This was a much better review then other motorcycle channels. Thanks.

I’ve had my x cape for fourteen months I’ve done eight thousand miles and had no problem’s other than usb socket shorted out , I would have ridden more miles in time I’ve had but I four bikes . I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good solid bike . You can take off road but as you said it has its limits. Ps I live the UK and it is ridden in the wet a lot!!

This bike was a MUCH better bike than I was expecting.

Thanks for this review Bret, I’ve owned an X-Cape for around 18 months now and mostly use it on roads, as you say that is where it is most competent and what it was designed for. I agree however that it’s pretty competent at handling non-technical tracks.

Good honest review, and the folks at Sabatino Moto in St. Johns must appreciate being featured in the video.😎

I need to see it in person. Thanks for the review!

Very thorough and useful review. Thank you!

More bikes, more affordable bikes, and more approachable bikes are a good thing. I'm looking forward to the new 450's that debuted at EICMA this year, and I especially look forward to seeing Japan and Europe's response in the coming years. All in all, it's a great time to be a rider. Thanks for the great content.

Backlit controls at this price point? Crazy how many premium bikes don't have that.

Great review. Real life info. Please do more reviews.

The Best XCape review!

Great review! Keep ‘em coming. Looking forward to reviews on the new Himalaya.

The best review. I've watched almost all reviews in languages I don't even understand🤣 but this is by far the best one. Covered every single detail!

Truly appreciate your time and efforts to ride, push and fall off the bike for this 2000 mile review!

Great review, thanks!

Thanks for the good review and specially for the adjustments for the fork. Such information I misst in the German reviews. Best regards from Germany.

Best review I've seen of te X-Cape 650. Not only praising but also critical!

You may massacre the pronunciation of them Eyetalian bits and pieces, but I'll take it all because the review is so damn good! Comprehensive, illustrative, informative and very, very useful. Thank you!

Great review Bret. You didn't sugarcoat the details of the bike. It has so many features that it's hard to remember them all. I love that it has tubeless Akront wheels and TPMS (tire pressure monitor system). And a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty. Now for $1000 Off ($7,299) or you can choose their Free 3-piece hard case luggage set worth $1480. This brand is serious.

Thanks Bret, really enjoyed having a look at that machine. I’m with you on the whole imbalanced look with mufflers and luggage. Those mufflers that hang out in the breeze on super long mounting brackets which are prone to damage really annoy me. It’s good to see some more options in the market. Reliability is the key issue though!😁👍

That was an awesome review. I'm keeping my Tenere but damn I'm glad to see all the competition in this space and trusted offroad riders taking the time to review these new bikes.

This is the best video review of the X-Cape that I've seen so far, truly honest as it puts it to the test regardless of the rumors about its Chinese origin.However let me point out that the engine and the chassis are obviously manufactured in China, but the motorcycle has been entirely designed, engineered, and tested by italian Engineer Massimo Gustato in Trivolzio, near Milan, where the Morini headquarters is located.

Great job on the review!

Very god fedback, honest review, other channels around the world are starting to sound as advertisers in order just to get views instead of informing and research . Thank you.

Thanks Bret,perfect review.

Omg Briceburg Bridge right off the Merced River! So cool to recognize that spot in your video!

The reliability issues show it's still an Italian bike. 😉 A year ago, I was browsing for my first bike. I looked at some of the Chinese models. Although they look good, the thing that holds me back the most is the retail value in a few years. So I bought a used V-Strom 650. Brilliant bike!

I don't see that its moderate off-road skills is a real drawback; most of us only want to do sane off pavement anyway. We can go beyond the asphalt, and places where a car won't go. Beating ourselves at high speed on rocks is limited in its appeal. Kind of funny to question the reliability of the bike, when there are KTM's in this world. Anyhow, thanks for a complete and honest review; really helpful. Having more choices, esp at more gently prices, is a good thing.

Nice review. Thanks.

