The Yamaha Tenere 700 is a great motorcycle. In fact, there really aren’t any adventure motorcycles out there that can hack an off-road trail quite as well. Yamaha has also updated it recently, adding a by-wire throttle, ride modes, and a bigger windscreen that can handle highway speeds better. But you do have to pay for all this goodness.
The price has slowly crept up over the years, and you can’t really call it “cheap” in 2026, as the ADV retails for a dollar under $11,000. Then, what do you do if you want what the Tenere provides but on a serious budget? Well, you need to look at a Chinese-owned Italian motorcycle manufacturer. This brand has been picking up steam with a combination of great value and a brand that is recognized by the enthusiast motorcyclist. Here then is the adventure bike that rivals the Tenere at a lower price.
The Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Rivals The Yamaha Tenere 700 At A Lower Price
Moto Morini has been around for nine decades, and in that time, it has had a checkered history. The current owner is the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, a Chinese company that does most of the manufacturing for the brand. However, the development, engineering, and testing all happen in Italy. This is both countries batting at the best of their abilities, and the result is great pricing for their products. The X-Cape 700 is merely another product that obeys this rule.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Price: $8,299
The X-Cape 700 started life as the X-Cape 650 in 2022 and was updated to the X-Cape 700 in 2024. The increased displacement brought it in line with the engine that powers other models in its lineup. There is increased horsepower and torque, some more features, and it certainly looks the business now. All of this for a price that is just $600 more than the current KTM 390 Adventure R.
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Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Engine
The X-Cape 700 has a 693 cc engine, and it sounds like it is quite similar to the Calibro 700 Bagger’s engine. Both models have this liquid-cooled parallel twin engine, with identical 83 mm x 64 mm measurements for the bore and stroke, and an 11.6:1 compression ratio. There is no by-wire throttle, ride modes, or traction control. Just an engine with liquid cooling and fuel injection by Bosch.
Transmission And Final Drive
Unlike the Calibro 700’s carbon belt final drive, the X-Cape 700 sends its drive to the wheel via a six-speed gearbox and a chain. The choice was made, no doubt, because of the long-travel suspension. There is no quickshifter available. The fact that there is no computer filtering the rider’s input can either enhance the experience or make it a bad one. If you know what you’re doing and like to do your riding yourself, the X-Cape 700 is for you.
Engine Specifications
|
Engine Configuration |
Parallel twin |
|
Displacement |
693 cc |
|
Power |
70 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
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Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Chassis
The X-Cape 700 has a steel trellis frame with an aluminum swingarm. The Marzocchi front forks have a 50 mm diameter and 6.9 inches of travel. It has adjustment for preload, compression, and rebound damping. The rear shock is a KYB unit with adjustable rebound damping and hand-adjustable preload. The wheels are 19/17-inch rims, and you can have spoke tubeless rims depending on what color X-Cape you order. Order the spoke rims, and you get Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires fitted as standard.
For the brakes, there are Brembo components, with twin 298 mm discs at the front and a 255 mm disc at the rear. The front calipers are two-piston floating calipers, while the rear is a single-piston caliper. The switchable ABS is by Bosch, and the brake hoses are all braided steel lines.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Dimensions
The X-Cape 700 is a slightly smaller motorcycle compared to the Tenere 700. The seat height is lower, and the suspension and ground clearance are lower. All of this only means that the X-Cape 700 is more nimble at lower speeds, and on the highway, especially considering the small wheel size. Account for a little more weight if you add the drop bars and skid plate from the options list.
|
Fuel Tank Capacity |
4.8 gallons |
|
Length/Width/Height |
86.6/37.8/59.5 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
58.7 inches |
|
Seat Height |
33.2 inches |
|
Ground Clearance |
7.5 inches |
|
Curb Weight |
514 LBs (wet) |
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Features
The X-Cape 700 is loaded with standard features. A couple of the unique features are a dashcam that syncs with your smartphone via an app, and a standard center stand. The latter might not sound like much, but most adventure bikes, right up to the premium full-size ones, have it on the options list for a few hundred dollars.
Elsewhere, the X-Cape has a 7-inch TFT display, an adjustable windscreen, adjustable hand levers, and the rear preload can be adjusted by turning a knob with your hand. This last feature is an extremely convenient thing, as it allows you to quickly adjust the preload for different loads, like when you add a pillion rider. A tire pressure monitoring system is also standard, as is an industry-leading 3-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
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Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Competition
The Yamaha Tenere 700 is the focal point of this article, but it is worth looking at what else competes in the segment at the price as well. The Suzuki V-Strom 650XT ($9,799) is a workhorse that will keep going forever, and it looks likely to get an update soon with the update to meet emission norms. This is the only engine in its class that is a true V-twin, where all the others are parallel twins.
Next up is the Honda Transalp ($9,999), which is a great all-rounder that you can’t go wrong with. It is comfortable in all situations and now has the features to back up its mechanical proficiency. Finally, the CFMoto Ibex 800 E ($10,299) is just as good a value buy as the Moto Morini, but it is positioned above the X-Cape 700. There isn’t an equal to its features in its segment, and maybe a segment above as well!
Finally, the Yamaha Tenere 700. It recently got an update that added a by-wire throttle, ride modes, a larger TFT display, an optional two-way quickshifter, and a taller windscreen. There was always switchable ABS and traction control, and the new quickshifter can go either way with the throttle open or closed. Other than that, nothing has changed mechanically.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 Vs Rivals
|
Model |
Moto Morini X-Cape 700 |
Yamaha Tenere 700 |
|
Price |
$8,299 |
$10,999 |
|
Displacement |
693 cc |
689 cc |
|
Power |
70 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
72.4 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (Wet) |
514 LBs |
459 LBs |
Sources: Moto Morini USA, Yamaha Motorsports