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MOTO MORINI XCAPE ADVENTURE BIKE: FULL TEST

You gotta admit, Italians perceive attractive. The Moto Morini X-Cape is a bike that’s positively electrical with intercourse attraction— from its expensive-looking end to its Ferrari Red colour. The irony is that the X-Cape isn’t costly or Italian. This is an entry-level journey bike that’s manufactured in China. What units it other than the opposite Asian bikes that appear to materialize on a weekly schedule is that its origin, idea and heritage come from Milan. It was merely put collectively elsewhere.

The X-Cape we examined is a 2023 mannequin, which might nonetheless be had with a $1,000 low cost. That brings the value to $6,999.

THE MORINI IN YOU

If you don’t know what a Moto Morini is, that’s forgivable. It’s an Italian model that was a really huge deal in Europe again within the day, however by no means had a lot of a U.S. presence. They had been the very definition of unique, with bikes like 350 and 500cc V-twins. In the late ’80s, Moto Morini turned part of the Cagiva group, together with Husqvarna, Ducati and MV Agusta. Subsequently, it went by means of various possession modifications to ultimately find yourself as a part of an Asian funding group known as Zhongneng. Now, the corporate maintains its design headquarters in Milan whereas manufacturing is in China. How a lot is Italian and the way a lot is Chinese? Hard to say. The motor itself has been seen elsewhere. It’s made by CFMoto and is alleged to be impressed by—if not a replica of—a Kawasaki 650. It’s a 649cc twin with offset crank pins. It has a Bosch fuel-injection system and a 6-speed gearbox. The chassis and styling are what make the Morini particular; it wouldn’t look misplaced in a Ducati dealership. The body is metal with a trellis format and an aluminum swingarm. The worth is your first huge clue that it’s no Ducati.

You can inform that there’s important Italian affect within the X-Cape. This is a motorcycle designed by individuals who experience. You can purchase the bike in colours apart from pink, however why?

The X-Cape has a urged retail worth of $7,999. Right now there’s a deal for $1,000 off. That places the Morini in the identical vary as a Kawasaki KLR650, and it’s way more of a bike. It has first-rate parts—Brembo triple disc brakes, a totally adjustable Marzocchi fork and a KYB shock. The 17-/19-inch wheel combo has spoked rims with double partitions that may settle for tubeless tires. The tires themselves are Pirelli Scorpion Rally semi-knobs with wonderful off-road functionality. The cockpit has a 7-inch pill as its main instrument, together with two USB ports and an adjustable windscreen. Our bike had an adjunct aluminum skid plate.

RIDE SOMEWHERE

This is a motorcycle that wants a vacation spot; you possibly can’t simply exit on a lunch experience with one thing just like the X-Cape. It deserves an actual journey, like a La Paz run or not less than a Backroads Discovery Route. On the street, it’s snug for lengthy hauls. The seat and driving place are unfold out, and sixth gear is tall sufficient to permit low revs at freeway velocity.

When you’re taking the bike off-road, it’s a gasoline. The energy is easy and seamless. It’s not essentially the most highly effective journey bike. It makes about 60 horsepower, which is a lot within the filth. Right now, the journey world is filled with preposterously highly effective bikes that want traction management and numerous experience modes simply to be manageable. The X-Cape occupies that center floor the place subtle driving aids aren’t particularly helpful. It nonetheless makes sufficient energy to stroll away from KLR650s and Japanese 600cc dual-sport bikes with ease, but it surely gained’t problem a KTM 690 Enduro or a Husky 701. All of these bikes are singles, in fact, and weigh significantly much less.

The motor is manufactured by CF Moto. Our bike had an adjunct aluminum skid plate that sells for $220.

