With promises of releasing as many as seven new models in India by August of this year, Chinese-owned Italian brand Benelli has been busy – and they’re about to drop a little treat for us rubberists.

According to RushLane, A new motorcycle with ties to both QJ Motors and Benelli has just been spotted in China via a spy shot – and it is expected that Qianjiang Motor will be releasing the new sportbike under the Benelli brand name.

As seen in the spy photo, the bike features a split seat setup, rear-set footpegs, and a clip-on handlebar, with a raised tail and compact upswept exhaust reminiscent of their 250cc superbike design. 

Expected specs include a compact exhaust, USD forks at the front of the bike, a rear mono-shock, and a potential 500cc twin-cylinder motor – the same as the motor in Bellini’s Leoncino 500. It’s this last detail that has sparked rumors that the bike could sport ‘502R’ in the model name, rendering it the start of a new series. 

Should the 502R harbor Leoncino’s motor, we would be looking at an engine with a hefty 46.8 bhp at 8500 rpm and 46 Nm of peak torque at 6000 rpm. That, coincidentally, would put the competition right up the alley of the Kawasaki Ninja 400 – and if it makes it across the seas, it will bring some throttle-twisting competition to today’s mid-range moto market. 

Stay tuned for updates, and head over to WebBikeWorld for a peek at other comparable motors by Benelli.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com