Benelli Leoncino 250: Review In Images

Benelli’s baby Leoncino is here and we took it out for a spin and here’s what happened

The 250cc motorcycle segment is filled with naked and fully faired motorcycles. But Benelli has decided to shake things up by launching its neo-retro scrambler -- the Leoncino 250. At Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom), it sure is an expensive proposition considering that for a bit more, you can have the capable Royal Enfield Interceptor 650! So is it worth spending that sort of moolah on a 250cc motorcycle? We’ll try to answer that with an image gallery. Another reason for us to do this is to show you how gorgeous this little Italian scrambler is from all angles. 

Also read: Benelli Leoncino 250: Road Test Review 

The Leoncino 250 looks like a scaled down Leoncino 500. However, thanks to the white decals and the blacked-out treatment for the ‘Lion of Pesaro’ fender ornament, the baby Leoncino can be easily differentiated from its bigger sibling. 

But the major difference between the two is the headlamp setup; the baby Leoncino gets an oval LED headlamp unit instead of the 500’s round setup. 

Its 12.5-litre fuel tank is on par with the segment. Even the ground clearance is quite good, with the lowest point on the motorcycle being the catalytic convertor under the swingarm.

The plastic quality on the Leoncino 250 is top notch. However, the panel gaps are uneven in some places and build quality feels average. What’s worse are the exposed wires around the trellis frame and above the radiator, which feels tacky for a bike at this price point. 

The baby Leoncino’s compact dimensions take a toll on its ergonomics. For instance, the seat is tiny for both the rider and pillion. Add to that the rearset footpegs which have your knees bent more than they would be on something like a KTM Duke.

This cramped riding position means you have to sit further back, which leaves little to no room for the pillion to sit on. 

In terms of equipment, there isn’t much on offer. Apart from LED lighting and a digital instrument cluster, there’s nothing to report. 

The console is small and displays only important information such as speed, revs, fuel level, engine temperature, odo and tripmeters, and a gear position indicator.

This motor makes 25.8PS of power and 21Nm of torque, which is 3PS less than the TNT 25. The Leoncino 250 lacks outright performance and feels mildly gruff. 

At around 7000rpm, vibrations can be felt on the footpegs. With the engine spinning at higher revs, there is a loud intake noise coming from the airbox. This can be bothersome during extended highway runs. 

The suspension setup soaks up large bumps rather well. Owing to its short travel suspension, the Leoncino 250 bottoms out over sharp ruts. Even then the suspension is well damped and does not let the rider feel any shocks and judders. 

It feels planted in corners and allows you the confidence to ride quicker and lean more. A major part of this planted feel is due to its class-leading wheelbase and the amazing grip levels afforded by the sticky Metzeler Sportec M5 radials.

For braking, the Leoncino 250 gets a comparatively smaller 280mm front disc but a larger 240mm rear disc.

The Leoncino 250 offers a good balance between a comfortable ride and sporty handling. But it falls short in two places: the motor feels underpowered and riding position is quite cramped.

If the Italian bike maker manages to increase localisation to get the Leoncino 250’s prices down and offer it with a more ergonomic riding position, that would make it an interesting proposition.