In the world of twins, the one two bikes we’ve examined on this vary are the Suzuki V-Strom 650 and the Benelli TRK502. The Suzuki has barely extra energy than the Morini, which has noticeably greater than the Benelli. Both the Suzuki and the Benelli are way more street-oriented than the X-Cape. The Morini displays some actual off-road engineering. The format lets you stand simply, and the suspension isn’t half unhealthy. It feels fairly soft at low speeds, though it’s arrange somewhat too mushy for a quick tempo. It does have a sure vary of adjustability, way over you’d count on for a motorcycle on this worth vary. Overall, it handles surprisingly effectively. The entrance finish sticks, and the rear finish slides easily and predictably. The indisputable fact that it comes with wonderful off-road tires is superior. Like most journey bikes, it’s a must to stand as much as weight the entrance wheel correctly, however even if you happen to don’t, good rubber makes a really huge distinction.

At that worth, you gotta quit one thing. In this case, the digital bundle is naked bones. It has handlebar controls that can help you choose an off-road mode, but it surely does little apart from provide you with a cool knobby-tire graphic on the TFT show. There’s no modification to the facility supply or suspension. You can disable the rear-wheel anti-lock brake system in that mode, however it’s a must to bear in mind to do it once more each time you begin the bike.

We will say that the Morini’s ABS isn’t essentially a nasty factor within the filth. It’s not that invasive. Still, most skilled off-road riders don’t like something between them and the rear brake. Front-wheel ABS is all the time on, and that’s okay with us.

There are just a few different flies within the Morini ointment. The Bosch EFI mapping isn’t good. On downhills, the throttle response could be jerky, plus there’s somewhat popping. The cable clutch could be spongy, and there’s somewhat engine vibration that works its manner up by means of the bars. On the flip aspect, the hand controls and footpegs are wonderful. The consideration to element is surprisingly good in all places.

the morini uses the morini uses

COVERING GROUND

The biggest half concerning the X-Cape is that it doesn’t scare you, bodily or financially. The apparent flaw with high-dollar journey bikes is that you just don’t wish to push the sting—not with a fats, hungry fee guide at dwelling. The X-Cape sells for the value of a 125 motocross bike, so you possibly can afford to get somewhat unfastened. The aforementioned $1,000 off will most likely stay in place till all of the 2023 fashions are bought out. The firm offers you the choice of taking that low cost or a baggage set, which usually retails for $1,480. The baggage set consists of superbly made aluminum saddlebags with a high case, which is a simple alternative for anybody who desires to make use of the Morini for journey. There’s little or no left other than selecting when, the place and the way far to go.

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BETE 500RS DUAL-SPORT FIRST RIDE: THE WRAP

Rodney Smith personally delivered our 2024 Beta 500RS a few weeks in the past. You gotta find it irresistible when a five-time GNCC champion drops by, arms you the keys to one of many best dual-sport bikes on earth and simply says “Have fun.”

The Beta 500RS is a barely authorized dual-sport.

We’ve been doing our greatest. The Beta is an unimaginable bike. It’s the least bottled up of the totally licensed 500cc dual-sports–even the KTM and Husky 500s can’t sustain. Two years in the past, Tom Webb beloved the bike a lot that he bought one for himself and he nonetheless prefers using it over the various take a look at bikes he has out there. This yr, there aren’t many modifications for the Beta dual-sport line. The most noticeable one is a change within the identify. It’s now referred to as the 500RS slightly than the 500RR. For 2024, the “RR” suffix refers back to the dirt-only four-stroke fashions in Beta’s line up. Those haven’t been out there for just a few years, and that takes a bit of stress off the street-legal fashions. It doesn’t must serve two totally different masters. It does, nonetheless, make it tough for Beta sellers to maintain all of the fashions on the showroom ground. As prior to now, there are 4 dual-sport bikes that look nearly equivalent. The 500 shares its chassis and most of its motor with a 430, a 390 and a 350. When you ask Beta officers why they don’t skinny down the hurd, they are saying it’s like attempting to resolve which of your kids you like essentially the most.

The Beta 500RS sells for $11,799. Our take a look at bike is inventory other than the Seat Concepts tall saddle.

