Fairing Bashing!

WE RIDE THE NEW SMALL ‘BIG BIKE’ FROM DSK BENELLI, THE 302R!

- Avinash Noronha

WHEN two motorcycles enter a corner together, both trying to get the perfect line, they end up touching and once in awhile taking each other out. Motorcycle racing at such times does become a contact sport. Here, the DSK Benelli 302R is figuratively fairing bashing with the competition in India, as it tries to dive up the inside in the corner to take the lead. Will it come out tops or scuttle the competition?

The 302 is a bike seemingly tailor made for the Indian market, it looks bigger than a quarter litre, sounds better than most and oozes chutzpah. From a distance the bike looks bigger than it actually is, multiple people asked me if it was a 600cc motorcycle as I roamed the streets of Delhi, and that was with the engine shut off! Once in motion, onlookers are convinced that it is indeed a 600 and I am misinformed. Oh well, that’s a confusion that no owner would mind!

We rode one in the silver and green paint scheme which does a good job of reminding one of the magnificent Tornado 1130 (which we rode in India in #100Motorcycles). The silver top half with the green tail and grey black bottom fairing are pleasing to the eye. On closer inspection the sculpted tank and exhaust really grab your attention; along with the twin discs up front (not something you usually see on a bike this size) the Benelli emblem embossed just below the tank and the shiny engine casing makes for a sweet looking package. Overall fit and finish along with the paintwork is satisfactory. The bike looks good, but does it do the business?

Throw a leg onto the motorcycle; settle into the saddle and two things are apparent. One, you nestle into the bike; you are sitting in the bike and not on the bike. Two, this is perfect for riders who aren’t tall; the majority will be able to flat foot the bike with ease. The bike’s ergonomics are skewered in favour of comfort rather than outright sportiness.