Moto Morini Alltrhike 450: Left-Field Choice, Big Adventure Value

• Shares the proven 449cc parallel twin with the CFMOTO 450MT but adds its own styling and chassis tweaks.
• Comfortable over long distances while remaining confident on gravel and light off-road trails.
• Outstanding value with premium adventure-bike features for under $10,000.

Sharing its proven engine with the CFMOTO 450MT, the Moto Morini Alltrhike 450 arrives with Italian styling, genuine adventure credentials and a sub-$10,000 price tag. We put it through a proper Kiwi test to see if it’s the real deal.

If you’ve been following the small-capacity adventure bike boom, you’ll already know the biggest talking point surrounding the Moto Morini Alltrhike 450. It shares its 449cc parallel twin with the hugely popular CFMOTO 450MT, and that’s hardly a bad thing. It’s one of the best engines in the class, offering smooth performance, a fantastic soundtrack and enough punch to make it equally enjoyable on the highway and in the dirt.

Moto Morini hasn’t simply bolted its own badge onto the CFMOTO, though. The Alltrhike receives its own engine tune, revised suspension settings and distinctive styling, along with a handful of practical changes that give it a different personality. The question is whether those differences are enough to tempt buyers away from what has become the benchmark of the class.

Design & Looks

Moto Morini has one of those classic Italian motorcycle stories, producing some memorable machines before financial troubles eventually forced the company to close its doors. Like several historic European manufacturers, the brand was revived after being purchased by Chinese giant Zhongneng Vehicle Group in 2018. Since then, Moto Morini has steadily expanded its range, with the Alltrhike marking its first serious entry into the booming lightweight adventure segment.

The styling may be Italian, but there’s plenty of substance underneath. Development still takes place at Moto Morini’s headquarters near Milan, and the result is a motorcycle that looks every bit the modern adventure machine. The sharp LED lighting gives it an almost alien-like face, while the high front mudguard, adjustable screen, luggage rack and 21-inch/18-inch tubeless spoked wheels tick every adventure-bike box. Throw in a proper bashplate, a bright TFT dash with multiple display layouts and quality finishes throughout, and it’s clear Moto Morini has done its homework.

Unique Bits

The changes don’t stop with the styling. While the engine is fundamentally the same proven twin as the CFMOTO, Moto Morini has given it its own tune, producing 45hp and 42Nm of torque. It’s only a subtle difference on paper, but it does give the bike its own character.

The Alltrhike also receives slightly longer-travel KYB suspension, which increases seat height to between 840mm and 847mm compared with the 450MT’s 800-820mm. There’s also an extra litre of fuel capacity – something adventure riders will appreciate when the next fuel stop is still a long way down the road – although that does add a little to the wet weight.

Like the CFMOTO, you get a six-speed gearbox, switchable rear ABS, switchable traction control and CST dual-purpose tyres on tubeless rims. So, for many buyers, the decision may simply come down to styling, dealer preference or whether they want something a little different from the increasingly common 450MT.

Kiwi Riding

Sitting in the BRM shed, the Alltrhike certainly looks like a proper adventure bike, particularly perched on its standard centre stand. It’s a feature many manufacturers charge extra for, yet once you’ve lived with one, it’s hard to imagine going back. Whether you’re loading luggage, cleaning the bike or simply lubing the chain, it makes life considerably easier. Better still, it’s beautifully balanced and surprisingly easy to lift onto the stand.

Despite the taller seat height, the Alltrhike never feels intimidating. The narrow waist means it’s easier to get your feet down than the numbers suggest, while the suspension settles nicely once you’re onboard. Even at around 100kg in riding gear, I never felt like I was perched on top of the bike.

Fire the parallel twin into life and it’s immediately obvious why this engine has become so popular. It sounds fantastic, producing a deep, raspy exhaust note that encourages you to keep twisting the throttle just to hear it again. Around town it’s wonderfully easy to ride, thanks to an exceptionally light clutch and upright riding position. The wide handlebars give excellent leverage at low speed while also making perfect sense once you head off-road.

