Benelli working on 150cc supersport motorcycle

A leaked patent drawing of a new 150cc Benelli motorcycle has fuelled rumours about the company’s plans to enter the lucrative entry-level supersport segment.

Internally called BJ150T-30, the motorcycle is built on a new liquid-cooled single-cylinder platform and is expected to be christened Dragon 150 for select South East Asian markets. While Benelli already has the 150cc streetfighter in its global line-up, the Dragon 150 is based on different underpinnings. Though the chassis design is hidden from view, the swingarm and the cycle parts look markedly different than the TNT 15. The aesthetics and the fairing have been designed along the lines of the twin-cylinder Tornado 302R, though components like alloy wheels and the tail section get a new design.

The Benelli Dragon 150 will first go on sale in the Chinese market in early 2017, with the rest of South East Asia following suit. In markets like India, the Dragon 150 will be a direct rival to the Yamaha YZF-R15 and the Honda CBR150R.