Italian-designed and Chinese-made Benelli motorcycles are adding two learner bike models to their line-up in 2015.
Benelli BN 600 GTSThe new BN 302 arrives in January at less than $5500 plus on-road costs, while the they will also release two sports touring versions of the BN 600 both at $9990 rideaway. The GTS is a restricted LAMS version and the GT is a non-restricted model.
The 300-500cc learner bike category, led by the Kawasaki Ninja 300, is highly competitive and becoming crowded with new models from Honda, Yamaha and KTM. There is also talk of a Triumph and BMW joining the ranks.
The BN 302 joins the sector powered by a four-valve DOHC inline two cylinder engine, producing 28kW at 12,000rpm and 27Nm at 9000rpm. Feeding this engine is the Delphi MT-05 fuel injection system which is also used in the BN 600 range. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission.
It sits in a rigid steel trestle frame with 41mm inverted forks with adjustable rebound and a mono rear shock with adjustable preload and rebound.
The aluminium alloy wheels are fitted with Pirelli 120/70-17 front and 160/60-17 rear tyres.
It is equipped with twin 260mm brake discs, twin four-piston callipers at the front and a single 240mm disc with a two-piston calliper on the rear.
The BN 302 comes in white, black, orange and Benelli green with the option of black or red frames. It comes with a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
The BN 600 GT and GTS are half-faired models with windscreen, very generous 27-litre fuel tank, an upright ergonomic riding position and optional hard panniers for touring capabilities.
Benelli BN 600 GTSIt shares the inline four-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine from the BN 600R. The GT has maximum power of 62kW at 11,000rpm and Nm of torque at 8100rpm, matched to a six-speed gearbox. The GTS has a throttle restrictor. There are no confirmed power figures yet but it is expected to be 44kW as in the BN600S learner bike.
The BN 600 GT and GTS have a rigid tubular steel trellis frame mounted to cast aluminium rear section which incorporates the engine as a stress member.
The suspension consists of a 50mm inverted front forks, and a rear aluminium alloy swing arm with rear mono shock absorber that has adjustable rebound and spring preload.
Stopping the GT and GTS are twin floating 320mm diameter discs at the front with four-piston radial callipers and a 260mm diameter disc with a two-piston calliper on the rear.
The BN 600GT and GTS come in white, black and unique matt army green with a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty and two-year roadside assist.