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    Benelli Leoncino 800, Trail Retro-Classic Motorcycles Unveiled

    Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail
    The Benelli Leoncino 800 twins are equipped with adjustable Marzocchi front suspension and Brembo braking system

    The middle weight retro-classic roadster segment seems to be in the vogue off late as indicated by steady inflow of new models. The Triumph Trident brought fresh energy to this segment which is currently dominated by the Ducati Scrambler family. Now, another Italian brand has joined the bandwagon with two new motorcycles.
    Benelli Leoncino 800 and Trail
    The Benelli Leoncino 800 and Leoncino 800 Trail roadsters have been unveiled to take advantage of the middle-weight boom. The road-focused Leoncino 800 adopts the nameplate’s traditional styling language with an exposed trellis frame, a slender fuel tank, a simple tailpiece and spoke wheels.
    Benelli Leoncino 800
    The oval LED headlamp with horse-shoe shaped DRL and LED blinkers attempt to bring a touch of modernity to an otherwise classic package. Of course, the front fender carries the nameplate’s quintessential lion mascot.
    The Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail on the other hand has a sportier appeal with additional bodywork. The scrambler gets high-mounted twin exhaust pipes which are protected by a silver panel that extends from the tailpiece, and a compact body colored headlamp fairing. While the Leoncino 800 employs road-friendly 17-inch wheels at either end, the Trail variant adopts a larger 19-inch unit up front. Both motorcycles are shod with dual-purpose tyres.

    Specifications
    The middle-weight Benelli Leoncino twins are powered by a 754 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor which develops 76 hp and 68 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed unit which is connected to the motor by means of a slipper clutch.
    The trellis frame is equipped with Marzocchi upside down front forks with rebound, compression and preload adjustments. The monoshock rear suspension offers preload adjustment. The Trail has a longer front suspension travel of 5.5 inches compared to the regular variant’s 5.1 inches. The Trail variant also has a slightly higher saddle height.

    Braking system which comprises twin front discs and a single rear unit is from Brembo. In a nutshell, the made-in-China motorcycles which are designed in Italy, do no skimp on hardware. While detailed specifications are scarce, we expect the twins to be equipped with two-channel ABS as a standard fitment.
    Benelli is yet to reveal the prices of the Leoncino 800 family. We expect it to undercut the likes of Yamaha XSR700 by a considerable margin. Market launch is expected in the first half of 2021. There is always a sizable market for a well-priced middle weight motorcycle in India, so we expect the lions to make it to our shores soon after their international debut. More

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    Benelli Imperiale 400 Diwali Offers Up To Rs 12k Announced

    Image for reference
    Benelli Imperiale 400 helps save over 10k if purchased this festive season

    With the ongoing festive season being hotbed for offers, Benelli India has now introduced its Diwali Sparkle Offer. This makes the Benelli Imperiale 400 an even more tempting offering. Diwali Sparkle Offer customers can own Imperiale 400 with savings up to Rs. 12,000 for the red and black colour option. It is to be noted here that the silver colour is already offered at a Rs 10k lower price as compared to the other two colours.
    Just as all good things come to an end, the festive offer is available for a limited time across all Benelli dealerships. With festive season sales sentiment always being stronger, and customers receiving more footfalls, the specially curated offer will will the manufacturer reach a wider audience, while making the value proposition on Imperiale 400 even more accessible for potential customers.
    Benelli financing option
    Benelli India has rolled out the offer in conjunction with a recently announced ‘Low EMI’ scheme of Rs. 4,999 with up to 85 percent funding. Available at a starting price of Rs. 1.99 lakhs onward, customers can book a Benelli Imperiale 400 for Rs. 6,000. Of course, this can be done online or at a dealership.
    The finance scheme is curated to be a convenience to ensure ease of purchase, which in turn would make the proposal more attractive for likely customers. This is in tandem with recent trends where finance options have been reworked to up the ease of purchase quotient keeping in mind disruption brought about by Covid-19 pandemic. The impetus is one that’ll yield positive response for bike that has already proven its popularity, having closed bookings at 4k units in 2019.

