Benelli BN 302 vs Kawasaki Z250 vs KTM Duke 390 vs Suzuki Inazuma

Looks, styling and Features

The Benelli BN302 looks have the typical Italian flavour to it. The motorcycle has an aggressive stance with the raised handlebar and low headlamp position – which has become more of a standard for any new streetfighter. As you move towards the sides, the Italian design cues are evident with the trellis frame peeping under the muscular tank. The exposed offset rear monoshock is pushed deep, making the motorcycle look compact and sporty. The Kawasaki Z250 looks almost like the Z800 – aggressive and mean. The wide tank shroud panels and the belly cover make it look almost fully faired except for the headlamp unit and the bare crankcase. The KTM Duke takes the minimalist approach towards looks and styling from its off-roader siblings while the Inazuma is big and beefy with looks that can best be termed as retro.

Talking about numbers, the Benelli, Suzuki and the Kawasaki are all parallel twins while the KTM Duke is a single cylinder motorcycle but the power figures tell a different story altogether. The Suzuki Inazuma 250 is the least powerful of the lot developing just 24bhp power at 8500rpm and 22Nm torque at 6500rpm. The Kawasaki Z250 develops 32bhp at 11000rpm and 21Nm torque at 10000rpm. The engine comes to life in the top half of the rev range - it is the same engine as of the Ninja 250R. The KTM is the most powerful with the 373cc engine developing 44bhp at 9500rpm and 35Nm torque at 7250rpm. The close ratio gearbox and the featherweight frame turn it into a pocket rocket. 

The Benelli has a 300cc parallel twin that develops 37bhp power at 11500rpm and 27Nm torque at 9000rpm. The oversquare short stroke engine is rev happy and starts delivering power in the mid-range right up to the red line of 12000rpm. While the Duke, Inazuma and the Z250 are fuel-injected, the BN302 is carbureted and if we get the same setup in India – which we most probably will – the enthusiasts will have a lot of fun altering and tuning the carburetor to extract the exact performance they want from the Italian equine.  The BN302 weighs 196kg, 13kg heavier than the massive Inazuma, about 28 kilos heavier than the Z250 and whopping 57 kilos heavier than the Duke.

Ride, Handling and Verdict

The Benelli will surely be faster than the Z250 but not fast enough to match the acceleration of the Duke390. But then, motorcycling is not only about how fast you go because in that case the leisurely Harleys would not have survived. Parameters like comfort and refinement make quite a difference and in the case of premium motorcycles even lineage plays a very important role. Benellis are known for being a rider’s delight – where riding dynamics and the feel of the motorcycle make up for more than the missing horses. We haven’t laid our hands on the BN302 yet, but if we have to go by what the global experts say - the more than 100 years of motorcycling legacy is evident in the way the BN302 rides, making it fun even for riders who regularly ride much bigger machines.

The success of Benelli in India will be defined by their pricing strategy. Bringing motorcycles through the CKD route is surely a step in the right direction and DSK, the Indian partner, must have learnt quite a few lessons while marketing Hyosung motorcycles in the country. It is almost impossible to beat the KTM for its price tag, but, as said before, the Benelli is more refined and comfortable like the Kawasaki Z250. The twin cylinders also demand a premium. If they get the prices right i.e. near the Kawasaki Z250, the Benellis will be quite an offering for anyone who would want to buy a piece of motorcycling history, cruise the highways at good speeds, attack corners like the 300 Spartans and come out alive too!