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• Development in Italy, four-cylinder from China
• The European version with fine gimmicks
• In stores at the beginning of 2014
• facts and figures
• engine
• landing gear
• Dimensions + weight
• Benelli history

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15th photos

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It’s hard to believe that the Benelli BN 600 is the first Chinese four-cylinder.

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Lots of fun on bends thanks to easy handling and successful suspension set-up.

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The distance sensor is used for coordination work.

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Sachs provides the adjustable shock absorber.

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The rated output is 60.0 kW at 11,500 rpm.

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The four-cylinder, limited to 82 hp, has potential for more power and speed.

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At the front, two powerful 320 mm discs, which Brembo radial calipers bite into, slow down.

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The front light of the Benelli BN 600.

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In the center of the cockpit is the analog tachometer, digital speedometer and additional information.

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The handlebar grips and levers sit comfortably in the hand, and the brake lever is adjustable.

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The seating position of the benelli BN 600 is comfortable and the seat height is low.

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The Benelli in no way looks like a cheap China motorcycle.

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Italian design, but built in China: Benelli BN 600 with Europe upgrade.

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So far, small single-cylinder four-stroke engines up to a maximum of 250 cm³ have been produced. Typical for the Far Eastern market.

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Sporty, high-positioned footrests result in a lot of lean angle, so that you can enjoy the grip of the tires.

Benelli BN 600 in the driving report

Development in Italy, four-cylinder from China

Here comes the first Chinese four-cylinder: the Benelli BN 600 was developed in Italy and is built by the parent company Qianjiang. And soon it will also be offered in Europe.

GIn terms of praise, there are motorcycle manufacturers who spit out hundreds of thousands, even millions, of machines every year, but nobody in Good old Europe has their names on the film. Qianjiang is one of them. Around 5,500 employees build “only” 800,000 motorcycles and scooters in Wenling, China, 500 kilometers south of Shanghai. So far, these have been driven by small single-cylinder four-stroke engines up to a maximum of 250 cm3, typical small and simple machines for markets in the Far East.

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Benelli BN 600 in the driving report
Development in Italy, four-cylinder from China

Three cylinders continue to be produced in Italy

But times are changing in China too. Qianjiang, internally known as QJ for short, has had to reduce the number of units produced in recent years because combustion engines in 167 large cities had to give way to clean electric scooters by law. Therefore one looks around for other markets. Benelli, which has been part of the China group since December 2005, should therefore form a pillar for the future. In Italy they are currently continuing to build the previous three-cylinder, but also developing new models in parallel. These include the first “Chinese” four-cylinder, the BN 600, which is being built in the Far East and is already on the market there.

Now a special European version is to follow, upgraded and refined with European components from Brembo, Marzocchi and Sachs. The BN 600 will cost less than 6000 euros when it is offered in this country from next year – but it will initially be delivered without ABS.

The European version with fine gimmicks

In terms of design, the four-cylinder offers no surprises. As a dohc four-valve engine, it is actually designed for up to 16,000 rpm, but in the BN 600 it only rotates a moderate 11500 rpm and in the current expansion stage makes 82 hp. The housing is quite massive, as a frameless machine with a swing arm at the front and wheel hub steering was originally planned. However, the Chinese finally decided on a conventional construction, a composite frame made of a steel latticework with bolted aluminum castings. The quality of the cast parts appears to be excellent, this also applies to the strong aluminum swing arm.

In general, the Benelli does not look like a cheap China motorcycle, especially since the European version was garnished with fine components. At the front, two powerful 320 mm discs, which Brembo radial calipers bite into, slow down. The thick 50s upside-down fork from Marzocchi is also unusual in this price range. However, there are no adjustment options, while the rebound damping and spring base are variable on the directly hinged Sachs shock absorber.

The sitting position is comfortable, the seat height is low. Handlebar grips and levers sit comfortably in the hand, only the brake lever is adjustable. Sporty, high-positioned footrests result in a lot of lean angle, so that you can enjoy the grip of the Metzeler Sportec – which, by the way, also tires the China versions.

The engine wakes up at the push of a button and barks with a hoarse sound, so you can save yourself retrofitting dampers in this regard. You hardly need the clutch to start up, the engine pulls off bravely at barely increased speed, but does not offer the torque of a Yamaha XJ6 or Honda Hornet in the lower range. Its power comes from 7000 rpm, when it increases noticeably. A second thrust starts at around 9000 rpm, with the row quad running almost without vibrations over the entire range. In plain language: To overtake you need speed, so the driver has to step down a few gears in the precisely and easily shiftable six-speed gearbox.

