One of the most anticipated motorcycles is incidentally the first all-new product that’s going to be launched in India by Benelli - the Leoncino 500
After its resurrection, Benelli India seems to be on a product onslaught with numerous motorcycles slated until the end of 2019. The first all-new product is going to be the Leoncino 500, which will be positioned as a neo-retro motorcycle. In line with the market’s trend where customers are seeking classic motorcycles with modern technology, the Leoncino seems to be promising as it offers the best of both worlds. The chief rivals for the motorcycle would be the long-standing Harley-Davidson Street 750, and the upcoming Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. Here’s how it fares against them on paper.
Engine:
| Specifications | Benelli Leoncino 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | Harley-Davidson Street 750 |
| Engine | 500cc in-line twin, DOHC engine with liquid cooling and fuel injection | 648cc air-cooled SOHC parallel twin motor with oil cooler and fuel injection | 749cc Revolution-X V-twin liquid-cooled, fuel injected engine |
| Peak power | 47.5PS at 8500rpm | 47.6PS at 7100rpm | NA |
| Maximum Torque | 46Nm at 6000rpm | 52Nm at 5250rpm | 59Nm at 3750rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
Though the Leoncino 500 has the smallest engine among the trio, it makes almost as much power as the Royal Enfield’s 648cc mill, thanks to liquid cooling. Because of its inherent configuration, the Leoncino 500 is relatively more free-revving than the rest of the bikes. The Street 750’s liquid-cooled V-twin produces the highest torque among the three, in line with Harley’s tradition of making torquey motorcycles. Moreover, this bottom-end torque is ideal for quick acceleration (0-100kmph in 6.19 seconds, as tested).
Underpinnings:
| Specifications | Benelli Leoncino 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | Harley-Davidson Street 750 |
| Front Suspension | 50mm upside down front forks with rebound adjustment | 41mm telescopic forks | Telescopic front forks |
| Rear Suspension | Monoshock with spring preload and rebound adjustability | Twin coil-over gas-charged shock absorbers | Twin rear shock absorbers |
| Front Brake | Dual 320mm petal discs with ABS | Single 320mm disc with ABS | 292mm single disc with ABS |
| Rear Brake | 260mm petal disc with ABS | 240mm disc with ABS | 260mm disc with ABS |
The Leoncino 500 also comes with the most advanced mechanical underpinnings compared to its rivals. This should translate to good handling as well. Upside down forks in the Leoncino are superior to the traditional forks as they result in reduced unsprung weight. All these motorcycles are old school when it comes to riding dynamics, as they do not feature any electronic goodies apart from dual-channel ABS. On paper, the Leoncino’s braking equipment looks very promising, thanks to the dual front disc setup. But only a detailed review will give us a clear idea about the brakes.
Pricing and other features:
| Specifications | Benelli Leoncino 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | Harley-Davidson Street 750 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 12.7 litres | 13.7 litres | 13.1 litres |
| Seat Height | 815mm | 804mm | 720mm |
| Weight | 207kg in running order | 203kg, kerb, without fuel | 233kg, in running order |
| Price | Estimated to be Rs 4.5 lakh, ex-showroom | Likely to be around Rs 3.5 lakh, ex-showroom | Rs 5.25 lakh, ex-showroom, India |
With a seat height of just 720mm, the Street 750 is the most apt motorcycle for shorter riders, while the Leoncino 500 has the tallest seat, at 815mm. On the other hand, the Harley is the heaviest, but the American bikemaker says the lift-off weight is minimal because of the low centre of gravity. Coming to the instrumentation, the Leoncino gets the most sophisticated fully digital unit, while the Interceptor 650 and the Street 750 feature analogue-digital combo cluster.
Verdict:
Thanks to its cost-effective manufacturing process, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 will likely offer the best value for money, especially from the cost to displacement standpoint. The Leoncino will initially be a CKD product, while the Harley is a heavily localised motorcycle. However, the Leoncino seems to a better buy if both technology and styling are taken into account. Benelli will be launching the Leoncino by next year in India, while the Interceptor 650 is likely to arrive at our shores by the end of this year.
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