Morini poised for desert action: Italians hint at rugged new up-spec’d X-Cape rally edition

Moto Morini have shown a glimpse of a possible rally raiding future by showing a mocked up adventure version of their X-Cape in Milan.

Appearing on the firm’s stand splatted with mud, the ADV-R (R for Racing) features visible upgrades over the road-going X-Cape.

The 649cc parallel twin remains unchanged, but helping it breathe is an SC Project Racing exhaust system that should add a few ponies to the existing 60bhp at 8250rpm.

For added off-road protection, the engine is cradled by a steel tubular crash bar that is available as an optional extra on the X-Cape and bolts on to the same steel trellis. Unlike the standard black add-on, the ADV-R features a silver version to complement the silver, black, gold and white livery.

Additional extras include a full aluminium sump guard – a €200 extra on the basic model – plus hand and lever guards and an aluminium radiator screen to help keep the bike protected on rutted lanes.

An Öhlins shock with a remote preload adjuster damps the rear, while the original 50mm fork tubes appear to remain unchanged.

Elsewhere, front brake shrouds protect the dual discs, which again look unchanged from the base model.

Gold wheels adorn the ADV-R with a 19in front and 17in rear providing off-road capability, with Metzeler Karoo 3s replacing the original Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs.

Stylistically, the R benefits from a slightly more aggressive look at the rear to accommodate the raised off-road seat, which may be a problem for shorter riders as the standard model already measures up at 845mm.

Should it make production, the ADV-R’s trail focused extras should make it a contender. The X-Cape retails for £7000 as standard, considerably less than a Yamaha Ténéré 700. The Racing model would go up against Yamaha’s £11,800 World Raid edition.

Moto Morini X-Cape ADV-R in detail

Rally raider: The ADV-R enters a popular segment of the market, with more riders opting for lighter more manageable adventure bikes for on and off-road adventures.

Hit the trails: The bike is based on the X-Cape, which features a decent 18-litre fuel tank as standard – plenty of juice for getting off the beaten track.

Added adjustment: An Öhlins rear shock with remote adjuster replaces the standard KYB preload adjustable monoshock.

Make some noise: The full SC Project exhaust will unlock a better soundtrack, but it’s not road legal and unlikely to feature on any production models.

In safe hands: The reinforced handguards will protect your fingers from knocks against branches when riding off-road.