Roar Out Loud

Benelli’s Latest Motorcycle, The Leoncino, Literally Translates To Lion’s Cub. But Is Its Bite As Threatening As Its Roar?

- Shivank Bhatt

Say hello to the latest workhorse from Benelli. Actually, ‘horse’ doesn’t seem appropriate in this case – it’s really a lion’s cub. And I mean, really! The motorcycle that you see here is called the Leoncino 500 – Italian for Lion’s cub. But, the name aside, the Leoncino is Benelli’s first Scrambler motorcycle for our market and is designed to cater to those with retro-modern tastes. So, is the Leoncino really a King – no pun intended – in the making?

New, but not young

While the Leoncino 500 went on sale in India only a few weeks ago, it’s not really a new bike. You see, it was first showcased roughly 4 years ago at the EICMA show in 2015. And since then it has been regularly featured in the ‘upcoming’ section on our website. It took some time – in fact, a long time – but thanks to Benelli’s new business partners, the Leoncino has finally reached the company’s showroom floors in India.

Despite its age, the Leoncino doesn’t look dated. In fact, it looks quite modern and stylish. Like any other modern-day Scrambler, it too has compact dimensions and a neo-retro look. It feels really special. You see, Leoncino is a revered moniker for Benelli – for the name has its own legacy.

The original Leoncino bikes were made in post war Italy in the 50s and 60s. So, continuing the legacy, the bike gets some special bits, such as special metal plaques on the tank, as well as the ‘Lion of Pesaro’ motif on the front fender. The paint finish is very good in terms of quality, and the all LED lighting, narrow fuel tank, thick front forks, fat tyres, and wide handlebar make it look really imposing. To my eyes, it actually looks a bit like Simba (think Lion King) – cute and aggressive in equal measure.