The extra mechanically oriented modifications for 2024 embody shaped radiators to extend the turning sweep from lock to lock, a softer seat, a brand new entrance brake hose, new fork settings, new graphics and a redesigned taillight/license-plate holder. The 500RS has a double overhead cam motor with a six-speed gearbox. The suspension is by Sachs, the brakes are Nissin and the tires on our take a look at bike are Maxxis. All RS fashions embody the Trail Tech Voyager GPS unit with the flexibility to add and obtain using routes. Other options embody a visit meter, a speedo, a tach, engine temp, outdoors temp and a voltmeter.
This is among the only a few dual-sport bikes that doesn’t want something. Most homeowners of Austrian dual-sport bikes finally go in search of extra energy, and that may be tough. It’s not like you possibly can simply set up a pipe and go racing. The mapping on all the road authorized bikes could be very lean and the CPU is meant to be tamper-proof. We know numerous riders who’ve managed to jail break their ignition methods, however the level is that you just don’t have to try this with the Beta. Apparently, Beta is keen to fly nearer to the solar with the inventory emission settings. The bike can also be a bit of louder than different dual-sport bikes, however nonetheless very quiet by filth bike requirements.

Riding it is rather like using an actual filth bike. It’s fairly mild (255 kilos with out gasoline on our scale) and fairly highly effective. You nonetheless have to know that this can be a path bike not a 450 race bike. You can go hill-climbing with the boys and be shamed, however should you suppose you’re going to go to a motocross monitor, you’ll run out of steam shortly. Likewise, the suspension could be very path oriented. It’s nice for rocky trails however could be very delicate and can wallow and backside should you get carried away. The brakes are wonderful and it has a brilliant mild clutch pull. We additionally love all of the detailing. The mirrors fold out of your means, it has respectable handguards and the brand new license plate bracket nonetheless hasn’t gotten sucked into the rear wheel.

If you’re a type of guys who has to switch every little thing he owns, suspension ought to be the primary merchandise on the checklist. Put motor work in third or fourth place. We may have the Beta facet by facet with the brand new KTM 500EXC very quickly and that ought to be a really attention-grabbing comparability. The full take a look at will seem within the March, Buyer’s Guide print version of Dirt Bike.

MASON KLEIN & KOVE

Mason Klein and his father/chief mechanic Larry.

Mason Klein is deep in Dakar coaching. The rally begins on January 5 and can happen in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time. Mason might be formally supported by Chinese producer Kove, which is a really massive step for each events. This might be Mason’s first time on a manufacturing facility bike and the primary time that Kove has had a top-5 rider. We have positively been having fun with our Kove test bike, which you can read about here.

The Dakar route for 2024.


THE CASELLI CUP

Each yr presently we choose the finalists for the Caselli Cup, in any other case often known as America’s Top Off-road racers. This is a snapshot view of the perfect riders going into the brand new season. The checklist might be dropped on January 1, 2024. Here are the riders being thought of and what they’ve achieved within the earlier season. Who are you pulling for? drop us a line at [email protected].

GNCC Overall
1 CRAIG DELONG — 3 wins–246 factors
2 STEWARD BAYLOR JR — 2 wins–235
3 BENJAMIN KELLEY — 2 wins–215
4 JORDAN ASHBURN — 1 win–201
5 RICKY RUSSELL — 1 win–175
6 GRANT BAYLOR — 1 win–173
7 JOSH STRANG — 1 win–170
8 JONATHAN GIRROIR — 1 win–145
9 ANGUS RIORDAN — XC2 –Best end seventh o/a–135
10 LIAM DRAPER — XC2 — Best end 4th o/a–131
11 CODY BARNES — Best end fifth–121
12 RUY BARBOSA — Best end seventh–104
13 RYDER LAFFERTY — Best end fifth–91
14 MICHAEL WITKOWSKI Best end third–84
15 MASON SEMMENS –Best end seventh–67
16 EVAN SMITH — Best end eighth–55
17 TREVOR BOLLINGER — Best end sixth–50
18 GRANT DAVIS — Best end ninth–49
19 LYNDON SNODGRASS — Best end eighth–47
20 JONATHAN JOHNSON — Best end 7–42

GNCC XC2
1 LIAM DRAPER — 3 wins
2 ANGUS RIORDAN — 2 wins
3 CODY J BARNES — 1 win
4 RUY BARBOSA — 2 wins
5 MASON SEMMENS — greatest end 2nd

