Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: Introduction
The all-out battle in the trail market seems to have no end. The arrival of Asian brands is making the market more than interesting and with more purchasing options than ever. This has a positive side: that there is a lot of supply and at a good price, but also a negative: Which one should I choose?
The rivals do not beat around the bush, and we find contenders such as the VOGE 625DSX (581 cc | 206 kg | 63 hp | €6,592), CFMOTO 700MT (693 cc | 240 kg | 67 hp | €6,195), Cyclone RX600 (550 cc | 227 kg | 59 hp | €5,290), QJ Motor SRT 600 SX (554 cc | 220 kg | 47 hp | €5,999) or Benelli TRK 702 X (698 cc | 235 kg | 70 hp | €6,790).
The Moto Morini X-Cape 700 is a great contender in this segment. It is undoubtedly among the most beautiful in terms of design and, there you can see the Italian hand, and it also fights with a starting price of 6,590 euros in the standard version and 6,990 with the top of the range, the Golden, which is the one we bring you here today.
But not only is it incredibly pretty, it comes quite well equipped: 50 mm Marzocchi inverted fork, Kayaba rear shock absorber, Brembo brakes and Bosch electronics, heated seat and grips, stand, front camera, TFT screen with connectivity, spoked wheels… It doesn’t lack anything.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: At the controls…
Ergonomics seems to me to be one of the great successes of the X-Cape 700. At 1.80 meters, the position is comfortable and natural. You are upright, well integrated into the motorcycle and with your knees well protected as well as your chest.
The seat, 835 mm from the ground, is very soft and comfortable. Designed to cover kilometers. The same goes for the passenger, who is rarely taken into account but has an important role in this type of motorcycle.
The structure of the rear footpegs has a design that could be improved since it interferes a little with the support of the rider’s foot, forcing the heel to be moved a little outwards. Sitting you practically don’t notice it, but in off-road driving you do.
I like its adjustable screen since it protects really well. Of course, if you are small in size, I recommend wearing it lowered since reality is distorted a little when seeing through it. It can be moved while moving, although it is preferable to do so when stopped. The handles are also adjustable, a little detail that is appreciated on a daily basis.
Finally, its 7-inch TFT screen stands out with Full connectivity and that also allows you to use the phone’s navigation through the Moto Morini connectivity system. We also have USB and USB-C sockets. Here you can access the bike’s settings and disable the ABS or traction control, for example.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: Give me gas!
The engine is one of the important changes compared to the previous X-Cape 650. We now have 693 cc and 70 HP, with a parallel twin developed by CFMOTO. It has an electronic configuration that makes it very very quiet at low speeds but changes character after 4,000 revolutions.
Between 4,000 and 10,000 rpm we have a fairly linear delivery, with good response and without finding power gaps. It’s an engine that I like more the more you stretch it. It also has a rather harsh sound, which gives it character.
And there is another thing that I really liked: the few vibrations it transmits. You can maintain a high pace on the highway without feeling fatigue in your hands or feet, something that does not happen in other rivals and that makes your teeth chatter above 120 km/h.
The cycle part has also surprised me, for the better. Its quality components do their job, especially the combination of its Marzocchi fork (175 mm) with its Kayaba rear shock (165 mm). They have a soft setting, designed for comfort. But that doesn’t make it ineffective. It allows you to ride really fast in curves, feeling the support well and providing confidence and without having bounces that dislodge you or make you feel “strange.” I especially like the feel of the shock absorber since even with a passenger it is difficult to find the dry stop that we have seen on other economical motorcycles that make it clear to you in any speed bump that the suspension is running out…
We must keep in mind that we are carrying a motorcycle that is bulky and not particularly light. We have a steel chassis, large components, 18 liters of tank and 213 kilos of dry weight. All of this is barely noticeable while driving, but we do have to anticipate the lines and know that we are moving on a large trail to always go with a margin of safety.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: Brembo brakes, but without looking for a brutal bite
To stop this X-Cape 700 we have a double disc and Brembo calipers that give us peace of mind at all times. We do not have radial pincers and nor a particularly aggressive bite. And honestly, for a motorcycle of this type I don’t miss it.
In a sports car I want very powerful braking from the first moment. On a trail I prefer to be able to apply the brakes well, especially when we leave the asphalt.
Here we have enough power to stop the bike, but the braking is progressive and allows us to work well with the lever. It seems like a pretty good choice to me.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: Fine shifting
The change works well too. It is precise and a pleasure to play with its 6 gears. I assure you that I have given it a lot of effort and traveled several hundred km and I have not found any faults or dead spots between gears. However, clutch penalizes. The lever is quite hard and the drive feels a bit old. On the road it is not a problem, but if you use the motorcycle a lot in the city, after a while it can get tiring. That way you can develop a Popeye-type left forearm.
Test Moto Morini X-Cape 700: And when the asphalt runs out…
This Moto Morini is also going to give us joy. The standing position is good. The screen is quite far away and does not bother us when we lean forward. Maybe I would place the handlebars a little further forward, but the position is comfortable enough for riding tracks, which is its purpose. And here it is important to make one thing clear: this is not an enduro motorcycle. It is designed for traveling and to take routes on roads without too many complications.
The X-Cape 700 enters the field quite confidently, as long as we are clear about where its limits are. We have already talked about its dimensions and weight, but on tracks it gives a lot of confidence. In addition, it allows you to disconnect the electronics (ABS and TCS), a very appreciated detail for off-road lovers.
I think the distribution of use of this motorcycle is quite clear: approximately 70% road and 30% countryside. And it seems like a very logical proportion for a trail like this. It is not a motorcycle to get you into trouble. It is designed for traveling, cornering, going off-road and enjoying a track without too many complications.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 test: Is the Golden worth it?
The Golden version adds some interesting elements compared to the standard one. We have the dashcam, heated seat and grips, center stand, disconnectable traction control and spoked wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires.
The difference is 400 euros.
If you are going to use the motorcycle to travel and cover kilometers throughout the year, I think those 400 euros make a lot of sense. Also if you use it in winter to, for example, go to work, where you will appreciate the extra comfort of warmth. If you are looking for a simpler motorcycle and do not need that equipment, the standard version already offers a very good price-product ratio.
