![]() If you’re not already an MCN Member, why not try our Digital Membership for just 99p? If you already are, why not upgrade to MCN Premium and unlock more features, more insider news and views, and more curated discounts and prizes from brands to help you get more from the world of motorcycling, all year round. Using his 50-mile ride into the office as a test route, would Dan fall for the charms of these mini American dreams? And I even pass New York on the route – New York, Lincolnshire, that is.” I’m intrigued to live with these three mini-cruisers as my commute, which is basically flat and mainly straight-line riding in open roads from Coningsby to Peterborough, is ideal cruiser country. 198 likes, 14 comments - Timothy Antonucci (werked.jpg) on Instagram: 'Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. “As a shorter rider (of five-feet six-inches), I can certainly see the appeal of these bikes,” says Dan, “and at ten stone I’m also quite light so I can sympathise with those who find big-capacity cruisers a bit of a heavy handful. With this in mind, we charged MCN’s News Editor, Dan Sutherland, with the task of testing three A2-legal (or restrictable) middleweight cruisers. And not just to those on restricted licences, but to all kinds of ages and both male and female riders are happy to take the plunge. Over the pond, big is most certainly viewed as better but in the UK our more nadgery road network sees middleweight cruisers proving remarkably popular. Seriously, have you seen the size of a large Coke in American fast food outlets? You could swim in it! This size reduction can apply to cruisers, too. Because there’s still a conventional cable throttle it doesn’t have riding modes or traction control.McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Hershey’s bars – we do love a US import over here but by the time it reaches our shores, sometimes a small reduction in size is required to fit our less indulgent tastes. A 47bhp version is coming for A2 licence-holders, too. The delivery is pretty linear with a slight surge at 7000rpm. The parallel twin is torquey, free-revving and smooth, thanks to the single gear-driven counter balancer and hefty weights in the ends of the handlebars there’s no vibration at any revs, even when the needle heads towards the 10,500rpm rev limiter. There’s no trace of an abrupt pick-up from a closed throttle, just a smooth, liquid response which adds to the sense of controllability, and the X-Cape’s flawless gearshift and light clutch action make riding in traffic or off-road a breeze. The X-Cape pulls strongly from 2000rpm in sixth gear with smooth fuelling and zero transmission snatch. It's also made by Morini's Chinese neighbours CFMoto and acts as a stressed member in a robust-looking tubular steel frame. Though the Euro5-friendly 649cc, 59bhp parallel-twin engine needs to be revved for brisk progress, there’s a decent spread of torque. These work fairly well, but with so much weight to haul up, a bit of forward planning is advisable. ![]() There’s a similar caliper biting the 260mm rear. Wheelbase is a rangy 1470mm.Ĭlaimed wet weight is 232kg with the 18-litre tank at 90% capacity, which is pretty substantial compared to a full-tank Yamaha Ténéré 700 (205kg) or new Aprilia Tuareg 660 (204kg).Įlsewhere, the Bosch ABS can be switched off for trail riding and the Chinese-made 298mm steel front discs are gripped by twin-piston Brembo calipers. There’s 135mm of movement at the rear with the X-Cape’s aluminium swingarm working a direct-action KYB monoshock that’s adjustable for preload and rebound damping. Spec-wise, Marzocchi 50mm forks are fully adjustable, have 160mm of wheel travel and are set at a 25.5° rake, with a generous 123mm of trail. Though the 845mm seat height may be a little tall for some shorter riders, it’s perfect for my 5ft 10in and getting both of your feet flat on the ground at a standstill is no problem at all. The Morini is comfortable too, with adequate (if not exactly spacious) room for a passenger. It will appeal to dirt-riding novices or those wanting to explore gravel trails or farm tracks. It’s a genuine go-anywhere motorcycle and can tackle light off-road work without any difficulty. It’s slim and narrow just where it matters, making this a twin that thinks it’s a single in terms of its agile handling, and its carefully designed seat and flanks make it easy to ride standing up on the pegs. This means the weight isn’t really an issue, even on gravel tracks or light trails. Even with the taller of the two seat options (845mm or 820mm) you feel yourself nestling into the bike in a way that makes you feel at one with it, and it’s very well balanced. Where the Moto Morini X-Cape immediately stands out is when you climb aboard.
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