Ever since Moto Morini returned to the shores of North America, the X-Cape 650 has been their biggest seller. It’s the right bike at the right time—a good-looking, affordable adventure bike with sufficient performance for the job and the same electronic features that its much-more-expensive counterparts are charging big bucks for. And now, Moto Morini is offering the X-Cape SE, an upgraded-for-adventure travel version of the bike.
This is a common ploy with the OEMs. BMW probably pioneered the practice, with the Paris-Dakar version of the GS lineup, which morphed into the GSA series. Honda has its Adventure Sports version of the Africa Twin, and so on.
In the case of the X-Cape, here’s what you get with the SE model:
For riders ready to hit the road, the X-Cape SE comes equipped with an easily detachable 3-piece set of lightweight, durable aluminum luggage, providing ample storage space for essentials. Features such as a larger skid plate, engine wrap drop bars, and strong composite handguards offer added protection and comfort no matter the terrain.
Otherwise, it’s the same machine as the standard X-Cape: a 650 parallel twin with eight-valve head and liquid cooling gives the bike about 60 hp and 41 lb-ft of torque. Curb weight is about 226 kg. Adjustable suspension comes standard (Marzocchi fork, KYB shock), and Brembo brakes as well as switchable ABS. Tubeless tires also come stock. The dual-beam headlight is LED, and a 7-inch TFT screen also comes from the factory.
The SE’s add-ons will be especially welcome when you consider the X-Cape is not a model like the KLR or DR650 or Tenere 700, with all sorts of aftermarket support. Having the bike come with accessories pre-installed doesn’t just save the rider the hassle of installing them. It also saves them the hassle of tracking the farkles down in the first place.
Of course, for now, you’ll also have to look hard to find any Moto Morini models in Canada, as they’re still working on setting up a dealer network here. We do expect to see them sooner or later, though.
