One look at a touring motorcycle and wanderlust is sure to take over your mind. Imagine being on the road for multiple days and exploring the world around you. Take a closer look at the same tourer, and you’ll notice a price tag that will make you imagine something completely different. Suddenly, you’re back in your office, working overtime, or draining your bank balance to afford one. The best touring bikes are ridiculously expensive.
So, should you stop dreaming about traveling on two wheels? Not really. You can pick a budget tourer, too, which can save you tens of thousands of dollars. Think, a comfortable seat, wind protection, highway power, and storage, but all at an attainable price. That’s exactly what the Moto Morini Calibro Bagger offers, while costing way less than you’d expect an Americana-style bagger to cost. Here’s more on this budget-friendly tourer that promises to punch above its weight.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Moto Morini, and other authoritative sources.
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Starting Price: $7,699
The Moto Morini Calibro Bagger is a melting pot of a motorcycle, like most of its Moto Morini siblings. It’s designed and developed at the Trevolzio headquarters in Italy, mostly produced in China, and uses a Kawasaki-derived powerplant. As a result, it brings the best of three industries, including a stylish design, affordable Chinese construction, and decent reliability. In other words, it punches way above its weight class.
Let’s break it down a little. If you want a true bagger, your next cheapest bet is the Honda Rebel 1100T, which comes with 390cc more displacement and a much higher price tag. Sure, it produces more performance, but style- and comfort-wise, it may not be too far ahead of the Calibro Bagger. Meanwhile, the Calibro Bagger offers a similar bagger experience for under $8,000, which is a steal, considering it promises to be comfortable for the long haul while offering decent storage.
Consider the same price tag, and it’s hard to find another tourer or even a cruiser that offers a similar level of performance. For example, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial, with its windscreen and backrest, is $200 more expensive, yet produces only 47 horsepower, compared to the Calibro’s 68 horsepower. Similarly, the Kawasaki Vulcan S, which gives the basic engine architecture for the Calibro, produces less power while costing nearly the same.
Yes, it’s still a Chinese motorcycle with a slim service network, which is justification enough to turn off some buyers. But if you live close to a Moto Morini dealership and want to try something unique and bang for your buck, the Calibro Bagger is hard to beat. Don’t forget, it takes its engine from the Kawasaki 650 lineup and slightly reworks it for a bit more displacement and power, so it should be pretty reliable in the long run. Owners on online forums also claim stress-free reliability from their Calibro models.
Parallel-Twin Engine That Promises Fun And Exciting Riding Experience
Power Output: 68 HP @ 6,500 RPM
When Moto Morini introduced its middleweight lineup in the US, the models were powered by a 649cc parallel-twin engine produced by CFMoto, based on the Kawasaki 650 powerplant found in bikes like the Ninja 650 and Versys 650. But with the introduction of the Calibro Bagger, the engine’s stroke has grown by 4 mm, resulting in an engine capacity of 693cc. This bump in displacement has increased the engine’s output to 68 horsepower.
While these power figures are still at the bottom of the barrel in the touring segment, it’s still plenty enough for having fun on the road and sitting at highway speeds comfortably. Moto Morini also claims that the engine delivers fun and easy power delivery, which is “perfect for those looking for a tireless partner.” Additionally, it does not compromise on fuel efficiency. The company also claims a top speed of over 108 miles per hour.
For those concerned about its reliability, Moto Morini has your back with a three-year warranty and a lengthy valve clearance check interval of 25,900 miles. For reference, the Vulcan S has a valve clearance check at 15,200 miles, whereas the Honda Rebel 500 has the same at 16,000 miles. Adding to its potentially stress-free maintenance is a Gates carbon belt drive, which eliminates the hassle of cleaning and lubing your chain every other weekend. No other motorcycle offers such performance, belt drive, and long warranty backing at this price point.
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Ready For The Long Haul With Comfortable Perch, Fairing, And Saddlebags
Seat Height: 28.3 in.
No doubt the Calibro Bagger has the performance to punch above its weight, but it does miss out on fancy underpinnings. Still, for what the bike is intended to be, a relaxed tourer, the underpinnings should be more than enough for most owners. The frame is said to be sturdy, with suspension tuned for comfort. Even the relatively thick tires are chosen for soaking up bumps, while braking duties are handled by J.Juan brakes on either end. Finally, there’s the safety net of Bosch ABS.
Adding to this comfort factor is a relaxed riding position, with a low, sculpted seat, forward-set pegs, and neutral handlebars. Most motorcyclists should be able to flat-foot the bike easily, while being comfortable on both long tours and city commutes. The bike also features a removable rear seat, which can come in handy for two-up riding. However, we wouldn’t expect full-dress bagger comfort since the bike lacks a topcase, unlike full-size touring motorcycles.
Since this is the bagger version of the standard Calibro cruiser, it features a batwing fairing that’s said to keep the windblast off the rider at highway speeds. It also features hard saddlebags at the back, which can hold a combined luggage capacity of 10 gallons, which should be enough for most motorcyclists on short weekend rides. This is what further sets the Calibro apart in this price bracket, as few cruisers even offer a windscreen, let alone a batwing one.
Unfortunately, the motorcycle falls short of its weight class in terms of technology. It only features analog instrumentation with a small digital display that shows essential riding data. No color TFT display or phone connectivity, unlike some other bikes at this price point. But hey, at least it gets LED lights and a USB port for charging your devices. Moto Morini also says the levers and switch cubes are designed to offer an ergonomic and tactile experience.
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A True American Tourer Design For A Fraction Of The Cost Of A Harley
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide is the most affordable American tourer with a true batwing fairing and saddlebags, and it costs a whopping $27,749. The Calibro Bagger promises to offer a similar design language for nearly 25 percent of the cost of the Street Glide. Granted, it may not have the street presence of a Harley, but is it really worth spending 4x more money if all you want is a comfortable tourer on a budget? Think of the rides you can do with the $20k you save with the Calibro Bagger!
So, what makes this design so special? The headliner is obviously the batwing fairing, a feature that’s come to symbolize American touring motorcycles. This is paired with a contemporary, low-slung cruiser design, featuring a drooping peanut tank, low seat height, and the engine on display. All wrapped in black paint, the bike gives off a custom look while serving as a blank canvas for customization. With performance, comfort, and style, it’s easy to see why this budget tourer punches so far above its weight, proving that it’s time we gave (some) Chinese motorcycles a try. They might really be what they claim to be.