Historic marque Moto Morini is back in the UK for 2026, with the Chinese-owned Italian brand bringing over four new models after signing up a new distributor.
Moto Morini was established in Bologna in 1937 by Alfonso Morini, but since 2018 it has been owned by the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, one of China’s biggest automobile producers. The company’s HQ and design facilities have remained in Milan, with assembly taking place in China in a bid to keep costs low. They join a host of Chinese owned companies making an assault on the mainstream motorcycle market in 2026, including Benelli, CF MOTO, Kove and QJ Motor.
We’ve previously seen the 650cc X-Cape and Seiemmezzo models in the UK. These well specified machines featured components from leading Italian brands like Brembo and Pirelli and were built around a Kawasaki-based parallel-twin motor.
Despite getting good reviews, the reborn company seemed unable to make much of an impact in the UK – and they’ll be hoping that replacing their previous, Dutch-based, importer with Lancashire firm Moto73 will help them crack the market.
A completely different four bike range will be in showrooms imminently, with some exciting new models in the pipeline – as Moto Morini looks to become the next ‘Chinese’ manufacturer to break into the mainstream.
Headlining the range is Moto Morini’s flagship adventure tourer, the X-Cape 1200. Powered by the company’s own 129bhp, 1,187cc V-twin, engine, it features a massive 24.5-litre tank and has a big specification for its £11,299 price tag, with fully adjustable Kayaba suspension and tubeless spoked wheels fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Trail 3 tyres.
Modern tech like Bosch Cornering ABS, blind-spot radar monitoring, cornering lights, and a 7” TFT screen with integrated navigation are beyond what you’d usually expect for the price, with cruise control, heated grips, heated seat, centre stand and a front-facing dash cam also included as standard.
Alongside the 1200, the X-Cape 700 delivers an evolution of the previous 650. It features a new 693cc parallel-twin engine, which is good for 70bhp and 68 Nm of torque, and looks the part with its 19” front wheel and rugged looking steel trellis frame.
Despite its modest £6,699 price tag, it also gets fully adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes, switchable Bosch ABS and a large navigation enabled TFT dash nestled behind the adjustable windscreen. A higher spec "Gold Edition" is also in the pipeline and will feature gold coloured spoked wheels shod with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres, a centre stand, remote rear shock adjustment, heated grips, heated seat and a unique integrated front dashcam for a still to be announced premium.
Completing a trio of adventure bikes, the oddly-named Moto Morini AlltrHike is an A2 licence compliant machine powered by a liquid-cooled 450cc inline twin-cylinder engine delivering 45bhp and 42 Nm of torque. It’s got a proper off-road stance, with spoked rims and a 21” front wheel, alongside adjustable Kayaba suspension offering over 200mm of travel.
It’s also got off-road optimised ABS, handguards and neat touches like integrated navigation, USB charging ports and heated seats and grips. With an 840mm seat height and a dry weight of 190 kg, the £5,299 AlltrHike looks competitive against the best lightweight adventure bikes, including the new BMW F 450 GS and Kawasaki KLE500, on paper.
Finally, proving they’re not just about adventure bikes, the Calibro custom cruiser is Moto Morini’s touring-oriented Bagger. It comes with Harley-style 19-litre rigid pannier bags, batwing fairing and screen, but is powered by the X-Cape’s 693cc engine tuned for low-to-mid range torque, and mated to a belt final drive. Priced £6,699, it’s a very accessible looking cruiser with loads of charm.
Speaking about the line-up, Matt Kay from Moto73 said: “Moto Morini is enjoying a major renaissance under the stewardship of the Zhongneng Vehicle Group and is effectively executing a ‘Designed in Italy, Built in China’ strategy to offer quality motorcycles to market with a unique flair. The existing Moto Morini UK dealer network is a passionate and knowledgeable one, and Moto73 looks forward to speaking with them as well as looking to create new opportunities for riders to access this iconic brand and its exciting product range.”
While this launch quartet has plenty of swagger about it, there are several other exciting models in the pipeline. Shown at Milan’s massive EICMA show last November, the 3 ½ Sport reinterprets the brand’s most famous model from the 1970s.
With a new V-twin motor at its heart, it should give Moto Morini an exciting entry into the hugely popular sub-400cc category which features bikes like the latest Triumph Speed 400. The company also used the show to preview a 300cc single cylinder adventure bike, called the Kanguro.
The machine, in the style of a Honda CRF300 Rally, should be in showrooms later this year, while other models not yet in the UK include the 750cc V-Twin Corsaro range, which includes naked, supersport and sports touring variants, and a host of other cruisers built on the Calibro and 3 ½ platforms.
