Benelli has a reasonably dedicated set of fans in India, given its diverse range of motorcycles at competitive prices. Another one is in the offing – the 502c, which is set for a launch at the end of this month. A pre-booking amount of Rs 10,000 is required, if you’re keen on it right away. The 502c is being touted as a middleweight cruiser, although it looks far sportier than that, if you ask us.
Correct us if we’re wrong, but we see a lot of Ducati Diavel in the 502c. Check out that 21.5-litre fuel tank, for example, and the way it swoops downward, or the way the handlebars fan outwards. The LED headlight adds a touch of menace to the bike, and the twin-can exhaust and step-up saddle look cool too. 17-inch wheels hold up the bike at each end, and you get a digital instrument panel and a trellis frame.
The 500cc parallel-twin off the Leoncino 500 and TRK 502 does duty here as well, with a 6-speed gearbox. The engine puts out 46.8 bhp and 4.7 kgm of torque. Up front, there’s USD forks and at the rear, a monoshock takes care of proceedings; there are twin disc brakes at the front, with a single disc out back. The 502c’s closest competitor will probably be Kawasaki’s Vulcan S.