ride, it felt very ho hum. I was able to keep up with the dealer on his Triumph 1200 but it was a chore.

[@levigato125]

I thought US regs states the low beam must be on at all times while the motorcycle is on? Is this a manufacture demo?

[@NEINLIVES999]

I own a 2023 X and it smokes my previous KLR! Off road my KLR rode horrible, just my 2-cents. Love my X!

[@hectorarotxa7135]

Ha estado genial , muchas gracias

[@OVenomz]

Awesome review. Is it possible that you update your ADV guide Sheet ? Or am I unaware that it has already been updated ?

[@lestersmyth692]

Thanks for a great in depth review Ian much appreciated. If you get the opportunity check out the Voge 300 Rally it seems to be causing quite a stir. 👍

[@cowarddonnie-ji5yz]

Without a doubt it's a beautiful bike

[@marcusaurelius9736]

Ian: "The check engine light came on." (Keeps riding.) On a reviewer loan bike. That tells me what I need to know. Reliability is way more important than price to me. Particularly with not a single dealer in my state. Warranty, even if honored, means nothing when it's 5 hours each way to a dealer.

[@MickH60]

"That tells me what I need to know.", So virtually NOTHING is good enough for you, why did you even post ?

[@kelcastle7645]

That motorbike is beautiful! The problem is weight/power ration: over 200kg you need at least 100hp to move that weight properly.

[@YA-kl7ny]

Hello Ian great channel congrats. When you would compare this Bike with CB 500x and V Strom 650 XT witch one your prefer for all in all Action as a Switzerland Knife. Have a good ride

[@TheHomeExpert5]

I've tried this engine out on a Versys and found no joy in it. Am I crazy?

[@kevinh8338]

KTM needs to hire that design team . . .

[@chrispekel5709]

I think KTM has forged their market on love it or hate it styling. They'll keep doing what works

[@_hold_the_line_]

True. KTM bikes look like insects invading from space.😮

[@motoshark5847]

Agreed!

[@louispaulter8733]

Off topic but I wish you could obtain the new Honda Adv160 scooter to put it thru your review format. This would great because as of 10/5/2023 there is not one full review by any well know / credible MC KZbin reviewer. In any case, always great reviews found at Big Rock Moto Ian, thanks.

[@kkattrap]

Every motorcycle that is trying to be an "adventure do-everything bike" is a series of design and engineering compromises. For me, there were decisions made here that this bike should never be truly offroad. Any bike can handle a small stretch of dirt road or potholes if it's a competent rider. Crap dealer network can grow with time but nothing will change the placement of the airbox on this bike. Thanks Ian for the in-depth look around the bike.

[@dominikgeisler2926]

Nice review! Did you ever figure out the engine warning light and negative temperature report? It looks a bit worrying.

[@mofm1639]

The engine warning light might have been triggered from that big suspension hit? My wife dropped ours (luckily it has crash bars), and it brought up the light. Cycle the key and it went away.

[@theja63]

@@mofm1639 What do you mean 'cycle the key'?

[@northidrecluse2306]

Great review as always, but I say no thanks. Great warranty, but where are the dealers, do they know the bike well enough to work on it? Parts suppliers? I can’t always avoid China, but when I can, I do. Not a fan.

[@MikeK6046]

As for this Moto Morini (great machine/ great value), I would always have in the back in mind the thought that if does have a problem, how long would it take to fix/ get parts, same goes for KTM, Husqvarna, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta to name a few, that's why I typically get BMW's (when something does go wrong, I've found it usually takes 3/4 days to get parts, YMMV)

[@MOTOPILOT6]

They have a full parts inventory in Irvine, CA

[@bouleavard71]

Hello gentlemen and ladies, I changed the stickers from Moto Morini X-cape to Kawasaki Rally Touring 6.5 and with that simple act, the bike went from 7 thousand to 10 thousand Euros/dollars. Of course everyone was happy saying, this new Kawasaki RT is an excellent machine with design and finish. Things are like this and not otherwise. The Morini Xcape is a very good machine, very pretty and at an excellent quality/price. It has a large amount of details that other more expensive brands do not incorporate into their base models. This motorcycle has been sufficiently tested in its first year of commercial life, (Magazines, motorcycle testers, fans, dealers, youtubers) and the answer is that there are no known faults. A very large number of distributors throughout Europe. But if you really (really) need more than 60 HP, maybe this is not your bike. If you need a sportRR, this is not your bike. If you want a 100% enduro-rally, this is not your bike. All this is easy to understand, but then why do people insist on comparing with Africa Twin, Tiger 900, KTM 890 rally and others motorcycles more than twice the price of the X-cape??. The commercial results of the (Chinese /Italian) Moto Morinior Benelli brands are so good in Europe that it has forced brands such as Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda to make deep price offers for a similar range of models. This is something like a little kick in the balls to the imperturbable Japanese brands 🤣🤣. Without a doubt, all this finally benefits biker customers 👏👏👍

[@Fiatmannen1]

Ilive in europe sweden, hav not seen any price cuts from the japanese or the european brands. All these cheaper chinese biles is no where to be found,

[@bouleavard71]

If we count only the countries of the EU, there are at least 27. But if we count all of Europe, there are many more. Dealer Local offers or price reductions on Japanese trail models of similar range, for example (Versys 650 with a gift of side cases, €8,400), or Suzuki Strom 650, €7,975, (these are prices that maybe not have in all countries, but in countries where sales of motorcycles such as Benelli, Moto Morini, QJ Motor, have been more successfull, such as Italy, France, Spain, Greece, others. In Italy, 1000 units of Benelli Trk 702 were sold in just 1 month. This was similar example to Moto Morini X-cape 650. I live in Spain, and indeed although I have both Benelli and Morini stores just a couple of kilometers from my house (I have tested both), on the contrary it is not easy to see these bikes parked in the middle of the street. At the moment it is normal, Moto Morini X-cape has only been on sale for 1 year. Likewise, I have not seen any new Honda Transalp 750 parked on the street and Honda store is 1.5 km from my house.

