We’ve had to wait a long time for it, but the legendary Bialbero Corsa Corta V-twin is back again. For model year 2024, Moto Morini has added the completely new X-Cape 1200 to the range, which can be seen as the successor to the Granpasso.
Long-time Motorfreaks readers know that we have had a soft spot for Moto Morini from the start. The illustrious brand rose from the ashes in spectacular fashion in 2006 with the Corsaro 1200, an incredibly cool Naked that set the tone in what is now called the Hypernaked segment and made mincemeat of the rest in its first year.
In a few years, the range was expanded with the Corsaro 1200 Veloce, the Corsaro 1200 Avio and the 9 1/2 as 1200 interpretation of the famous – and also designed by Franco Lambertini – 3 1/2 from the early 1970s. of the last century. The Granpasso 1200 was launched in 2009, but before the engine was even put on the market, the curtain fell for Morini due to the credit crisis.
The takeover by two Milanese entrepreneurs did the brand little good. Although an updated version was launched in 2013, online sales and the elimination of brand dealers did not prove successful, so the curtain seemed to fall for Morini again. Until the brand was sold to the Chinese Zhongneng Vehicle Group in the autumn of 2018.
With the introduction of Euro5, the curtain seemed to have fallen for the Bialbero Corsa Corta 1,187 cc 87° V-twin, but during the presentation of the Seiemmezzo last year it turned out to be only the calm before the storm. Although man and horse were not mentioned, the data sheet with future models spoke volumes. A new 1200 line was on the way, which clearly showed the silhouette of an Allroad.
With the X-Cape 649 already launched a year earlier, it was not difficult to guess that Morini was working on a 1200 version, which has now been presented for model year 2024. According to the Italians, the new X-Cape 1200 offers a perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality, power and control, for all riders who want to experience motorcycling without compromises.
The X-Cape 1200 is powered by an updated version of the Bialbero Corsa Corta V-twin, which Morini calls the V2 Corsa Corta EVO. Morini claims a top power of more than 125 hp, but puts 91 kW in brackets, which, according to our pocket Japanese, is only 123.7 hp.
Whatever the exact figure, it is certainly more than the original Granpasso in 2009, which had to make do with 117 hp. And while the V2 Corsa Corta (which, by the way, is Italian for short stroke) EVO now meets the much stricter emission requirements of Euro5+.
Naturally, the X-Cape 1200 is packed with electronic aids. Morini talks about 4 riding modes, adjustable traction control, cruise control, an up/down quickshifter, cornering ABS and a blind spot radar. For those who actually plan to take it off-road, it is good to know that the ABS can be switched off.
The chassis consists of a tubular frame with a fully adjustable upside down front fork at the front and a monoshock with progressive link system at the rear, also adjustable. Compared to the Granpasso, the X-Cape 1200 has lost some suspension travel, with 170 mm at the front and 160 mm at the rear, which suggests that the emphasis has shifted more towards asphalt. Remarkably, the seat height has actually increased slightly and is now 860 mm.
The more state-oriented aspect can also be read from the tire sizes. Just like with the Granpasso, Morini has used a 19″ spoke wheel at the front and a 17″ spoke wheel at the rear, but has switched to 120/70 and 170/60 in terms of tires, compared to 110/80 and 150/70 on the Granpasso. The tire pressure can be read in the 7″ TFT color display. The TFT also includes integrated navigation.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.