Benelli has lifted the veils off its new cruiser, the Leoncino and it comes with the same engine as the TRK 502. It is likely to be launched in India next year.
After showcasing the TRK 502, Benelli is back with the Leoncino scrambler at the ongoing 2015 EICMA motorcycle show. The Leoncino name was earlier used on another cruiser many years back and now the name has been revived for this scrambler model. In terms of styling, the Leoncino is drop-dead gorgeous as it combines a lot of rugged as well as modern elements into one design and the bike succeeds in looking very pleasant to the eyes.
The Benelli Leoncino uses the same engine that also powers the TRK 502. The engine is a 499.6cc, inline 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine producing 47.6 HP of power and 45 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission. The motorbike is said to comply with Euro 4 emission norms too. The Leoncino has 19-inch and 17-inch wheels at the front and rear respectively. It also comes with ABS as a standard feature. There is a double 320 mm disc at the front while the rear has a 260 mm disc, just like the TRK 502.
The Benelli Leoncino is built around a trellis frame and the suspension uses 50 mm front forks and a rear monoshock with pre-load adjustment. The bike comes with features like LED headlamps and tail lamps, multi-spoke wheels which look very classy, Pesaro badge on the front fender, single exhaust with dual outlets, flat seat and a flat handlebar.
There has been a significant increase in demand for retro motorcycles having modern touches and it seems that Benelli is trying to take full advantage of this by introducing the Leoncino. The motorcycle will be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo too but the company will officially put it on sale only in the second half of the year. It will be brought down via the CKD route and will be priced a notch above Rs. 4.5 lakhs.
