Benelli’s 500cc Sport Bike Spied: Will It Rival The KTM RC 490?

It was unveiled under the QJMotor brand, Benelli’s parent company 

• The bike is officially called Race 500.
• Likely to be powered by the same twin-cylinder motor from the Benelli Leoncino 500.
• Could be rebranded as a Benelli and sold in international markets, including India.

Chinese automobile giant and Benelli’s parent company QJMotor has revealed the Race 500 sportbike. The manufacturer hasn’t given away much except for only a photograph. However, there’s plenty that we can gather from it. 

The Race 500 comes in a glittery white paint job. We particularly like the front fascia, which kind of reminds us of the Honda CBR650R, thanks to the sporty-looking headlamp, chunky USD forks, and dual-discs. 

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While no specs have been revealed, the engine casing is similar to that of the BS6 Benelli Leoncino 500. So, chances are the Race 500 will employ the same 500cc twin-cylinder motor putting out 47.5PS and 46Nm. Even its offset monoshock is similar to the Leoncino’s.

Using this motor makes perfect sense for QJ, considering the 500 will be a middle ground between the recently spied single-cylinder Race 250 and the inline-four QJ600GS. Moreover, once rebranded as a Benelli, the Race 500 can be sold overseas to take on the Honda CBR500R and the upcoming KTM 490 lineup. 

The bike could find takers in India too. Thanks to the burgeoning demand in the mid-displacement segment, it would work in Benelli’s favour if they can price the sportbike sensibly. Of course, we know for a fact that Benelli is not the one to hold back on features and competitive pricing!