2013 Benelli BN600 unveiled
Benelli has unmasked the new BN600 naked bike, an entry-level Italian exotic launching in mid 2013Italian motorcycle maker Benelli has taken the wraps off the BN600, a new middleweight four-cylinder naked bike that will make its public debut at the 2012 Milan motorcycle show, EICMA.
Unlike many Benelli's that are powered by three-cylinder engines, the new BN600 makes use of a four-cylinder 600cc engine outputting 82hp (60kW) at 11,500rpm and 51Nm at 10,500rpm.
The liquid-cooled four-stroke engine is a fuel-injected unit with twin cams, 38mm throttle bodies, and is hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox via wet clutch. The bike's innards are held together by an upper steel trellis, lower aluminium plate frame, and the aesthetic is appealing.
The bike also appears to feature twin undertail exhausts and some plastic cladding below the fuel tank for visual flair.
When Chinese-based Qianjiang Group took over Italian motorcycle maker Benelli in 2005, it was expected the company would invest in design and development and we'd see a number of fresh new Sino-Italian bikes on the market. This hasn't happened, but the new Benelli BN600 is a positive sign and represents a 'safe' option for the bike maker, as middleweight naked bikes are hugely popular in Europe, Benelli's primary market.
Suspension for the bike comprises 50mm upside-down forks and basic rear shock mounted to the right of the frame, while 320mm radial front brakes appear to be clamped by four-pot calipers.
The entry-level Benelli naked bike appears to be an 'affordable' model and is likely to be offered in Australia in late 2013.
The BN600 has a 16 litre fuel tank, 17-inch wheels and is offered in white, black and orange colours.
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