    Imperiale 400 retro-classic the manufacturer says is for ‘free spirits’, and strongly recalls brand heritage. Imperiale 400 owners are offered 3-year unlimited kms warranty, and 2-year complimentary service as standard’. 3rd-Year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC), and 24X7 RSA service are on offer.
    Available in 3 colours, Red, Silver and Black, Imperiale 400 gets power from a SOHC, single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled BS6 engine with electronic FI that returns 21PS @ 6000rpm, and max torque of 29Nm @ 3500rpm.
    Benelli Imperiale 400 colours
    Of course the specially curated offer is only on the Red and Black colour option this season. Regular price applies for the Silver Imperiale. Of course, it’s most likely a blink and you miss offer considering the season of festivity is spans for only a fortnight more.
    And even as Imperiale 400 goes about creating a strong buyer base, the manufacturer finds yet another bike to contend with in the Honda CB350. The latest segment entrant proves to be yet another chose for those interested in a mid-size segment offering.
    Interestingly, the segment now appears to be a lot more sizeable with the product range now being a handful as compared to just having to buy a Royal Enfield, which was the only option until a few years ago. More

  • Benelli 600RR Fully Faired Sports Bike Debuts – India Launch Planned

    The QJ SRG600 is expected to rebadged into Benelli 600RR in various overseas markets
    The middleweight segment high performance motorcycles have been seeing increased demand. Many global manufacturers such as Honda, Triumph, Kawasaki and others will be bringing in new middleweight sports bikes in the coming months.

    Italian motorcycle brand Benelli will also introduce its highly anticipated fully-faired motorcycle- 600RR soon which is based upon the foundation laid by TNT 600. The TNT 600 went on sale in various markets earlier this year. Now, Benelli’s parent company Qianjiang Group has officially revealed its upcoming QJ SRG600 in China.
    For the uninitiated, Qianjiang Group is most likely to rebadge the SRG600 to Benelli 600RR in many international markets including India. Having taken over the Italian brand Benelli in 2005, the Chinese manufacturer has been responsible for designing and manufacturing all Benelli bikes since.

    Design
    As we already know, the upcoming 600RR or SRG600 shares underpinnings with its naked streetfighter counterpart TNT 600. It is rather a simple design considering modern fully-faired sports bikes. There are no flashy body-graphics or decals usually visible on fully-faired motorcycles on this segment. Overall it looks neat with sharp lines at front highlighted by the split headlight setup.
    Other notable highlights include a small air-intake unit which is positioned neatly underneath the headlamps, fairing-mounted rearview mirrors and a nameplate attached to the minuscule fender at rear wheel. The clip-on handlebars complemented by a sloping muscular fuel tank and rear-set footpegs suggest that the riding stance is inclined towards being an aggressive forward-leaning position. It also receives a raised windshield and blacked-out alloy wheels.
    Dynamics and Features
    While the 600RR might not be the best looking in its segment it is certainly large in size and gives out the ‘big bike’ vibe. It is built upon a trellis frame while suspension units and brakes are carried from TNT 600. Which means it gets inverted forks at front and an offset mono-shock unit at rear. Whereas anchoring duties are carried out by dual discs at front wheel and a single disc at rear wheel.
    The bike receives an all-LED lighting setup, a keyless ignition and a full-colour TFT display. To ensure better safety for riders, the SRG600 is equipped with dual-channel ABS to avoid skidding on roads in case of hard braking.
    Specs
    Performance is the most crucial aspect of this middleweight sports bike. The SRG600 draws its power from a 600cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder motor, the same which powers Benelli TNT 600. This unit is capable of producing 80.4 bhp and 55 Nm of peak torque on TNT600, though output figures on SRG600 are yet to be revealed. Transmission duties will be carried out by a six-speed gearbox that gets a quick shifter.
    Will it come to India?
    Benelli has aggressive plans for India as it has already announced upgradation of seven models to BS6 emission norms. Benelli 600RR is expected to be launched in the Indian market, although there has been no word on its launch timeline yet. More

  • Benelli Imperiale 400 Launched With Rs 5k EMI – Up To 85% Funding

    On 30th Sep, Honda Motorcycle India will launch a new cruiser motorcycle – Likely rival to Benelli Imperiale 400 and Royal Enfield
    To boost sales of Imperiale 400 during the festive season, Benelli has launched an easy EMI scheme wherein users just need to pay Rs 4,999 per month. Under this scheme, customers can get funding of up to 85 percent of the bike’s cost. With this scheme, Benelli is aiming to make ownership a lot more convenient for customers.

