Moto Morini’s X-Cape 700 Gold Edition brings Italian flair and premium features to the mid-size adventure bike scene, blending style with off-road capability.
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When you think of mid-sized adventure bikes under $10K, the usual suspects show up in your mental garage: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki. But there’s a new (old) name barging into the conversation: Moto Morini, and it’s bringing some golden flair to the party.
The Italian-rooted, Chinese-backed brand is betting big on its X-Cape 700 Gold Edition, a bike that pairs real off-road capability with unexpected luxury, without the premium price tag. In a world dominated by conservative design and “more of the same,” this machine dares to be both bold and functional.
Old Soul, New Edge
Moto Morini isn’t a rookie brand trying to ride the ADV wave. Founded in 1937 in Bologna and once known for its iconic V-twins, the company has weathered decades of ups and downs, only to rise again under the wing of China’s Zhongneng Vehicle Group. Now headquartered in Milan, Morini has rebooted its identity with bikes that combine Italian design instincts with accessible, global appeal.
Enter the X-Cape 700 Gold Edition, a mid-sized adventure tourer that shares its DNA with the original X-Cape 700—but with a glow-up.
Heart of a Contender
Underneath the styling flourishes lies a 693cc parallel-twin engine sourced from CFMoto. It’s essentially a reimagined Kawasaki 650 twin, and that’s not a bad thing. It delivers smooth, approachable power, ideal for ADV newcomers and seasoned riders alike.
The chassis is balanced by a serious suspension setup: a beefy 50mm Marzocchi inverted fork up front and a Kayaba monoshock out back. Add in Brembo brakes, Bosch ABS, and a 19-inch front wheel, and you’ve got a bike ready to tackle both asphalt and gravel.
Gold Standard Upgrades
The Gold Edition is more than a paint job. It comes loaded with:
- Tubeless spoked wheels with gold anodised rims (yes, they turn heads)
- Heated grips and a heated seat (luxury-level comfort)
- Built-in dashcam and a full 7-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity
- Real traction control and a centre stand (huge win for off-road practicality)
This isn’t a bare-bones ADV bike. It’s what happens when creature comforts meet dirt-track DNA. Sure, you may not need a heated seat while standing on the pegs, but on chilly mornings or wet commutes? It suddenly makes sense.
Adventure-Ready, But Street-Savvy
Let’s be real: most adventure bikes spend 80% of their life on pavement. The X-Cape 700 Gold Edition embraces this reality. It’s built to look rugged, handle fire roads, and still feel civilised on the highway. It’s not trying to out-Ténéré the Ténéré; it’s carving its niche—something like urban ADV chic.
The plush seat, wide bars, and surprisingly refined ride quality make it more of a road-biased all-rounder than a Dakar-ready desert beast. And that’s exactly the point.
Affordable Excellence
Priced at €7,940 in Europe (about RM40,300), the X-Cape 700 Gold Edition brings a level of polish and equipment you’d normally associate with bikes well north of $10,000. Until it officially hits U.S. shores, American riders can test the waters with the slightly smaller X-Cape 650, retailing at $7,999.
Final Take on the X-Cape 700 Gold Edition
The Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Gold Edition is for the rider who wants something different. Something that doesn’t blend in at bike nights. A machine that offers just enough edge to keep things exciting, while still delivering on reliability and real-world value.
It may not be the most famous ADV bike on the lot, but it just might be the most interesting.
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