The engine tuning is okay, but the hard use of power is a problem when changing loads. It should be noted, however, that the Japanese have 15 years more experience in tuning injection systems, and even some European manufacturers are still lagging behind.

In stores at the beginning of 2014

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The four-cylinder, limited to 82 hp, has potential for more power and engine speed.

The driving behavior does not offer any unpleasant surprises, which should be understood as a compliment. The BN steers itself neutrally and precisely, without appearing overhanded. The stability is reassuring in every speed range. And the brakes bite so hard that they would also look good on a stronger super sports car.

Gianluca Galasso, a former Superbike World Championship racer and long Bimotas head tester, has been taking care of the chassis tuning at Benelli for ten years. Experience that pays off and that you can feel immediately. The suspension elements offer a lot of comfort on bad roads, but can also cope with increased speeds. Qianjiang plans to deliver 3,500 machines to Europe next year. A second model variant, a kind of tourist fun bike in the style of the Trek 1130, is already in preparation and should be shown to the public for the first time this year. At the same time, the official press presentation of the BN 600 will take place and it will go on sale at the beginning of the 2014 season.

facts and figures

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Sporty high-positioned footrests result in a lot of lean angle, so that you can enjoy the grip of the tires.

engine

Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, injection, Ø 38 mm, regulated catalytic converter, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, secondary ratio 46:14.

Bore x stroke 65.0 x 45.2 mm
Displacement 600 cc
Compression ratio 11.5: 1
rated capacity 60.0 kW (82 hp) at 11500 rpm
Max. Torque 52 Nm at 10,500 rpm

landing gear

Steel tubular frame with screwed cast aluminum parts, upside-down fork, Ø 50 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, suspension strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base and rebound damping, double disc brake at the front, Ø 320 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, disc brake at the rear, Ø 240 mm , Two-piston fixed caliper.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 17; 5.50 x 17
tires 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17

Dimensions + weight

Wheelbase 1430 mm, spring travel f / h 120/123 mm, weight fully fueled 220 kg, seat height 800 mm, tank capacity / reserve 15.0 / 4.0 liters.
guarantee two years
Colours White, black, orange
price (in Italy) 5890 euros

Benelli history

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Two historic Benelli four-cylinder engines: the 250cc GP Racer from 1964 and the production model 250 Quattro from 1974.

Benelli is the oldest still existing motorcycle brand in Italy and has a rather eventful history behind it. The brand has belonged to the Chinese group Qianjiang since 2005.

Over 100 years ago, in 1911, Teresa Benelli founded the company as a repair shop in Pesaro. From 1916 onwards, small size 75 auxiliary engines were built for bicycles. Benelli was a motorcycle manufacturer from 1921 with its own two-speed 98er. The Benelli brothers were also enthusiastic about racing and soon won national races in the 175 category. In 1927 they designed a revolutionary 175cc four-stroke engine with an overhead, gear-driven camshaft, which won GPs under Tonino Benelli and Dorino Serafini. In 1933, a dohc 250 single-cylinder with a new type of rear swing arm was even won on the Isle of Man.

After the war, the 125cc two-stroke Leoncono continued in 1947. Dario Ambrosini’s first 250 World Championship title in 1950 boosted business. In 1960 Benelli developed the first four-cylinder, a 250, which finally won the 1969 world championship with Kel Carruthers. Machines with 350 and 500 cm³ derived from this were used by Renzo Pasolini, Mike Hailwood and Jarno Saarinen. The Argentinian Alessandro de Tomaso acquired the company in 1971, and the sensational Sei with the 750 six-cylinder came onto the market a year later. And the 500 Quattro with four-cylinder was built as an offshoot, not to mention the small 250-cc four-cylinder Quattro, later with Giugiaro design. After de Tomaso took over Moto Guzzi in 1973, he focused more on this brand. Soon more Guzzis were built at Benelli than their own machines.

In 1989 de Tomaso sold Benelli to Giancarlo Selci, who was more interested in a production facility for his woodworking machines. In the corner he made a couple of 50s to keep the brand alive. In 1997, the son of an industrialist and racing driver Andrea Merloni acquired the brand and developed the three-cylinder sports car Tornado 900, from which the naked bike TnT 1130 emerged. In December 2005 he sold the company to the Chinese group Qianjiang. Pierluigi Marconi, formerly a technician at Bimota and Aprilia, is the technical director. The 1130 models continued to be produced, and single-cylinder and the parallel twin Due 756 were also developed.

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