Benelli Leoncino India Launch Tomorrow

This will be Benelli’s most affordable 500cc bike in India!

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

• The Leoncino will also be Benelli’s first neo-retro motorcycle in India.
• It is likely to be priced around Rs 4.5 lakh (ex-showroom).
• In markets abroad, the bike is available in two variants: standard and Trail.
• The Indian market is likely to get only the standard variant.

Benelli is all set to launch the Leoncino 500 tomorrow. This would be Benelli’s most affordable 500cc motorcycle in India, likely to be priced around Rs 4.5 lakh (ex-showroom). The Leoncino will also be the brand’s first neo-retro scrambler-styled motorcycle in the country. Apart from the pricing, another aspect that could work well for the bike is its easy-to-reach handlebars and upright ergonomics. However, we will get a clearer picture once we get our hands on the motorcycle.

Benelli has equipped the motorcycle with features like dual-channel ABS, all-LED lighting system and a fully digital instrument cluster. The bike shares its engine with the TRK 502, and the 500cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled makes 47.5PS at 8500rpm and 46Nm at 6000rpm. The engine works alongside a 6-speed transmission. 

The Leoncino 500 employs 50mm inverted forks up front and a monoshock at the rear with rebound and preload adjustability. Brakes include dual 320mm discs with radial calipers up front and a 260mm disc at the rear. At 207kg kerb, the bike is lighter than the TRK 502 by 28kg.

There are no direct rivals for the Leoncino but the closest motorcycle catering to the same genre would be the Ducati Scrambler, which costs Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom India). If you’re looking for a retro-modern middleweight under a budget, the only other option you have is the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 which is priced at Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom India). At this price, it offers phenomenal value for money for the kind of performance it offers.