EICMA 2015: Benelli Leoncino unveiled

Benelli has unveiled the Leoncino, a neo-retro 500cc motorcycle, at the 2015 EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy. Conceived by CentroStile Benelli, the Italian marque’s design house, the Leoncino is quite obviously a rival to the newest addition to the Ducati Scrambler range, the Scrambler Sixty2.

As a tribute to the original Leoncino, a small-capacity Benelli bike from the 1950s, the new Leoncino draws inspiration from the Italian marque’s century-old heritage. The Leoncino’s grandeur is highlighted by its beautifully sculpted fuel tank, spoke wheels and the rich maroon-black paint scheme. The bike is full of exquisite detailing, like the Lion of Pesaro which sits on the front fender, an inverted U-shaped LED strip in the headlamp and the ribbed pattern on the seat. The absence of bodywork lets the Leoncino flaunt its blacked out a steel trellis frame. Off-road elements like dual sport tyres and the rear tyre hugger add a touch of rugged character. 

Powering the Benelli Leoncino is a 500cc parallel twin engine, which churns out 47bhp and 45Nm of torque. The engine gets electronic fuel injection and liquid cooling, and comes mated to a six-speed transmission. The front suspension is made of beefy 50mm USD forks, while the rear gets a laterally mounted monoshock. Braking hardware is made of dual 320mm discs upfront and a 260mm disc in the rear.

The Benelli Leoncino seems to be a result of the recent surge in demand for neo-retro motorcycles. We can expect Benelli to offer the Leoncino along with a host of customisation options. The Benelli Leoncino will make its Indian debut at the Delhi Auto Expo, in February 2016, though it will enter into production only in the second half of the next year.