[@jacobwilliams1285]

Also live in Europe and see zero price cuts that you speak of. And certainly not because if a supposed fear of Chinese bikes. I wish you were right though! I wish they would some price cuts, would be very welcome because prices are high. Also... I dont see many of these Moto Morini's on the road, in the last year I have seen 2 Benelli's, 1 beautiful blue CF Moto MT650 and 1 guy has a Voge 500 adv bike. I'm sure MM is also sold but...clearly its all in very limited numbers despite what you suggest, for all the Chinese owned brands I mean, not just MM.

[@pressley10r]

Great review as always, but the problems with this motorcycle are glaring and are going to stop most in their tracks- A 520lb 650cc made in China bike with almost no dealer network in the states. I think this bike is doomed from the get-go.

[@ericsabatino6963]

Dealer network is steadily growing!

[@markflaugh2293]

Glad you bring Maggie out to sit on the bike as a passenger. It would be nice on bikes with shorter seat heights to see her sitting on the bikes and her height for reference. Otherwise another great review.

[@BSC610]

Maggie cracking me up!

[@jeffferguson899]

39:00 "no driving allowed after wine or drugs" lol

[@Angry-Lynx]

Yeah so pretty clear that ur fine after beer ;🎉😂👍🏻

[@martyndourneen7402]

It’s about time there’s someone building bikes at a more affordable price, I’m in Ireland were bikes are a ridiculous price, for gs adventure starting price is €21,000 standard before options Ducati multi is €25000 standard, so I welcome this affordable motorcycles coming to the market

[@1vmxracer]

What are you talking about??.....the Suzuki 800DE is very close in price in your country (Ireland) as it is in my country (USA) at 12,850 vs 11,500. Not that much of a difference and a far cry from the 21k for a GSA BMW.

[@guyh282]

33:20 wait why didn't you adjust the suspension??

[@kevjhnsn]

Maggie is hilarious!😂

[@MrEtnorb]

An empty oil sight glass when on the sidestand is no big deal. Both of my KTMs have a similar feature but the oil level goes to the top of the sight glass when vertical. Looks a good location for filming Ian, maybe your new rural location?

[@machupikachu1085]

Great vid as always but Iono about this one, man. The Kove seems like a better machine from China for around the same money. And you said it yourself that the Honda weighs less, is better off road and is way less. Seems like Marine Moto may have a tough time with this particular offering. Cheers!

[@MontanaDirtRoads]

The china bikes are stepping up their game,between this and the kove im actually impressed

[@CptSlow89]

I hope QJ will import their SVT model in USA so you can test it out.

[@GPz84]

That bike looks phenomenal, and I'm not an ADV guy.

[@wrightcycleworks]

I'm curious If I can use the spoked wheels on my Versys 😂

[@danketchpel7460]

Late to the game, but did you ever find out what caused the check engine light to come on? For me it would be more compelling if it was substantially lighter given it's displacement. It's only 20 lbs lighter than my 1250GS. It will be interesting to see how the dealership network plays out and what the market thinks of it a year or two later.

[@CptSlow89]

Are you going to test some chinese brands like QJ,Zontes and Benelli?

[@chrishart8548]

Is it almost the same weight as the new R1300GS ?

[@BigRockMoto]

yes

[@AA-wd2or]

You need to test Kove 450

[@skiphalbakken6499]

Great video. What is it with Italian design and putting the air filter under the tank?

[@chrispekel5709]

It's a cfmoto engine design and all of that is a copy of the er6 engine, so this is a Japanese idea here haha

[@PovilasPanavas]

at 8:10 what's with the paint of the front wheel? Seems like a lot of it is missing

[@PovilasPanavas]

never mind, at 10:44 I can see it's simply dirt

[@chiliboom6140]

I have a 2016 Africa Twin. From profile it looks pretty similar.

[@lestersmyth692]

Fine by me they are now making some relatively competitive bike’s which are well priced. Regards the Chinese stigma people have short memories regarding Germany, Austria, Italy and Japan whose products we now buy without question.

[@Ian-bq7gp]

I've had 2 Yamaha XT500. In South Australia I rode it off road a fair bit. It was heavy but I really loved it. Simple, reliable. How does this compare?

[@1vmxracer]

Great bikes along with the twin shock XL500S....and not really all that heavy. They would, in today's world be considered lightweight (under 350lbs) by ADV bike standards. I would LOVE to sport an XL500S for short 2-3 day adv/moto camping trips, but the only issue is I can't kick start one any long due to age and injury, but they are both excellent choices for an ADV bike.

[@yahoodlums]

Great looking bike!

[@philallen301]

So you need a 10mm, to get to the tool kit. 🤔

[@lucke1022]

No, you can access the tool kit from under the passenger seat.

[@brandonoliver5665]

Hey great video, love the content! Can you or anyone in the comments provide any opinions for Taureg 660 vs Vstorm 800DE?

[@alveyhighway]

This is a sweet looking bike. They should put some more suspension and 21/18 wheels and call it just the adventure

[@snupermoto723]

How long before your speeding ticket arrives in the mail?

[@ivok9846]

17:00 why does chain look like piece of rust?