Out on the open road the Alltrhike quickly settles into its stride. It pulls cleanly through the rev range and comfortably reaches highway speeds with plenty in reserve. Overtaking can be done by simply rolling the throttle on in top gear, although dropping a couple of gears lets the twin really come alive. Unlike many single-cylinder rivals, vibration is almost non-existent, making longer rides surprisingly relaxing.

Long Distance Comfort

Adventure bikes need to be comfortable over distance, and after around 350 kilometres in the saddle, comfort was never something I found myself thinking about – which is exactly what you want. The seat strikes an excellent balance between support and softness, the upright ergonomics keep weight off your wrists, and the adjustable screen provides better wind protection than expected. Combined with the remarkably smooth engine, the Alltrhike feels every bit capable of spending all day on the open road. I’d happily point it at the South Island tomorrow without giving comfort a second thought.

Getting Dirty

After a decent stint on the highway we peeled off onto winding backroads before eventually reaching gravel, where the fun really began. On sealed roads the Moto Morini remained impressively composed, happily carrying plenty of corner speed with no signs of instability. Only when charging particularly hard into tight corners did I find myself wishing for a little more outright power and feel from the front brake.

Transitioning onto gravel, the Alltrhike simply shrugged and carried on. Standing on the pegs feels completely natural thanks to the high handlebars and slim midsection, while removing the rubber inserts from the footpegs gives excellent grip in adventure boots. Much like the CFMOTO, the Morini quickly builds confidence through its manageable weight, friendly power delivery and approachable size.

Switching the dash into “Alltrhike Mode” is admittedly a little corny, but it does present a much clearer display with a large gear indicator that’s easier to read while standing. Turning off the rear ABS and traction control is straightforward, although it must be done while stationary.

I found that out the interesting way.

Charging along one gravel section, I stood on the pegs, leaned forward and cracked the throttle open—only to have the traction control cut in and kill all my forward momentum. Unfortunately, my body hadn’t received the memo and nearly continued over the handlebars. Lesson learned: if you’re planning on riding properly off-road, take 30 seconds beforehand and switch the electronics off.

After chasing a couple of BRM test riders along fast gravel roads, we eventually disappeared into a piece of tight single-track bush. Here the differences between the parallel twin and the single-cylinder competition became obvious. Where a single delivers instant bottom-end grunt to hop logs or climb obstacles, the Morini prefers a few more revs. That means a little clutch work in tighter terrain, but it’s hardly a deal breaker. On faster gravel roads, however, the revvier nature of the engine becomes a real advantage, driving strongly out of corners as the revs climb.

Verdict

By the time I rolled back into BRM HQ with bits of bush hanging out of the bodywork, we’d covered around 350 kilometres across just about every surface most Kiwi adventure riders are likely to encounter. No, we weren’t smashing through enduro terrain or launching over logs, but that’s not what the Alltrhike is trying to be.

What it proved is that Moto Morini has produced an impressively complete adventure bike straight out of the crate. The standard centre stand, adjustable screen, smartphone-compatible TFT dash, tubeless spoked wheels and switchable rider aids all add genuine value rather than simply padding out a specification sheet. Better still, the proven parallel twin removes much of the uncertainty that sometimes comes with buying a completely new model.

I liked the styling, loved the soundtrack and thoroughly enjoyed riding it. LAMS approval makes it an obvious choice for newer riders wanting to get into adventure riding without feeling intimidated, yet it’s capable enough that experienced riders won’t quickly outgrow it. It’ll happily commute, tour, tackle gravel roads and even venture into the bush when asked.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the price. In a market where premium adventure bikes regularly sail past $30,000, Moto Morini has produced a genuinely capable adventure bike for under $10,000. That’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Moto Morini 450 Alltrhike Gallery

Publisher/Editor

Paul

Paul is the owner, publisher and editor of Bike Rider Magazine, a role he has had for over two decades. He has been BRM’s primary test rider throughout that time, riding and reviewing everything from learner machines to high-performance superbikes. After cutting his teeth with Superbike Magazine in the UK, Paul moved to New Zealand in the early 2000s and has since dedicated his career to delivering honest, rider-focused motorcycle journalism.