    The plan seems especially relevant in the current scenario where a number of people have been facing financial challenges due to the global Covid-19 crisis. The company wants to ensure that the current pandemic situation does not become a hindrance to those who are interested in buying the Italian classic.
    Price and Sales
    BS6 Imperiale 400 is priced at Rs 1.99 lakh. In comparison, rivals Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Jawa are offered at a starting price of Rs 1.60 lakh and 1.73 lakh, respectively. Imperiale 400 had gotten off to a good start at the time of its launch with more than 1,200 bookings received in 10 days. By December 2019, bookings had crossed the 4k mark. After the lockdown blues, it remains to be seen if the company’s new low cost EMI scheme can help boost sales during the festive season.
    Benelli Imperiale 400 gets new White Colour in International markets
    In addition to Royal Enfield and Jawa, Benelli will soon have to contend with yet another motorcycle in the segment. Honda has announced the launch of a new cruiser motorcycle for 30th Sep. Though they have not revealed what engine size this new motorcycle will be, it is expected to be in the 300-500 cc segment.
    As may be recalled, Benelli Imperiale 400 was launched in India in October 2019. At that time, the motorcycle was aggressively priced at Rs 1.69 lakh. To make it more attractive for customers, Benelli had offered best-in-class warranty of 3 years / unlimited kilometres. Another major benefit was two years of complimentary free service. These schemes are available even with the current BS6 model that was launched earlier this year in July.
    Benelli Imperiale 400 design and styling
    Featuring smooth curves and a seamless design, Imperiale 400 is synonymous with beauty and elegance. The motorcycle derives inspiration from the Benelli-MotoBi range that was in production in the 1950s. It comes with vintage styling, as is evident in the round headlamp, teardrop shaped fuel tank and indicators, and liberal use of chrome inserts. Available colour options are Silver, Black and Red. The Black and Red variants cost Rs 10k more than the Silver variant. There is also a new White Colour on offer, but that has not been launched in India yet.

    Imperiale 400 engine
    Imperiale 400 is powered by a 374 cc, SOHC, air cooled, single cylinder engine that is capable of generating 21 ps of max power at 6000 rpm and 29 Nm of max torque at 3500 rpm. This is mated to a 5-speed gearbox and multidisc wet clutch.
    Imperiale 400 utilizes a double cradle chassis, suspended on 41mm telescopic front suspension and pre-load adjustable rear suspension. Braking system comprises 300 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc, integrated with dual-channel ABS. The motorcycle weighs 205 kg and can store 12 litres of fuel. More

  • QJ Motor SRV500 leaked – Based on Benelli 502C sports cruiser

    Benelli India plans to launch the Ducati XDiavel-like 502C as a compelling alternative to Royal Enfield’s 650 Twins
    Italian-origin two-wheeler maker Benelli, now under China’s Zhejiang Qianjiang Group, has had the 502C sports cruiser for quite some time. Back in August last year, Benelli India had confirmed that it would launch the 502C within a few months from then. However, COVID-19 pandemic delayed operations and like every other major automaker, the company had to reschedule its product strategies.

    Now, a badge-engineered 502C avatar from QJ Motor (another subsidiary of Zhejiang Qianjiang Group) has popped up on the internet. Dubbed QJ SRV500, the sports cruiser appears to be a bit different from the original donor motorcycle. For starters, it looks a bit less sporty compared to the Benelli 502C and feels like a toned-down twin-cylinder cruiser.
    One has to be a hardcore Benelli fan to deny the 502C’s disturbing resemblance to the Ducati XDiavel. Motorcycle communities across the world, especially fans of the iconic Italian brand, were furious at the fact that Benelli could not come up with an original design language. This is not the first time ‘certain’ Chinese automakers have blatantly copied popular European product designs.
    Major changes compared to the Benelli 502C
    The upcoming QJ SRV500 is built around a new frame, rides on a larger front wheel (18-inch rather than 17-inch), has a lower pillion seating configuration, wears a single front disc, gets conventional telescopic forks (in place of USD units) and box-type swingarm (the 502C receives a tubular example), etc. Most importantly, it looks less “inspired” by the Ducati XDiavel and weighs roughly 20kg lower, at 198kg.
    Rumours suggest that this version will eventually debut with a Benelli badge as a lower variant of the 502C. Such a model could become a considerable value-for-money proposition in India as well.
    If launched in India, it will be a decent alternative to Royal Enfield’s 650 Twins. The 502C or SRV500 can also be substantially cheaper than entry-level models from premium brands such as Harley-Davidson (almost on the verge of ending local production) and Triumph Motorcycles (launched the BS6 Street Twin earlier this month).
    Engine & specs
    Powering the Benelli 502C is a 500cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin engine good for about 47bhp @ 8,500rpm and 45Nm @ 5,000rpm. This is mated to a 6-speed transmission. Considering the extent of cost-cutting done on the QJ SRV500, we expect its power plant to churn out slightly less.
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  • Benelli TRK 800 adventure motorcycle spied – Triumph Tiger rival

    Compared to the upcoming Indian-spec Benelli TRK 800, the Chinese-spec SRB 750 will sport some minor aesthetic differences
    Italian-origin motorcycle manufacturer Benelli, now under Zhejiang Qianjiang Group of China, is working on an all-new middleweight adventure tourer dubbed TRK 800. The company had officially teased the motorcycle in its early prototype stage. At the moment, not much is known about the new Benelli TRK 800 but one can be sure that it will reach the Indian market in due course. Once launched, it will take on the likes of Triumph Tiger, BMW GS Series, etc.