An excellent review. Saw one in real life at Cycle Gear and it's impressive. The price is excellent and it doesn't chase anyone away.

This is the best review I've seen for this motorcycle, I hope you will do the same for the Moto Morini 1200 cc, it's coming soon as I saw the announcements, greetings and thanks.

Great review,, thank you,,

I like the Morini and CF Moto stuff, quite a bit of it here, works well and no mechanical issues, even on the farm.

Great review Bret! Thank you for sharing this info on not so popular bikes. Not everyone can or want to afford BMW 😂

At last ! Someone else that dislikes inbalanced looking luggage ! Great bike had 1 nearly 2 years and still impressed 👍🏻

I like your videos..i am expecting for more.. good job.

Brilliant, honest, unbiased, and comprehensive review! If only we had more of these at this level. I was also highly impressed with the parts review for manufacturers from other countries whilst you were targeting the common misconception of the crap Chinese bike. If only half of the motorcycle population had any common sense, they would understand that most of our bikes have many parts sourced or made in multiple countries and would stop regurgitating the same foolish quote. I truly respect your no-nonsense logical approach to this. Keep up the good wor, and God bless. 👍🏿

Great real world review. Now that traditional brands are going nuts with their prices… which are only a starting point once you dig into their accessories catalogs, this new crop of Chinese and Indian bikes are an attractive solution costing half or even less than their established brands equivalents. As an amateur rider i am quite happy to own 2 or 3 Chinese/indian motorcycles for the price of one european one.

i knew you was going to release an unbiased review of the Morini Bret ... Well done... Now you need to test te new Himalayan 450 for us... i am really looking forward to see how that one is working on your hands ... Take care from Italy

I like your unbiased view. As much as I like my KTM And BMW I have ridden two of the ‘other bikes’ and really enjoyed them. I would consider this one to add to my stable for sure. I appreciate your thoughts and views. (I spotted you at the Mexican Restaurant in Packwood WA and thought you were my size and weight)

The objectivity and neutrality of the review is greatly appreciated. Thank you. A bike suitable for soft-medium trails and traveling comfortably on all types of roads, with good quality and nice details. I can also add that the bike reaches 124 mil/hour...🤭if you like some speed.

1.48 - "There is a lot of people talking crap about this motorcycle who have never seen it, who have never ridden it because its owned by a Chinese parent company and because the final assembly and manufacture is in China"....nailed it Brett!! Like CF Moto, Kove and other Chinese brands, Moto Morini get much maligned simply because they are not made in the US or Japan by 'tards who have never even thrown a leg over these brands. Open your eyes peeps, Chinese manufacture has come a long way in a very short time and they should all be considered on their merits!

I rode it, and I thought you did a really good job of nailing what the bike is for naturally all the on road stuff. The only thing that I thought was missing was the mid range. It really didn’t have any.

good job! at the price and some of it's features it has to be attracting attention.

Thanks, Brett! Very in-depth review!

Thank you for the very balanced review. Hopefully it can help lessen some of the stigma of these Chinese built bikes. It seems bikes like this one and others from Benelli (TRK502) and some of the CFMoto bikes (650 Adventura and Ibex800) will allow more people to get out to ride and seek adventures. Most Adv bike riders just do simple unpaved surfaces when not on pavement. These bikes are all good enough for that and highway travel with some luggage. More people riding is good for our community. The traditional bike makers are pricing many of us out of riding.

Good, real-world review thanks. This one was on my list but ended up with the more road-biased Yammy Tracer 700.

One nice thing about the standard idiot lights is that they may still work if the TFT blanks out. I have a Guzzi V85TT with a small TFT and a bazillion ‘idiota’ lights.

I agree 100% on having a balanced set of luggage. Having one side shifted over or a cutout is so… awkward.

I want one!

Would love to see what they learn from this and implement in the next generation or a true dual sport

Great review love it. I will give it a look but somehow my head is saying a V Strom 650 is worth the extra 1k (pricing here puts them close)… let’s see!

