Weird Flex: India-bound Keeway Launches Suzuki GSX-S1000 Doppelganger Overseas

The MBP M502N is the first mid-displacement bike from the Chinese brand and could debut in India in the future

[UPDATE: Yezdi has launched three new bikes in India, Keeway K-Light 250V cruiser, Vieste 300 maxi-scooter and the Sixties 300i retro scooter. Full details in our launch story]

Keeway, Benelli’s sister company, has launched its first mid-displacement motorcycle in Spain, called the MBP M502N. Considering that Keeway is coming to India, the possibility of this naked gracing the Indian shores some time later cannot be ruled out.

There’s no denying that the styling of the Keeway MBP M502N is clearly inspired by the 2021 Suzuki GSX-S1000. From its vertically-stacked LED headlight and the tank extensions to the stubby tail section, all have an uncanny resemblance to the Japanese streetfighter.

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While Keeway has been able to ape the Gixxer’s aesthetics, the Chinese copycat makes less than a third of the power. However, the MBP M502N doesn’t use the 500cc parallel-twin engine sourced from Benelli, but instead has come up with a 486cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin unit that makes 47PS and 45Nm. Interestingly, this seems to be a reverse-engineered unit based on the Honda 500 platform.

Keeway has used a twin-spar chassis,suspended onto a KYB USD fork and monoshock. Anchoring this Chinese naked are 300mm dual discs up front and a 240mm disc at the rear paired with J Juan calipers and backed by the safety net of Bosch-sourced dual-channel ABS.

The MBP M502N flaunts a TFT display; however, there are no sophisticated features on offer here. It packs basic information, and even skips on vital data like a gear position indicator.

The Keeway MBP M502N has been priced at EUR 6290, which translates to roughly Rs 5.09 lakh. With this brand heading to India next week with a cruiser and a maxi-scooter, we may even see this bike here soon. After all, at the moment, Benelli is the only one dominating the 500cc segment but doesn’t really have a sporty naked in its lineup, a void that the MBP M502N could fill.