GNCC XCW

1 RACHAEL ARCHER 9 wins
2 KORIE STEEDE 3 wins
3 RACHEL GUTISH

NGPC 450 Pro
1 DANTE OLIVEIRA –6 win– 232
2 RYAN SURRATT — 2 wins–175
3 AUSTIN WALTON — 2 2nds–167
4 COLE MARTINEZ — 1 win–158
5 JUSTIN HOEFT — 2 2nds–140
6 MATEO OLIVEIRA — 1 third–118
7 ZACH BELL –1 third–112
8 TYLER LYNN — 1 third–109
9 DALTON SHIREY — 1 4th–107
10 GIACOMO REDONDI — 3 seventh–104
11 TALLON LA FOUNTAINE — 1 third–88
12 TREVOR STEWART — 3 fifth–74
13 DARE DEMARTILE — 1 2nd–62

NGPC Pro2
1 KADE TINKLER-WALKER 6 wins
2 JACK SIMPSON 1 win
3 COLTON AECK 1 win
4 JP ALVAREZ 1 win
5 KAI AIELLO 1 second
6 COLE ZELLER 2 5ths
7 THOMAS DUNN 1 fifth
8 COLLIER MARTINEZ 1 4th
9 CLAY HENGEVELD 2 eighth
10 CODY SIMPSON

National Enduro Overall
1 Grant Baylor — 3 wins — 227
2 Steward Baylor Jr — 4 wins — 200
3 Josh Toth — 1 win — 194
4 Craig Delong — 1 win –166
5 Ryder Lafferty — Best end 2nds –154
6 Ricky Russell — Best end 2nd — 145
7 Liam Draper Pro2 — Best end 2nd o/a– 126
8 Thorn Devlin Pro2 — Best end sixth o/a — 83
9 Evan Smith — Best end fifth — 72
10 Nathaniel Tasha Pro2 — Best end eighth o/a –24

National Enduro Pro2
1 Liam Draper — 4 wins
2 Thorn Devlin — 4 wins
3 Nathaniel Tasha — Best end 2nds
4 Jonathan Johnson — Best end 2nds
5 Will Sievenpiper — Best end 2nd
6 Grant Davis — Best end 2nd
7 Steve Nicholas III — Best end 3rds
8 Brody Johnson — Best end seventh
9 Mike Witkowski — Best end 2nd
10 Vincent Smith — Best end eighth

WORCS PRO 450
1 JUSTIN HOEFT — 3 wins
2 MATEO OLIVEIRA — 2 wins
3 TYLER LYNN — 2 wins
4 ZACH BELL — Best end 2nd
5 TALLON LAFOUNTAINE –1 win
6 COLE MARTINEZ –1 win
7 TREVOR STEWART — Best end third
8 DARE DEMARTILE — Best end 2nd
9 QUENTIN PAHI — Best end eighth
10 KADE WALKER Best end fifth
12 Giacomo Redoni
16 Dalton Shirey

WORCS PRO 250
1 JACK SIMPSON 3 wins 210
2 JAKE ALVAREZ 1 win 145
3 COLTON AECK — Best end 2nd 143
4 KAI AIELLO — Best end 2nd 134
5 THOMAS DUNN — Best end third 127

AMA Hare & Hound
1 Dalton Shirey — 5 wins — 171
2 Zane Roberts — 117
3 Carter Klein — 100
4 Clayton Roberts — 93
5 Joseph Wasson — 82
6 Preston Campbell — 77
7 Nic Colangeli — 56
8 Tyler Lynn — 1 win — 55
9 Axel Pearson — 43
10 Corbin Mcpherson — 42

AMA Hard Enduros
1 TRYSTAN HART 6 wins 195
2 CODY WEBB 4 2nd locations 150
3 RYDER LEBLOND 2 2nd locations 136
4 WILL RIORDAN 112
5 COLTON HAAKER 99
6 BRANDEN PETRIE 80
7 JAMES FLYNN 70
8 LOGAN BOLOPUE 54
9 COOPER ABBOTT 54
10 QUINN WENTZEL 53

