2020 Benelli Leoncino 800 Spotted For The First Time

Benelli’s most powerful scrambler seen in production avatar!

• The Leoncino 800 looks similar to the concept version, which was showcased last year. 
• Suspension and braking hardware are slightly different compared to the concept bike. 
• It’s likely to be powered by the same engine as the 752S. 
• It is expected to make its debut at the upcoming EICMA. 

Benelli is currently on a rampage of either updating its model lineup or bringing in some new and exciting motorcycles to the table. This year alone, we’ve seen the TRK duos and the Leoncino, while the Imperiale 400 is on its way. Heck, even the baby Leoncino is about to come to our shores soon! However, if you remember, the Italian bike maker had showcased a concept version at the previous EICMA called the Leoncino 800. And guess what, the first image of the production-ready bike has been leaked online! 

Also read: Benelli TNT 600i Spied With New Design

In terms of design, the production version looks almost similar to what we had seen last year. However, it’s received some minor changes such as the aluminium finish on the engine cover, which has been blacked out. The spoke wheels seen on the concept version have been replaced by a set of good ol’ road-biased alloy wheels. However, being a scrambler, the upcoming Leoncino 800 might get a hardcore Trail variant with spoke wheels, just like the Leoncino 500. Apart from this, it comes with a new seat, a slightly redesigned LED headlamp and a revised tail section. And yes, the front fender retains the little ‘Lion of Pesaro’ mascot. 

There are some mechanical changes as well between the two models. The fat Marzocchi forks seen on the concept version have been replaced by a similar-looking setup, which we suspect are in-house to keep the cost down. The braking setup has been changed as well. While the concept version was equipped with Brembo units, the production version gets Benelli-branded radial callipers. 

Powering the upcoming Leoncino 800 is a liquid-cooled 754cc twin-cylinder motor, which is likely to be the same as the 752S. In its current state of tune, this motor churns out 76.8PS at 8500rpm and 67Nm at 6500rpm. Whether this powerplant is Euro 5/BS6-compliant is yet to be known. However, we are sure of one thing: it will have the same growling exhaust note as the other Benellis. 

As of now, there’s no official announcement from the company, but we expect the Leoncino 800 to make its official debut at the upcoming EICMA motor show in Milan, Italy followed by an India launch next year. In terms of rivals, the Italian scrambler will go up against the Ducati Scrambler Icon and the Triumph Street Twin. Expect more information about Benelli’s most powerful scrambler in the coming weeks. So stay tuned to BikeDekho for more updates. 

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