Motorcycle specifications BenelliBN 600 R 2016 An Italian with Chinese blood

a Benelli 4-cylinder 600 roadster? That's shocking, especially from a manufacturer renowned for its characteristic engines and atypical displacements (3-cylinder 900, 1130, 899). Yet it's the next model bearing the Italian lion's signature that we'll be seeing in 2013... er, no, the bike doesn't show its nose until 2014. But it's a Benelli in name only, because this BN 600 R is a motorcycle direct from China.

originally, this machine is a Qianjiang... OK, I don't know much about that either, except that he's been the owner of Benelli since 2005 - free to use that brand to promote his models. And even if you don't often come across Quianjiang, let's not judge this company, which sells a million two-wheelers a year, too lightly.

so, it's a Chinese bike with Benelli branded on it. And technically, it promises to be interesting and sometimes surprising. First of all, there's the 4-legged engine, which makes sense on a Japanese bike, but much less so on an Italian. This 599cc, 16-valve, fuel-injected unit delivers a not-so-phenomenal 82 hp and 5.3 mkg. This cavalry is far from sufficient to tease the Street Triple or Hornet, the latter happily spitting out over 100 horsepower.
So where's the target? Mid-range roadsters, such as the ER-6n, Bandit, XJ6 or CBF 600.
The relative modesty of the available watts is a cause for concern. On the other hand, we can't help admiring the BN 600's equipment, which is virtually on a sports bike's level: a frame combining aluminum plates and tubular steel trellis, a huge 50 mm inverted fork (what's the point of such a big one?), 320 mm brake discs with 4-piston radial bearings, a swingarm as big as that of a CBR 600 RR, a 180 mm-wide rear tire; since 2015, Brembo, better tires, a Marzocchi fork, a Sachs amorto... It's strong stuff, the kind of gear you'd expect to find on a much more powerful track bike. Now, the quality of this equipment remains to be seen.

not ugly, but not transcendent either, the BN 600 doesn't offer the striking, devastating style of an Italian. The pots under the seat, the sharp radiator scoops, the side-mounted shock absorber, the teardrop mirrors - the effects are there, but the boldness of the design doesn't catch on all that much, and the identity is still in the making. Only the headlight offers a link with models already in widespread use (not in our country), such as the Generic CODE 125, 150 and 200 S or X, itself somewhat inspired by the 1130 / 899 TnT from Pesaro.

originally, this Benelli was to be advertised at a shock price, which would allow it to stand out both for its sporty roadster equipment and its basic motorcycle price. In the event, the price couldn't remain breathtaking and falls within the segment's range. But what is it worth in terms of dynamics, quality and finish? China enters the medium-displacement segment - how will this Chinese production surprise us?

M.B - Manufacturer's photo