Benelli is one of those Italian brands which always gives stylish and performance-oriented bikes. The Leoncino series is already famous in India because of its scrambler and neo-retro look. Now the Benelli Leoncino 800 is coming as a bigger and more powerful version of the earlier 500cc model. This bike is designed for people who want classic design but also modern technology. With its muscular tank, flat seat, and round LED headlamp, the Leoncino 800 easily catches attention on the road. Let’s go deep into the details of this motorcycle step by step.
Design and Styling
The design of Benelli Leoncino 800 is inspired from the old scrambler style bikes, but with modern touches. At the front, you get a circular LED headlamp which gives retro feel, but inside it the DRLs make it futuristic. The bike has a muscular fuel tank, giving it a strong stance. The flat and wide seat is made for both comfort and aggressive riding position. The frame is tubular steel trellis which adds to the raw look. At the front fender, you will also notice the famous “Leoncino” lion logo, which is a unique signature of this bike.
Engine Performance
The heart of the Leoncino 800 is its powerful 754cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine. This engine produces around 76 horsepower and 68 Nm torque, which makes it quite capable for both city riding and highway cruising. The 6-speed gearbox is smooth, and the clutch is a slipper clutch which helps in fast downshifts without wheel lock. This engine has a strong mid-range punch, so when you twist the throttle, the bike pulls very quickly. For riders upgrading from 300cc or 500cc bikes, this machine will feel like a huge step-up in terms of performance.
Ride and Handling
Handling of Leoncino 800 is one of its biggest strengths. Thanks to the trellis frame and wide handlebars, it feels very stable in corners. The suspension setup includes 50mm USD front forks and monoshock at rear which are fully adjustable. This means you can set them according to your comfort or sporty needs. The 17-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli tyres give excellent road grip. Even though the bike is a bit heavy at 220+ kg, the balance is good, so you won’t feel much struggle in traffic. On highways, the bike feels planted even at high speed.
Braking and Safety
For braking, Benelli has equipped the Leoncino 800 with twin 320mm front discs and a single 260mm rear disc, both with Brembo calipers. These are very powerful brakes, and with dual-channel ABS, you get extra confidence while riding. ABS works smoothly, without making the brake lever feel hard. Riders can easily trust the stopping power of this bike even in emergency situations. Safety-wise, the trellis frame, ABS, and strong tyres make the Leoncino 800 reliable for Indian roads. This braking setup is equal to many premium bikes in the same segment.