The Benelli Leoncino scrambler has been spotted on test near Pune, Maharashtra.
Unveiled in 2015 at the Milan Motor Show, the Benelli Leoncino is named after the lightweight motorcycle range popular in Italy back in the 1950s. The Italian manufacturer revived the Leoncino name (Italian for ‘Lion Cub’) for its modern scrambler design and the motorcycle was earlier slated for an India launch this year, which has now been postponed to 2018. The first instance of pictures of a test mule of the Benelli Leoncino spied around the city of Pune has delighted the fan base.
The test mule gives away many intricate details surrounding the Leoncino scrambler. The production-spec version looks very similar to the concept right from the minimalist fender which proudly carries a ‘Lion of Pesaro’ emblem to the dual-port exhaust with a brushed aluminium finish on the muffler. The scrambler gets a black-painted exposed trellis frame, full-LED lighting setup and a sleek tail with the licence plate holder positioned lower down along with the tyre hugger.
Powering the Leoncino is a 500cc twin-cylinder engine which puts out 47 HP of power and 45 Nm of torque. The engine is shared with Benelli’s own adventure-tourer TRK 502 and comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Shod with 17-inch rims at either end, the scrambler tips the scales at 186 kgs and gets a 13.5-litre fuel tank capacity. A saddle height of 785 mm makes the Leoncino suitable for riders of all sizes.
Featuring an upright riding position and wide handlebars, the test mule is suspended on 50 mm upside down forks at the front and a monoshock unit at the rear. Aided by dual-channel ABS, the braking department is headed by dual 320 mm discs and 260 mm single disc at the front and rear respectively. DSK Benelli could price the Leoncino in the vicinity of Rs. 6 lakhs (ex-showroom) and, in the absence of any direct competitor, the motorcycle will take on the Ducati Scrambler.
Benelli Leoncino
– Benelli Leoncino spotted on test in Pune, Maharashtra for the first time
– Looks similar to the concept version, gets scrambler styling
– Powered by 500cc 47 HP two-cylinder engine
– India launch expected next year
Spy Images Source – CarReisen on YouTube