Benelli BN 600 R 2016 — Specifications

A four-cylinder 600 roadster from Benelli? That’s surprising, especially from a manufacturer known for its distinctive engines and atypical displacements (three-cylinder 900, 1130, 899). Yet, this is the next model bearing the Italian lion’s mark that we will see arrive in 2013... Oh no, the bike doesn’t point its nose until 2014. But this BN 600 R only displays the Benelli name, as it’s a motorcycle straight from China.

Originally, this machine is a Qianjiang... OK, I didn’t know that either, except that it’s the owner of Benelli since 2005 - free to use this brand to enhance these models. And even if you don’t often see Qianjiang motorcycles, let’s not judge this company lightly, as it sells a million two-wheeled vehicles per year.

So, it’s a Chinese motorcycle with Benelli marked on it. And technically, it looks interesting and sometimes surprising. First, there’s this four-cylinder engine, which would be logical on a Japanese bike but much less so on an Italian one. This 599 cc, 16-valve injected engine delivers a not-so-phenomenal power: 82 horsepower and 5.3 mkg. This cavalry is far from sufficient to go teasing a Street Triple or a Hornet, the latter cheerfully spitting out more than 100 horsepower. In that case, what is the target? Mid-range roadsters, such as the ER-6n, Bandit, XJ6 or CBF 600. We can have some reservations about the relative modesty of the available watts. On the other hand, we remain admiring of the BN 600’s equipment, almost at the level of a sportbike: a frame mixing aluminum plates and steel tubular trellis, a huge 50 mm inverted fork (what’s the point of such a large one?), 320 mm brake discs with radial 4-piston calipers, a swingarm as tough as the one on a CBR 600 RR, a 180 mm wide rear tire; since 2015, Brembo, better tires, a Marzocchi fork, a Sachs shock absorber... It’s solid, the kind of gear destined for a much more powerful track bike. Now, remains to be seen the quality of this equipment.

Not ugly but not transcendent either, the BN 600 doesn’t offer the striking and devastating style of an Italian motorcycle. The under-seat silencers, the sharpened radiator ducts, the laterally mounted shock absorber, the teardrop mirrors - The effects are there, but the boldness of the design doesn’t grab you that much and the identity seeks to be built. Only the headlight offers a lineage with already widespread models (not here) such as the Generic CODE 125, 150 and 200 S or X, itself a little inspired by the 1130 / 899 TnT from Pesaro.

Originally, this Benelli was to be announced at a shocking price, which would allow it to be noticed as much by its sporty roadster equipment as by its basic motorcycle price. In fact, the price could not remain staggering and fits within the range of the segment. But how will it be on a dynamic level, on quality, on finish? China is arriving on the mid-displacement segment - How will this Sino production surprise us?

M.B - Photo manufacturer