Introduction
This is the new Leoncino 500. Benelli’s newest addition into its 500cc range of motorcycles. Now, Benelli is India is known for motorcycles that offers great road presence, well priced and an exhaust sound that turns heads even at a crowded place like Mumbai. But this bike, which Benelli likes to call a Scrambler, is slightly different from what we have seen so far. It doesn’t have large body panels nor does it have any brand recognition as of now. But it has some traits that makes it a very interesting motorcycle. So here are the 5 things we like about the Leoncino 500 and 2 things that we didn’t.
Positives
1: Styling
One of the biggest reasons to buy the Leoncino 500 is its styling. Just look at it once, and you’re bound to fall in love with its looks.
The round headlamp that houses an inverted U shaped LED DRL looks stunning. Move to the side, and you will see how neatly the fuel tank merges with the seat panels. Benelli has made sure to make this bike as exclusive as possible. That’s why you’ll see things like the 3D Lion logo on the front mudguard and beautifully crafted Leoncino brand logos at various places.
2: Riding Position
The Leoncino 500 is extremely comfortable to ride. In fact, even for a six-footer like me, things were quite relaxing. The footpegs are a slight rearset, but the overall seating triangle is good for commuting as well as for touring. Plus, with just 785mm of seat height, the shorter riders will definitely feel at home.
But it’s a Scrambler, so can I stand-up and ride? Well, the answer is a big yes! It’s easy to stand on the pegs. The wide handlebar gives you a lot of leverage. Plus, you can hold on to the seat as well.
3: Engine
The Leoncino gets its power from a 500cc parallel-twin motor. It’s the same motor that we see on the TRK 502s. So this unit makes around 47bhp at 8500rpm and peak torque of 46Nm at 6000rpm. Well, these are not outstanding performance figures, but I like how Benelli has played with the gear ratios.
The shorter gear ratios have resulted into better city riding. You can easily ride at 50kmph in 6th gear and that’s such a boon for the urban riders. Take it to the highway, and the experience becomes far more enjoyable. The bike can do 120kmph all day long. The engine is refined. There’s no sign of stress or any kind of vibrations.
4: Exhaust sound
It’s a Benelli. So we have to talk about its exhaust sound right? But honestly I have no idea how Benelli does it, but the Leocino sounds really good. It’s not as loud as the TNT 600i, but it generates some sound that’s quite addictive, especially once you cross 7000rpm.
5: 5 years warranty
Now when you buy a big bike, you need to have a piece of mind, and not worry much about the after sales. And this is why Benelli is offering a whopping 5 years warranty on the Leoncino 500. And yes, that’s for unlimited kms which makes Benelli the first premium bike brand to offer such scheme.
Negatives
1: Ride quality
The stock suspension setup of the Leoncino is quite stiff, and that was quite a bothersome because every time you hit a bad road or any pothole, the back takes a lot of beating.
2: Overall quality
This is a premium motorcycle, but the overall quality doesn’t generate that kind of experience. The switch gear look low cost with those sharp edges around the buttons. The paint finish on most of the cycle parts too could have been so much better. This bike definitely loses some points here.
Conclusion
The Leoncino is priced at Rs 4.79 lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai) and for that price you get more than just a motorcycle. You get a motorcycle that sounds really good, and makes you look cooler wherever you go. I honestly enjoyed this motorcycle. In fact, I think it’s the best Benelli I have ever ridden. It has great ergos, friendly motor and it’s so easy to live with the bike.
So if you are in the market for a multi-cylinder motorcycle and want to standout in the crowd and live with it comfortably, then you should definitely check out the Leoncino 500.