ENDUROCROSS
1 TRYSTAN HART -3 wins
2 JONNY WALKER -2 wins
3 COLTON HAAKER -1 win
4 CODY WEBB
5 RYDER LEBLOND
6 COOPER ABBOTT
7 MAX GERSTON
8 WILL RIORDAN
9 TADDY BLAZUSIAK
10 DOMINIK OLSZOWY

AMA West Hare Scrambles
1 Dante Oliveria –5 wins–171
2 Giacomo Redondi –1 win– 146
3 Zane Roberts — 112
4 Joseph Wasson — 96
5 Jaden Dahners — 85
6 Tyler Vore — 85
7 Layton Smail — 83
8 Mason Ottersberg — 76
9 Austin Walton — 68
10 Ryder Thomaselli — 57

FULL GAS SPRINT ENDURO
1 Layne Michael — 3 wins — 161
2 Joshua Strang — 3 wins — 158
3 Tyler Medaglia — 42
4 Ricky Russell — 39
5 Michael McLean — 32
6 Mike Witkowski — 25
7 Lyndon Snodgrass — 25
8 Trevor Bollinger — 21
9 Steward Baylor — 18
10 Ben Nelko — 18

BITD
1 Hayden Hintz — 233
2 Danny Cooper — 78
3 Mason Klein — 78
4 Jesse Canepa — 75
5 Mike Baxter — 73
6 David Broderick v42
7 Chris Brown — 41

US Sprint Enduro
1 JOSH TOTH — 411
2 LAYNE MICHAEL — 399
3 LIAM DRAPER — 315

US Sprint Enduro 250 Class
1 Cody Barnes — 470
2 Thorn Devlin — 360
3 Angus Riordan — 357

JDAY
1 Chris Canning — 281
2 Brandon Gregoire — 260
3 Simon Johnson — 254
4 Gavin Simon — 236
5 Brayden Nolette — 216
13 Ben Kelley — 75
29 Ricky Russell — 25
29 Stewart Baylor — 25
32 Josh Toth — 22

ISDE Trophy Scratch
3 Dante Oliveira E2 — 6′ 08. 44
4 Taylor Robert E2 — 7′ 19. 64
5 Johnny Girroir E2 — 8′ 14. 36
9 Cole Martinez E2 — 11′ 28. 91
14 Mateo Oliveira E2 — 13′ 33. 87
29 Grant Davis E1 — 22′ 53. 44
34 Kai Aiello E2 — 26′ 17. 19
51 Brandy Richards E1 — 42′ 46. 16
64 Korie Steede E1 — 59′ 15. 22
68 Rachel Gutish E2 — 1:03′ 04. 51

ISDE Club Scratch
1 Josh Toth c2 chief
2 Preston Campbell c2 — 10′ 59. 14
3 Jaden Dahners c1 — 12′ 58. 49
4 Austin Serpa c2 — 14′ 55. 73
5 Axel Pearson c2 — 15′ 19. 27
8 Devlin Thorn c2 — 17′ 04. 61
10 Jhak Walker c1 — 19′ 26. 42
11 Hunter Smith c2 — 19′ 51. 37
12 Ryan Surratt c2 — 19′ 56. 62
17 Trevor Maley c1 — 25′ 13. 17
18 Nathan Ferderer c2 — 25′ 40. 96
23 Chase Bright c1 — 30′ 25. 13
26 Jackson Davis c2 — 34′ 54. 07
38 John Beal c1 — 44′ 21. 26
41 Kyle Tichenor c2 — 45′ 22. 07
52 Ava Silvestri c1 — 54′ 46. 63
71 Rick Emerson c3 — 1:09′ 17. 75
155 Jeremy Shoning c2 — 7:36′ 10.10 — ret
162 Nolan Cate c1 — 9:35′ 38.17 — ret
164 Zachary Toth c2 — 9:37′ 10. 36 — ret
172 Cade Henderson c1 — 11:41′ 52. 35 — ret

World Rally Standings
9 Ricky Brabec
10 Skyler Howes
14 Mason Klein

See you subsequent yr!

–Ron Lawson