Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 Anniversary: 90 years and an adventure tourer ready to go
Some anniversaries are celebrated with a cake, others with a motorcycle. For its 90th birthday, Moto Morini chose the second option: the X-Cape 1200 Anniversary, a special edition of its adventure flagship, unveiled at EICMA in Milan in November 2026 and expected in 2027. The Italian brand, founded in 1937, marks nine decades of history with a tourer ready to go far, luggage included.
What sets the Anniversary apart is first the look. For the first time, the X-Cape 1200 gets a white-and-red two-tone paint scheme, with Anniversary graphics on the sides and gold spoked wheels. But it is not just about style: the anniversary edition adds a three-piece aluminium luggage set, a larger windscreen, crash bars and an aluminium bash plate. In other words, all the touring equipment is already fitted at the factory — all that is left is to pack the cases and leave.
Under the bodywork, the engine is the liquid-cooled Corsa Corta EVO V2 of 1,187 cc, with an 87-degree V angle. It makes 129 hp at 8,750 rpm and 106 Nm at 7,000 rpm, with Magneti Marelli fuel injection and Euro 5+ homologation. The manufacturer describes strong torque at low revs and a progressive power curve. Three riding modes adapt the engine response, and the drivetrain is completed by a bidirectional quickshifter and an anti-hopping clutch. One honest note: the press release contradicts itself on the kW figure — 95 kW in the main text, 92 kW in the technical data sheet, both alongside the same 129 hp. So we stick to the horsepower, which is confirmed.
The chassis is built for travel, on the road as well as off the beaten track. The frame combines aluminium and steel, the swingarm is aluminium. The fully adjustable 48 mm Kayaba upside-down fork is matched by a monoshock mounted via progressive linkage with remotely adjustable spring preload. Suspension travel is 180 mm front and rear. The spoked wheels measure 19 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Trail 3 tyres. Braking is handled by two 320 mm discs with Brembo monobloc calipers at the front and a 280 mm disc at the rear. The Bosch cornering ABS can be deactivated at the rear wheel in off-road mode, traction control offers three levels and can also be switched off, and a tyre pressure monitoring system is included.
Long-distance comfort is not forgotten. The 7-inch TFT display features integrated navigation, the seats and grips are heated, cruise control, the centre stand, hand guards and the adjustable windscreen are standard. There are also USB and USB-C ports, a forward-facing camera, cornering lights and radar-based Blind Spot Monitoring, which warns of vehicles in hard-to-see zones when overtaking. The seat height is 840 mm, the tank holds 24.5 litres and the announced dry weight is 263 kg, for a top speed of 220 km/h.
The question of price and availability remains: neither has been announced for the Anniversary, and Moto Morini promises details later, for a launch in 2027. As a reference only, the press release quotes €12,990 for the standard X-Cape 1200, without saying which market that price applies to — so it is not the Anniversary’s price. Availability in Canada is not confirmed either. But for the traveller, the message is clear: at 90 years old, Moto Morini is not looking back. It is building a complete adventure tourer, factory-equipped, that is only waiting for the road.
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Photos
Main photo: Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 Anniversary 2027. Moto Morini press photo.
