Benelli Bn302

BENELLI BN302

IGNITION

FIRST RIDE

New Chinese-built twin is heavy but remarkably refined

Bruno dePrato

In Italy, the new Benelli BN302 costs less than a Vespa Sprint 125 3V. That’s because Benelli is part of QianJiang, a huge Chinese motorcycle group that wants this new bike to sell well in the Far East, where low price and excellent durability are hugely important.

The Pesaro, Italy-based technical team led by Chief Project Engineer Stefano Michelotti came up with the BN302 formula, which is based around a 300CC parallel twin derived from the BN6oo’s four-cylinder powerplant. It has the same 65.0 x 45.2mm bore and stroke, and it breathes through 37mm throttle bodies. This new 360-degree twin

delivers a claimed 38 hp at 10,000 rpm, and 20.2 pound-feet of peak torque at 9,000 rpm. The Kawasaki Ninja 300, for comparison, puts out a claimed 39 hp at 11,000 rpm and 20.6 pound-feet of torque at 10,000 rpm.

Because this Benelli is meant for the rough roads and toughduty cycles of the Asian markets, the 408-pound BN302 is fitted with a strong trellis frame made from thick mild-steel tubing. A tubular over-under swingarm looks similarly stout.

On the road, the BN302 feels compact and surprisingly light. Good ergonomics and excellent weight distribution help, as does friendly a seat height of only 31.3 inches. The

engine is remarkably smooth, and a huge silencer produces an exhaust note not unlike that of a fourcylinder. Delphi engine management delivers strong and stumble-free response from below 3,000 rpm, and it supports the engine all the way past 11,000 rpm.

I rode the sturdy little Benelli on the twisty back roads of San Marino, where the BN302’s acceleration and pick-up performance exceeded my expectations. The rear suspension, however, was too harsh. My suggestion: Replace the current rear shock with one from Sachs. Lastly, look for Benelli to reappear in the US market by the end of 2015, possibly with the new BN302.

BENELLI BN302

ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin

DISPLACEMENT 300cc

SEAT HEIGHT 31.3 in.

FUEL CAPACITY 4.2 ga I.

408 lb.

EST. PRICE $4300