Benelli Leoncino India Launch On August 5

For now, Benelli might only bring the standard variant to our shores

Update: We have ridden the Leoncino 500. You can read the complete road test review here. 

• The Leoncino will be Benelli’s third offering in the 500cc segment.
• It will be the Italian manufacturer’s most affordable 500cc bike in India.
• It gets features like an LED headlamp and a fully-digital instrument cluster. 

A few days ago, Benelli dropped a teaser on its social media handles hinting of a bike launch. And just as we had predicted, the motorcycle in question will be none other than the Leoncino. The Italian brand will finally launch the Leoncino in India on August 5. We expect the upcoming motorcycle to be priced at Rs 4.5 lakh (ex-showroom), making it the most affordable mid-displacement Benelli in India.

Internationally, Benelli has two variants of the Leoncino - standard and Trail. However, it is likely that the company might launch only the standard variant in India for now. Apart from the Trial’s dual-purpose tyres and a bigger spoke wheel at the front, both the variants are exactly the same. 

The Leoncino is equipped with the same 500cc parallel-twin motor as seen on the TRK duo. This engine churns out 47.5PS of power and 46Nm of torque, and comes paired to a 6-speed transmission. While the company is yet to release the specifications of the Leoncino, it’s safe to assume that the company might tweak the engine to match its character. Suspension hardware consists of a 50mm USD fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Stopping power comes from a 320mm dual-disc setup at the front and a 260mm single disc at the rear and as an added safety feature, it comes equipped with dual-channel ABS. 

In other news, the Italian manufacturer is also working on revamping its mid-capacity naked motorcycle, the TNT 600i, and leaked images suggest that Benelli might unveil it soon!