Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli has collaborated with Pune-based DSK Motowheels to bring its range of premium, sporty bikes to India. DSK-Benelli has announced a wide portfolio of bikes, ranging from 300cc, going all the way up to the flagship 1130cc Benelli TNT. In our markets though, the most significant offering will be the smallest capacity, twin-cylinder, 300cc BN302. Despite popular models like the Duke and RC twins from KTM, there is still plenty left to be exploited in the sub-500cc bike category in India.
In typical Italian fashion, the BN302 is well-styled and nicely proportioned. The BN302’s slim-spoke alloy rims match the motorcycle, as do smart linings that run around the wheel rims. Boxes on the specification sheet that get ticks include twin front disc brakes, USD forks, a liquid-cooled engine and steel tube trellis frame spine that holds it all together. The BN302’s tank is muscular, attractive-looking and flows smoothly into the riding seat, tail panels and smart grab rails. A stubby exhaust canister sits low under the engine, guarded by a smart, dark-coloured belly pan.
The bike derives power from a parallel twin, high-revving 300cc engine that’s liquid-cooled and runs four valves per cylinder from its set of overhead camshafts. 36.2bhp of power is made at 11,500rpm, with maximum torque of 2.7kgm output high up in the powerband at 9,000rpm. It’s a liquid-cooled powerplant, with a twin, 38mm throttle body fuel-injection system in place. Compression is 12:1, while the cylinders measure 65mm bore x 45.2mm stroke.
It comes with a six-speed gearbox, a chain for final drive and top speed of the bike is expected to be in excess of 150kph. The BN302 uses a steel trellis frame, fat 41mm upside-down front forks and a horizontally offset rear shock absorber that is adjustable for preload. There’s a set of twin, 260mm front discs with a 240mm single disc brake at the rear (ventilated, petal type rotors for both).
The BN302 looks like a sporty, smartly styled street naked twin with potential enough to spice up the Indian sportsbike scene. Kawasaki has offered the Ninja 300 in the same space for some time now, with their similar spec naked bike, the Z250, now here as well. Yet, the market remains dominated by KTM’s electrifying single-cylinder motorcycles. Though pricing remains a question mark for the moment, DSK is expected to get it right given their experience in the Indian market, and that, could spell a bright future for the BN302 in India.
