Benelli goes big with new naked 752S

Benelli has opened the order books of its forthcoming 752S middleweight naked bike – the largest-capacity and most-expensive model in the Italian company’s Chinese ownership – to take on the likes of Yamaha’s MT-07 and Kawasaki’s Z650L.

Due in September with a rideaway price of $12,990, the full-power 752S breaks the company’s sub-$10,000 price barrier as the new flagship from the LAMS-approved 502C urban cruiser ($9750 rideaway).

Benelli’s biggest bike since being sold to automotive giant Qiang Jiang Group in 2005 is also more expensive than the Yamaha and Kawasaki, which are priced at $11,849 rideaway and $10,499 (plus on-road costs) respectively.

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The historic brand’s Australian and NZ distributor, Urban Moto Imports, says it opted for a high-spec version of the mid-size naked bike, thus pushing Benelli into new market territory. These specification highlights include a fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi fork, Brembo radial brakes with four-piston semi-floating calipers, colour digital dash and Pirelli Angel ST tyres.

Similar to its popular rivals, the 752S is powered by a liquid-cooled parallel twin with DOHC (albeit displacing a larger 754cc) that produces a claimed 56kW (76hp) at 8500rpm and 67Nm at 6500rpm. Wet weight is a relatively heavy 226kg, however, with its 14.5-litre tank 90 per cent full of fuel.

For comparison, Australia’s top-selling naked bike, Yamaha’s LAMS-approved 655cc MT-07, delivers 39kW (52hp) at 8000rpm and 57.5Nm at 4000rpm and has a claimed wet weight of 186kg. The Kawasaki Z650L, meanwhile, makes 38kW (51hp) at 8000rpm, 59Nm at 6500rpm and weighs 187kg (wet).

Other technical highlights include a Ducati Monster-inspired tube-trellis frame; a KYB shock with preload adjustment and 60mm stroke (or around 140mm rear wheel travel to pair with 130mm travel up front); 120/70 and 180/55 Pirelli tyres front and rear and 320mm semi-floating front discs with four-piston Brembo calipers and ABS. Seat height is 810mm.

The Benelli 752S comes with a two year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and road-side assist, and is available in black, red, green and silver liveries.

For more information or to pre-order, visit www.benelli.com.au/model/752s/

Up to speed on Benelli

Benelli is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle marques and founded in 1911, in Pesaro, by Teresa Benelli. Once she became a widow, Teresa Benelli invested her money into a company to provide stable employment for her six sons.

In addition to producing car parts and motorcycles, the company once manufactured shotguns. The firearms division is now a separate company and continues to operate to this day under its Beretta ownership.

Benelli is considered a brand of national heritage according to Italian law, which essentially means it must remain in Italy. Its company headquarters are still located in Pesaro, on the Adriatic coast, 160km southeast of Bologna (the home of Ducati).

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Benelli’s high-performance sports and naked bikes of yore (such as the Tornado and TnT899 and 1130 models) were discontinued long ago while it turned its attention to small-capacity models for emerging and mature markets.

Benelli was purchased by Chinese automotive giant Qiang Jiang (QJ) Group in 2005, 30 per cent of which was bought in 2016 by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, another Chinese giant. Geely owns Volvo Cars, the London EV Company, 49.9 per cent of Proton Cars, Lotus (51%), and a significant stake in Volvo Trucks. The QJ Group produces more than 1.2 million motorcycles each year for its domestic market.

The most expensive Benelli?

So what is Benelli’s most expensive production bike? That honour goes to a limited-edition version of the jaw-droppingly beautiful Tornado Tre 900, of which only 150 units were produced and locally available in limited numbers between 2004 and 2005. The price? A cool $65,000 (plus on-road costs).