Benelli Goes Moto

BENELLI GOES MOTO

Chinese-owned Benelli is making a serious run at the dirtbike business. On display at Milan alongside some warmed-over Triple streetbikes were the members of the new family of off-road and supermoto bikes powered by an advanced four-stroke, liquid-cooled, dohc, single-cylinder engine. This motor will be developed in three displacements: 449cc for motocross, 505cc for enduro (pictured) and 570cc for supermoto. In carbureted motocross trim, output is expected to be 56 horsepower. The 61-hp, 505cc mill gets 42mm throttle-body fuel-injection to achieve the emissions levels required for European homologation. The 570cc Supermoto engine is a stroked version of the above and is due to power a bike that was barely finished the night before the show. None of the three Singles is in production yet, but Benelli is serious about getting dirty. Bruno dePrato