2026-on Moto Morini Allthrike 450 review

Moto Morini ALLTRHIKE 450 expert review

3 out of 5 (3/5)

The world is rapidly becoming a smaller place, not only in terms of our ability to explore it but also when it comes to manufacturing. Where European and Japanese brands used to dominate the two-wheeled world, now companies based in Asia are starting to step to the forefront, with the likes of CFMOTO, QJMotor, Voge, Zontes and more launching ranges of competitively priced models into the European market.

And some, as is the case with the Moto Morini Alltrhike, are doing so while using established brand names to front their models. Designed in Italy but built in China by the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, will this new A2-legal adventure bike prove yet another thorn in the side of the establishment?

Is the Moto Morini Alltrhike 450 right for you?

Reasons to buy:
+ Smooth, frugal twin with 220+ mile range
+ Plush KYB suspension and comfy ride
+ Great value with loads of useful standard kit

Reasons to avoid:
– Weak, muted front brake
– 21in front wheel slightly dulls front-end confidence
– Lacks standout character vs rivals

Who’s behind the name?

Moto Morini were formed in Italy in 1937 by Alfonso Morini, built their first motorcycle in 1946 and won a 125 GP in 1949. Rapid expansion in the 1950s saw them set up a production facility in Bologna, and in the 1960s the company exported to America as well as Europe. After success in the 1970s and 1980s, Morini went dormant in the early 1990s under Cagiva’s ownership.

Relaunched in 2005, Morini made a series of Corsaro 1187cc and 9 ½ 948cc V-twins before switching ownership in 2013. In 2018 Morini was purchased by the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, a Chinese firm based in Zhejiang; however, they retain an Italian-based design facility.

A known unit done well

The A2-legal middleweight market plays to the strengths of Asian manufacturers, as low-cost parallel twins (and singles) are what they do best (they have been building them for ‘known brands’ for years). With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the Morini’s 449cc parallel-twin is a delightful motor.
Producing a fairly standard 44.8bhp with 31ftlb of torque, it won’t blow your socks off, but it is very smooth and vibe-free and will merrily sit at 70mph all day long, with higher speeds certainly achievable.

The initial throttle response is a touch jerky (something you notice more when off-road in low gears), but it isn’t hideous, and the gearbox is slick and the clutch action light. Recording an average of 56mpg, which gives it a tank range of over 220 miles, it is also pleasingly frugal and practical.

Adventuring does come with compromises…

Morini’s decision to arm the Alltrhike with a 21in front wheel to give it adventuring credibility does bring with it some compromises. This large hoop, combined with chunky CST Enduro Ambro tyres and an 18in rear wheel, makes the Morini tend to flop into bends.

Exaggerated by a rear end that sits very low, the Alltrhike doesn’t deliver the same front-end confidence you get with a 19in wheel, but it isn’t terrible, and you soon get dialled into how it feels. You can enjoy it on a spirited blast, but it is at a slower pace when you just want to relax and let the miles slip past – that is where the Alltrhike excels.

Impressive suspension but better brakes would be nice

Boasting KYB suspension at both ends, the ride quality of the Morini is set on the soft side, but this actually benefits the bike. Plush to ride and with good damping, the Morini feels like a Honda Transalp in its road manners with a delightfully refined ride quality and no unpleasant jarring.

With fully adjustable forks and a degree of adjustability on its shock, you can firm it up for touring with kit but on an A2-legal adventure bike there isn’t much need for general use, as it’s aimed at more sedate riding. That said, the single J.Juan calliper could do with some extra bite, as it feels muted in its performance on a 217kg (fully-fuelled) bike.

Sensible extras, not bling for bling’s sake

All too often Chinese bikes come with questionable extras (usually techie) that are aimed at catching buyers’ eyes rather than enhancing the bike’s usability. Not so with the Alltrhike. As well as span-adjustable levers, you get a centre stand, crash bars, a sump guard, brush guards, a heated rider’s seat, heated grips, spoke wheels, a luggage rack, an adjustable screen, connectivity with a navigation option and even luggage mounting points on the tank.

Add to this switchable ABS (rear deactivation only) and traction control, and the Alltrhike feels like a bike you could certainly take on an adventure-holiday as well as use for day-to-day commuting or leisure riding.

It’s comfortable too, as both the riding position and seat are pleasingly relaxed – and although the screen adjustment is largely useless (it moves it forwards and back rather than up and down), the screen itself is reasonably effective.

The 7in TFT dash is full-colour with two display options and can be linked to the Carbit ride app to bring a navigation function alongside the usual connectivity features. There are both USB and USB-C ports to allow charging for any devices.

What are its parallel-twin rivals?

If you are buying on price and are happy with a Chinese manufacturer, the £5898 CFMOTO 450MT is the Morini’s main rival, although the £5799 QJMotor SRT450RX (which comes with hard luggage) could also be a consideration.

Japan has the £6144 Kawasaki KLE500 (the SE is £6744), while Europe offers the £6990 BMW F450GS (£7760 for the top-spec Trophy). It’s worth remembering if you are buying purely on brand loyalty, ideology or image, that doesn’t necessarily equate to reality. For instance the BMW is made in Indian by TVS and the Kawasaki in Thailand.

Or how about a single?

Single-cylinder A2-legal adventure offerings include the £6199 KTM 390 Adventure R, £6545 Triumph Scrambler 400 XC, £3999 Zontes ZT350-T, £5899 Honda CRF300L (the Rally is £6599), £4099 Voge Rally 300 and £5799 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Again, not all are built where there brand origins suggest with most coming from Asian manufacturing facilities…

MCN Verdict

The Alltrhike does nothing particularly badly, and aside from slightly abrupt fuelling and a weak front brake is a very well-rounded A2-legal adventurer with a tempting price tag. However, by the same token, it also doesn’t particularily stand out, and aside from the name on its tank, which will undeniably win it some admirers, it lacks any standout features to catch your eye.

A grower of a bike that increases in appeal the more miles you cover on it, the Alltrhike is a pleasant machine to ride, but if you are buying on price, the CFMOTO 450MT is a better all-round adventure option from a brand that feels more established in the UK than Moto Morini.