[AzCal Retred]

http://benelli.ssrmotorsports.com/bikes/leoncino_trail.php

https://bikereview.com.au/long-term-update-benelli-leoncino-500-5-months-3500km/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoWk_pTnPWk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThVexKGYNmw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1nY25XC0aU

[AzCal Retred]

https://www.benelli.com/us-en/products/imperiale-400

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/benelli/imperiale-400/2020/

[12many]

All China. Sad

[AzCal Retred]

Affordable hardware built to sell. The Brits did it from 1900 - 1940, then the Japanese had a turn, now it's the Taiwanese & Chinese. If the hardware works, the point of origin doesn't much matter. Enjoy what you ride regardless of who made it. The Pre-Unit Bullet was made in India for 50 years, yet it's still a great ride and evokes the English hardware of the 1940's for a fraction of the cost of a BSA or Triumph or Rudge or Ariel or ....

[Bilgemaster]

The Pre-Unit Bullet was made in India for 50 years, yet it's still a great ride and evokes the English hardware of the 1940's for a fraction of the cost of a BSA or Triumph or Rudge or Ariel or ....

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is what businessfolks would call the perfect "elevator pitch" for the Bullet.

[axman88]

https://www.benelli.com/us-en/products/imperiale-400

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/benelli/imperiale-400/2020/

Although the Imperiale 400 is showing as available on the USA version of the Benelli website,
https://www.benelli.com/us-en/products/imperiale-400
 
 I'm not finding any in-stock, for sale here in the US.  It seems like one can buy any of the other 4 models shown as available here, along with the Leoncino 500, which I don't see listed on the Benelli USA website, but nobody is offering any Imperiale 400s.  I'm looking here:   https://www.cycletrader.com/New-Benelli/motorcycles-for-sale?make=Benelli%7C2315442&condition=N

Also, although the Mototcycle News review suggests that the MSRP was around $4500 in 2020, it seems like dealers are asking over $5K nowadays, in the UK, which appears to be less than the asking price of a new RE Classic 350 ( Starting around $5300).  I'm doing the conversions to US $ myself, so could be a little confused, but this makes me think that if Benelli decides to actually send some Imperiale 400s to the USA, they might be willing to price them around $3800.

[AzCal Retred]

@ #4: There you go again, educating us proles...
Elevator pitch is a slang term used to describe a brief speech that outlines an idea for a product, service, or project. The name comes from the notion that the speech should be delivered in the short time period of an elevator ride.


@ #5: the 400 seems to have a 72.7x90 b&s. The 500(480) is listed as 86x82.6...a whole different crankshaft and oversquare to boot???

[Leofric]

Affordable hardware built to sell. The Brits did it from 1900 - 1940, then the Japanese had a turn, now it's the Taiwanese & Chinese. If the hardware works, the point of origin doesn't much matter. Enjoy what you ride regardless of who made it. The Pre-Unit Bullet was made in India for 50 years, yet it's still a great ride and evokes the English hardware of the 1940's for a fraction of the cost of a BSA or Triumph or Rudge or Ariel or ....

Considering the current state of affairs I wouldn't want anything made in Russia !

[AzCal Retred]

Aren't you hungry? 

[AzCal Retred]

Benelli working on new Leoncino 550 scrambler motorcycle

https://shifting-gears.com/benelli-working-on-new-leoncino-550-scrambler-motorcycle/amp/

Benelli’s parent company Qianjiang is working on a new retro-classic roadster in China. The brand has received type approvals for the latest motorcycle, likely to become the Benelli Leoncino 550. This leads us to believe that a new QJ Motor will launch in China, followed by the European and Indian market.

[Leofric]

Are there still quality concerns about these Chinese motorcycles or has that now been laid to rest ?
(or do I want to buy a Chinese motorcycle anyway ?!)

[Raymond]

Not sure of doubts about Chinese motorbikes have been laid to rest, but last year read up on the Fantic Caballero 500 scrambler/rally and a few people mentioned that nobody needed to worry about the 450 Zonsheng engine fitted which is said to be a good reliable piece of kit. OTOH one hears stories about cheap Chinese commuter and learner bikes with poor quality fasteners corroded even before delivery. Seems to be a mixed picture . . .

[AzCal Retred]

The main issue I see with most Chinese bikes is lack of parts access and obsolescence. CSC seems to have done a very good job in that respect out there in Azusa.

Another issue is the lack of wiggle room on the initial price. The SRV550 is $6100 up front. The RX4 450cc thumper is nearly the same. The Honda CB500X is about $7200, but it's a Honda. Royal Enfields line up is looking pretty good.

I'm not seeing the "cheap Chinese bike" except for the 125cc - 250cc efforts. Venom & PowersportsMax seem to cover the "mail-order scooter" market pretty well.
https://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/cPath/169_173/products_id/23475
https://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/cPath/169_173/products_id/22422
https://www.venommotorsportsusa.com/products/sportster-250cc-chopper-street-legal-df250rtg?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuLShBhC_ARIsAFod4fKIsUb9Qzun3bROaD5K6CM6xTAMLF9oGUZ0u9nhpAivb7lt18bqzAYaAkhGEALw_wcB
https://www.venommotorsportsusa.com/products/venom-ghost-250cc-chopper-street-legal