The Benelli Leoncino is no new name in the Italian bike maker’s range; in fact, the original bike came into being in 1951, making it the first product by Benelli to be manufacturer after World War ll. The modern-day Leoncino is now produced in China, not Italy. The only design element this new bike shares with its original is the lion ornament on the fender up-ahead. This is an important motorcycle for the Italian brand in our market and we go for a ride to see what’s special.
She’s lookin’ good
The Benelli Leoncino has a neo-retro design theme to it; it’s something different and it’ll have to be digested by many. You have a lot of motorcycles to choose from in this segment, and the Benelli Leoncino fits right in. Up-front, it gets a circular headlamp featuring an LED and an inverted U-shaped DRL inside. Even the digital display gets a circular theme and a Benelli Bikes logo atop the fuel tank. The tank appears slender and has a capacity of 12.7-litres and it sports plastic panels on both sides.
The seat of the Benelli Leoncino gets stitching on it while the rear sports a neat-looking LED tail lamp. The Leoncino feels just as premium as the other Benelli Bikes. The levels of quality could’ve been better, because there are some panel gaps that stare you in the face. The Leoncino is Benelli’s version of a scrambler. The bike is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and the 160mm of ground clearance is sufficient to tackle our kind of roads, but not off the road. And the Pirelli Angel ST tyres are road-biased.
The ride story
The front-end feels weighty because of that 50mm front fork and turning the bike requires effort. At the rear, the bike gets a pre-load and rebound-adjustable monoshock at the back. The latter can be adjusted; the ergonomics are similar to that of any other scrambler, meaning you get a flat, wide handlebar, a low seat but an upright riding posture. This helps the rider turn into corners easily, particularly once the bike has leaned into a corner. The wide tyres grip the surface well and you carry speeds with confidence as the bike remains planted. The bike isn’t particularly agile but it changes directions well.
Noise over power
About the engine
The Leoncino is powered by a 500cc, in-line twin engine developing 46bhp and 46Nm of torque. Power delivery is not immediate and the revs climb slowly until it reaches its redline. The bike’s performance hasn’t taken a hit in any way and the bike picks up speeds quite quickly; it enjoys cruising between 130-140kph and can do a top speed of 170kph. However, we felt that the clutch was a bit on the heavy side and that makes riding in traffic very bothersome.
The brakes perform brilliantly; in fact the front brake is so sharp, that it takes some getting used to. The bike also comes equipped with dual-channel ABS that can be turned off, provided you know more about riding a motorcycle than motorcycles itself. This is not a particularly solidly built bike, but there are some good points worth highlighting about the Leoncino. For instance, the handlebar gives way for great leverage, making it rather easy to balance the bike. It may not be performance-oriented, but the bike still has a certain charm to it that you will like. And then there’s the exhaust note, which is pure symphony to the ears.
The Benelli to buy?
The Leoncino is a bike that will appeal to a lot of youngsters who aren’t willing to stretch their budget beyong the 6 lakh rupee mark. This is a motorcycle that reminds us of just how important motorcycling is to someone just starting off with their first premium motorcycle. It’s a bike that makes you feel good, more than anything. It’s not unbelievably good; it’s just right for the money you pay. The bike is comfortable, looks the part, sounds fantastic and can be ridden by a novice as well. Even aftersales costs aren’t much, plus the company gives it customers a five-year warranty package, which is something to think about. Quality levels need to improve; once that’s done, this bike would have nothing to nitpick at.
