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• Little lion with a 500 twin
• 48 HP peak power remains 48 HP
• The Benelli Leoncino does not pull out trees
• Brakes do their job well
• Is the manufacturing quality okay??
• Technical data Benelli Leoncino
• Offers for Benelli Leoncino in Germany

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Benelli Leoncino in the driving report

Little lion with a 500 twin

The new Benelli Leoncino is powered by a Chinese two-cylinder. The first driving impressions clarify whether he interprets the model name more cuddly or hissing.

The associations are obvious. Benelli, a tender 106 years old, unleashes emotionally charged fire chairs on motorcycle enthusiasts. Motorcycles that consume plenty of fuel, demanding, raw, emotional. Everything in the past. And with it the formative three-cylinder of the recent past. Benelli became Chinese and has been run by the QJ Group since 2005. The company relies less on highly exclusive models and more on quantities, and not only has the European market in its sights. One of the most important ingredients for this: new two-cylinder models with a displacement of half a liter. After the TRK 502 (top test in issue 23/2017) the next service follows, the B.enelli Leoncino 500.

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Benelli Leoncino in the driving report
Little lion with a 500 twin

Production of the first Benelli Leoncino started in 1951

The name should sound familiar to those familiar with the brand. In 1951, production of the first Benelli Leoncino began as a 125 two-stroke engine. A four-stroke variant followed in 1956. For the Italians, the lion cub turned out to be a successful model and is said to have been built over 80,000 times. An impressive number. The new Benelli Leoncino will probably not come close to this, but it uses the current trend towards retro design, citing the blessed ancestor in gentle lines. Characteristic for this: the lion on the front fender. It existed almost 70 years ago, and it is now an integral part of the new 500 series. Its two-cylinder develops a good 48 hp at 8,500 rpm, which are just waiting to be able to compete in full on the small roads around Rimini.

48 HP peak power remains 48 HP

So up to the re-edition of the Benelli Leoncino and see if the little lion can really hiss. And yes, the Chinese Italians can sound. The Leoncino takes the first few meters with a pleasant mixture of slightly growling intake noise and thick exhaust tones. Not too loud, but just right to emotionally tickle your ears. As soon as you roll in, you notice how smoothly the two hang on the gas. The engine, monitored for each cylinder, starts up spontaneously, gently and without jerks. In the city it rolls casually in sixth gear in traffic, then turns just over 2,000 tours. As soon as the exit sign clears the way into the winding hinterland, the engine is allowed to rev up. A smooth clutch, whose non-adjustable hand lever protrudes a bit, quickly stepped down two gears in the precisely switchable gearbox and spurred the young lion. Sure, 48 hp peak power remains 48 hp.

The Benelli Leoncino does not pull out trees

Between 3,000 and 7,000 tours it marches gracefully for this performance class. From 6,000 rpm, however, the vibrations that were previously not felt increase. It is true that the motor turns even higher if necessary – until the limiter stops it a bit too rudely – but its vigor has gone flat in these regions. Therefore, it is better to move to the next higher gear a little earlier than too late. In the moody hustle and bustle on the many lousy roads, the tires keep the track clean. The combination of good initial tires with Pirellis Angel ST and relatively long suspension travel takes away the horror of the Hoppel asphalt. On the chassis side, the Benelli Leoncino is equipped with a 50 mm upside-down fork with 125 millimeters of spring travel and a directly hinged damper with 128 millimeters of travel. Both are adjustable in rebound. The preload of the damper can also be varied. Only at a sporty pace does the chassis setup turn out to be too soft. So the little lion can sprint, he’s not a racing athlete. He doesn’t even want to be. With its comfortable seating position, the narrow knee on the 12.7 liter tank, the wide, butted handlebars that lie comfortably in the hand, the Benelli Leoncino is more about the hunt for a good mood. Relaxed scratching the curve and not looking for the best time, that is her credo.

Brakes do their job well

Anyone who approaches the matter in this way will be happy about their playful handiness, which noticeably benefits from the interplay of the wide handlebars and the 160 millimeter wide rear tire, which is not too lush. And that despite the conservatively selected chassis data with a wheelbase of 1,460 millimeters, 100 millimeters of caster and a steering head angle of 65.5 degrees. So the retro Benelli rolls neutrally through any bend – from the tight hairpin curve to the long radius – and does not allow itself to be thrown off course even when the brakes are applied in an inclined position. At most, a slight impulse can be felt. Not more. The brakes do their job well. Monitored by a Bosch ABS, which regulates late and at fine intervals, two fingers on the adjustable brake lever are sufficient to properly compress the fork. The hardware consisting of two-part, radially mounted fixed calipers, which Benelli manufactures itself, including 320 millimeter discs at the front, allows safe and precise decelerations without puzzling the driver with exaggerated initial bite. So all in all a good package that Benelli offers beginners, climbers and friends of retro bikes for 5,990 euros.

Is the manufacturing quality okay??

The exciting question that remains is whether production in China can be gauged from the manufacturing quality – positive or negative. The bottom line is probably both. For example, the welded seams of the neatly painted frame meet more functional requirements and are less irritating to the eye of the beholder, who is in love with detail. This, on the other hand, benefits the LC display, which is difficult to read in direct sunlight, but is convincing in terms of form and function. Fuel and gear display, two trip meters, engine and outside temperature: everything is inside and really well packaged. The LED headlights or the floating license plate holder attached to the left side of the swing arm with its tubular tubular construction are also pleasing. They can’t do magic in China, but the new Benelli Leoncino 500 doesn’t offer any reason to hesitate either. The signs are therefore good for a successful comeback of the young Leo.

Technical data Benelli Leoncino

Benelli Leoncino 500

Engine:

Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, a balance shaft, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, injection, 2 x Ø 37 mm, regulated catalytic converter, 320 W alternator, 12 V / 8 Ah battery, mechanically operated multiple discs – Oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, secondary ratio 42:14.

Bore x stroke: 69.0 x 66.8 mm
Displacement: 500 cm³
Compression ratio: 11.5: 1
Rated output: 35.0 kW (48 hp) at 8,500 rpm
Max. Torque: 46 Nm at 6,000 rpm

Landing gear:

Tubular steel frame, upside-down fork, Ø 50 mm, adjustable rebound damping, tubular steel rocker arm, central spring 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 260 mm, single-piston -Swimming saddle, ABS.

Cast aluminum wheels: 3.50 x 17; 4.50 x 17
Tires: 120/70 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17

Mass and weight:

Wheelbase 1,460 mm, steering head angle 65.5 degrees, caster 100 mm, spring travel front / rear 125/128 mm, seat height 815 mm, empty weight 207 kg, permissible total weight 400 kg, tank capacity / reserve 12.7 / 2.0 liters.

Guarantee: two years

Colors: red, black

Price: 5,990 euros

Additional costs: incl.

Offers for Benelli Leoncino in Germany

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The availability of the Benelli Leoncino on the used market is good.

Benelli can look back on a long history, but now produces on a mass scale rather than on exclusivity. That is why the availability of the Benelli Leoncino on the used market is very good, so that you can choose from all available colors. Here is a current overview of used Benelli Leoncino: used Benelli Leoncino in Germany.

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