Luggage is CW Motech, not SW. One thing they missed and what annoys me is there's no "full" mark on the fuel gauge, or "hot" mark on the temp gauge. You dont know when you're at half a tank of fuel. Also, a little lubrication in the screen knob and it's much easier to turn. I can now adjust it one handed in gloves while riding. I also like the thumb perch on the screen guide to pull the screen up one handed.

Oh it's kind of a cool touch how the tachometer is an offroad tire/wheel

Thanks for your unideological review. China is catching up, when will they start overtaking? A friend rides a Voge 650 single and after the Benelli TRK 502 changed over to the new TRK 702 X. We did some trail rides together. Nice bike, great price. I'm keen on the Kove 450 Rally once it comes over to the EU (just passed Euro 5 homologation needed for plating, unless you're Anglish or American). Happy days, Günter/Nürnberg

I just bought one from Sabatino, PDX!!

I hope you do Benelli TRK range next!

I have not been hands on with this bike, but this seems like a thorough and fair review. Being a bit vain myself, I don't think this is a bike for me.

There is a "recall" in Europe for the 10 cm fuel tube. That is why your moto does not start. Here in Greece, if you report the problem to a dealer, they change it free of charge. That is why the recall was on quotes. I do have a X-Cape, I got a Seiemezzo, but they are the same regarding this issue.

Wow…just to many issues to deal with yet. I’ll keep my CB500X but thanks for the info! 14:43

Thanks for an honest review. There may come a day when Chinese bikes are worth a look for people who ride a lot. But not today. Thanks again.

Thorough.

Was that washout on the Old Coulterville rd out of Briceburg? I’ve driven it before and thought it a great moto route. Looks like it must have taken a beating this winter.

Hi! How much is there a subtle resonance in the handlebars, seat, footrest that can be felt in the limbs and cause numbness after a long stage? Thanks in advance for your answer!

I appreciate your review. How was the fuel consumption?

Hi! Any chance you review the cf 800 mt?

I love it so iv got one its brill england

Just saw them at dealership last Saturday. They look very nice and not cheap looking at all. I especially liked the look of scrambler model. Now, that said, their price tag is not cheap at all. You are looking at almost $10k on the road in Texas. I personally would prefer to pay another couple grand for Versys 650 (which I loved in demo earlier this year) or, maybe Strom which ergonomically feels lil too big for me. There are just too many unknowns at this point but, I feel like that for any bike brand other than Japanese big four.

I hope you get a chance to review the new 2024 KTM 790 Adventure

As someone that has an Enduro/dual sport from China, as well as other bikes in the barn, I mostly do touring, cruising and light trail work.... I totally be happy buying this bike. I think an argument could be made for an older comparable mainstream brand, but then in buying a used bike you have all of the unknowns that are introduced with that. it would be interesting to take a closer look at that front crash bar mount. I bet something could easily quickly be fabricated to solidify that so that it doesn’t have so much movement. I wonder if this frame is a close copy of something more well known. Many of the Chinese bikes do that. My RPS Hawk 250, for example, has a frame that’s virtually identical to an old Honda XR. If so, a new skid plate could probably be acquired.

Sounds more reliable than my KTM that's for sure! I'll be sure to mention it as an option to my students who are interested in adventure bikes. For the price point it seems like a Greta entry point for adventure motorcycles on dirt and gravel roads or running some of the BDRs.

