An XSR700 On a Budget?
Naked bikes are in, and most major manufacturers are taking note of this when it comes to the ever-growing group of mid-displacement motorcycle options. Benelli has some new options to fatten up that section of the market with the introduction of their new Leoncino 800 and 800 ‘Trail’ variant.
Both motorcycles are built with Benelli’s Euro 5 compliant liquid-cooled 754cc parallel-twin engine producing a comfortable 76 horsepower and 50 lb-ft of torque managed through the six-speed transmission. The tubular steel trellis frame is featured on both models and the 3.9-gallon gas tank should give riders enough fuel to make this motorcycle a killer for the commuter market. Both models feature Brembo brakes, fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi inverted forks, and a rear mono-shock with preload adjustability.
The off-road variant dubbed the ‘Benelli Leoncino Trail’, is a retro flat-tracker inspired version of the road model with the addition of semi-knobbed tires, larger front wheel, longer front suspension travel (5.5 inches to be exact), and a ton of styling cues taken from traditional ‘scrambler/flat track’ motorcycles such as the number plate, fly shield, high-mounted exhaust pipes, spoked rims, and a few other details are thrown in.
Both motorcycles look heavily inspired by the Yamaha XSR700, and I assume these bikes are aimed to be cheaper options to fill the gaps. Pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed, I will be sure to keep you updated as more details surface.
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