    Meanwhile, it will debut in China as the QJ Motor SRB 750. Rumours suggest that it would look slightly different than its foreign counterpart but will employ the same internals. The performance could vary slightly on paper depending on local emission norms even though this might not reflect in real-world riding conditions.
    Benelli initially planned to reveal the motorcycle in full to the world later this year. But it appears that COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the launch timeline further. We hope to see the adv on Indian roads sometime towards the end of next year. Still, it is too early to reach a conclusion.

    A low-quality spy shot of a production-spec Benelli TRK 800 has surfaced on the internet. Chinese forums are sharing the same under the tag, “QJ Motor SRB 750 on test”. Even before hitting its home market, the TRK 800 or SRB 750 might hit European markets such as Italy. The relatively new TRK 502 sees decent takers in key markets and its bigger sibling is expected to showcase similar desirability. It could be an affordable yet somewhat equally capable alternative to the big names from Triumph, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Honda Motorcycle, Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc.
    Powering the new Benelli TRK 800 is a 754cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin engine familiar from the Benelli 752S and Leoncino 800. In the 752S, the motor makes roughly 75bhp @ 8,500rpm and 65Nm @ 6,500rpm while mated to a 6-speed transmission (could be a different setup in the TRK 800 to suit its offroading characteristics).
    Other interesting new products from Benelli
    It is not news that American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson has teamed up with Zhejiang Qianjiang Group to make entry-level lightweight twin-cylinder models. Dubbed QJ350, the ‘streetfighter’ has made an appearance online. It employs the American brand’s all-new 338cc motor derived from Benelli’s popular 300cc inline-twin.
    Meanwhile, the popular Benelli TNT600i, one of the most affordable inline-four motorcycles in the world, will soon receive a successor named 600N. Patent images have leaked earlier this year.
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  • Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6 launch price Rs 2 L – Rs 20k more than BS4

    Benelli India’s best selling motorcycle, Imperiale 400 has now been updated to meet BS6 norms

    While dealership functionality at present is best suited to what’s permissible, a quick look at the Benelli India website points to a BS6 certified Imperiale 400. The BS6 374cc single-cyl, FI, air cooled, 4valve, SOHC engine returns max power of 21PS @ 6000 rpm, and max torque of 29Nm @ 3,500 rpm. Pared to a 5-speed gearbox, fuel consumption is pegged at 3.2L for 100 kms (31,25 kmpl). Usable tank volume is 12 litres with 2 litres in reserve.
    Currently, the auto industry is governed by a BSVI standard, and vehicles that aren’t being updated have no choice but to opt out of the race. This has made manufacturers cast a wide net to think about which vehicles will have meaning and value proposition in the next few years, and thereby be carried forward.
    Speaking about the BS6 Imperiale, ground clearance is listed at 165mm. It stands at a length of 2,170 mm and height without mirrors at 1,120 mm. Rider seat height is pegged at 780mm, and width at 820 mm excluding mirrors. Wheelbase spans 1,440 mm. Road ready weight/kerb weight is maintained at 205 kgs, and output figures too, but at tweaked rpms.

    BSVI 2020 Benelli Imperiale 400 is available with 2-Years’ service cost of Rs 8,936, incl. of spares and complimentary labour. Bookings are being entertained at Rs 6,000 with booking amount being fully refundable. The bike comes with 3-year unlimited kms warranty as standard.
    Benelli Imperiale 400 is available at an entry price point of Rs 1.99 lakhs, ex-sh. When launched in October 2019, the unit was available at a starting price of Rs 1.69 lakhs. The price was later increased to Rs 1.79 lakhs for the BS4 variant. Now, the bikes’s gotten Rs 20k costlier.

    At first glance, not much else looks tweaked. The catalytic converter and oxygen sensors makes the bike BS6 compliant at an entry price point that is pricier than the original offering. Benelli has designed the convenience of booking an Imperiale 400 to be easy to access with multiple prompts on the website. This serves in good stead as it will also help locate which dealership serves a customer area.
    At present, auto retail functionality is dependant on government and local authority directives that outline if one can operate, and if so, under set safety guidelines. With Benelli showrooms in India being limited in number, it’s best to find functioning dealership information from the website. More

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    Benelli BJ 1200 GT touring motorcycle images leaked – Weighs 338kg

    Italian-origin motorcycle manufacturer Benelli, under China’s Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Group, is following an aggressive product strategy for the months to come. The company has unveiled or launched several interesting products in recent times while a few other models were leaked as spy shots or patent images. The popular Benelli TNT 600i sold in our market […] More