Test rode one myself in July, took it along the A35, then into the Vosges Mountain twisty roads I know so well [my backyard] and back, so about an 80KM stint.. It has the alloy wheels with Pirelli STR tyres, so, yes, I tackled a dirt road or two, as I know this thing would suffer a "death from bottoming out" if I put it on the technical routes that I enjoy on my 350 EXCF 6-Days or my 790 Adv R. It does the job, so ideal for a cheap road runner that will do most dirt roads It has its place in the market, for those who want a cheap bike that looks much better than it really is It just lacks any excitement when you twist the throttle, even at higher RPM. Ground clearance is very poor and my biggest bugbear was the position of the rider /pillion foot pegs, I ride on the balls of my feet, not the arch, but the rear foot peg forced me to ride flat footed on the arches of my feet due to the rear pegs catching the heel of my riding boots and preventing me from riding in my decades long accustomed foot position.. Personally if in the market for something od this capacity, the CB500X comes to mind, just a much better quality machine than the Mao Zedong special from Moto Morini As I said, nit a bad bike, sort of bordering a good bike, but miles away from ever being a "great bike"

As you said, it needs time to develop it's reputation, I don't risk my money on something too new so got a Cb500x. Maybe in the future?

🏍

Great review...that skid plate is crazy dumb.

Thanks for doing a long term review on a bike like this, I think in the future we'll see less skepticism towards chinese owned brands. It seems like some of them are really trying to step up their game. Unrelated hypothetical: Would you rather get a KTM 890R or a T7 with the price difference invested into modifications?

Thanks for the review. It pretty much confirmed what I thought it would be, considering experience with original 2008 Versys 15 years ago. How much impediment the short travel suspension was? Were you able to dial it in so it would rarely bottom out?

Loving my "Chinese" CFMOTO Ibex 800T... haven't done much off road but working my way there...

What bothers me about reviews (about any product really) is how the reviewer goes how this or that feature is fine for the price or how they expected more for the price. For me it would be more helpful to say "The paint job is good" "the infotainment is lacking" etc. I know this is majorly simplified but I hope I get the point across. When I watched the whole review and I know the price I should be able to judge for myself if this is interesting for me. Thanks for the review :)

At 2:35, is that the Briceburg BLM Office between Mariposa and Yosemite National Park CA?

Brett, doubt the box is by sw motech. Here in Asia we have a lot similar looking aluminium top and side box made in China that actually looks quite good.

Wish you would have addressed the maintenance side .....

The good thing is Moto Morini acknowledge issue with the bike. KTM just ignores them.

Can somebody please tell me is f800gt 2014 speedometer compatible with f800gs 2013?????

I think you need to take a cfmoto 800mt for a ride . Very good and capable bike .

It just arrived to the US market now? It's sold in Europe after 3 or 4 years. It's weird that starting issue, it should be identified and solved from factory already, after so many sold bikes in EU

Is that Eugene?

I’ll make my usual suggestion that you tell us your impression of the *headlight brightness and coverage* at night and how bright the taillight and brake light are for both daytime and night time visibility. I have yet to hear a road tester give this important information. It can mean the difference between being able to see AND a car or truck driver being able to see the motorcyclist. Life or Death. It’s too important to ignore.

The more I think about it.. just blows my mind that Kawasaki already has a 6 speed reliable twin sitting there.. just put it in the 450 chassis..add lights and turn signals, plastic already available from the 300.. you have a big road mannered twin w a 21in front wheel..tons of cross over parts.. everyone wins.. everyone wants a bike for the dirt that they are going to use 80% of the time on the road..why is a motorcycle frame and fork so expensive when they have been making the same thing since the 90s

I’d consider this over something like a Kawasaki KLR650. Seems legit for an adventure bike at a great price point.

Is this a good first bike?

Maybe better choices out there for the money!

The mud splattering from both poorly guarded wheels is a big negative, I think.

Was it buzzy ? The 2011 versus was buzzy as hell

Ethics do matter.

Can’t see it lasting as long as my 2007 gs with 70000 miles on it.

The Chinese bikes seem to be getting better and better and better. Great news imo.

How about the new 1200 🤔

Seems like a versys knock off! That’s a good thing!

"This is a joke, this is the worst skid plate I've seen on any motorcycle anywhere". *Laughs in 390 Adventure*