Motorcycle specifications Benda MotorNapoléon 125 2025 The big mouth

For the past few months, Benda has been surprising us with a boldness rarely seen since perhaps the golden age of Option Moto magazine, with motorcycles that look as if they've come straight out of one crazy customization workshop after another.

And yet, these are production bikes! The brand seems to have reached the height of its audacity with the mass production of the Napoleon 125: a custom bobber racer packed with personality and a face capable of making any large-displacement American custom bike pale in comparison...

Design: go all out!

A remarkable motorcycle is one that stands out in a dense crowd, in the mass of two-wheeled production worldwide. This Napoleon 125 can't leave you indifferent. At worst, it astonishes. Some people at the Lyon show even wondered what capacity it came under, proving that style effectively erases its small displacement. Others still wondered whether it was really a certified motorcycle!

While the overall look is reminiscent of the Triumph Bonneville Bobber TFC, the front axle is as much a mechanical feature as an aesthetic one on the little Chinese bike. This telescopic fork is fitted with two multi-link shock absorbers, giving the front end a cage-like effect.

The rest of the bike follows the same sporty little bobber trend, with a fairly dynamic fuel tank and a brown leather suspended seat that matches the brown grips. The green color scheme is a nice touch, as are the bronze cylinder head covers. All in all, this custom is not flashy, and almost eschews chrome. The work done to integrate (conceal?) the lights on the bike is also commendable. For example, the small LED front light is in keeping with the spirit of the machine, the rear light blends into the hull under the seat, and the rear indicators are mounted on the plate holder, placed flush with the wheel and almost at ground level by a steel trellis to support it on the swingarm.

With a saddle height of just 750 mm, it's easy for everyone to get their feet on the ground. However, you'll need good legs to reach the advanced controls (braking and gearbox).

You can think whatever you like about this machine, but certainly not that it's made on the cheap. Chinese production is clearly moving upmarket, and this 125 Napoleon proves it with its stylized frame caps. We've ridden it over and over again, and the bike clearly doesn't look like a plastic toy. In fact, it was this very quality that led visitors to believe that the machine was a large-displacement machine. The little V2's looks also have a lot to do with it. Its finish is also very well done, filling the frame. Its short-gun exhausts also free up the rear of the bike, accentuating its dynamism.

Again for looks, Benda has opted for large 130 mm balloon tires at the front and 160 mm at the rear on 18-inch wheels. This profile should reduce the bike's manoeuvrability, but will preserve its comfort. The instrumentation consists of a cute, round TFT color screen in front of the half handlebars. We don't yet know all its capabilities, but if the capacities seen on competitors such as the Moto-Morini RUMBLE are anything to go by, this screen should no doubt offer a navigation function via a Bluetooth connection, in addition to the rev counter, speedometer and fuel gauge.

Engine: stroke of genius or frustration?

The market for medium- and large-displacement custom bikes in France is not exactly flourishing. Just look at the figures for Harley-Davidson and Indian. So Benda, which already has the spectacular LFC 700 in this segment, chose to target the 125 market. Aaaarf, disappointment for some, but it's undoubtedly an opportunity to pick up a few good sales in a market with no competition, and where the Benda name will no doubt play a part in the bike's success.

As a result, we end up with a V2 engine like the big ones, but with a displacement of just 125 cm3 and a maximum torque of 14.5 Nm at 8,500 rpm. So you'll have to work hard to get this little mill to deliver its best. For this, a 6-speed gearbox is at your disposal, which you'll have to manipulate with the tip of your toe on the advanced controls. Final drive is by chain - a belt would undoubtedly have been preferable.

To stop the engine's "big" bursts of speed (Vmax of 120 km/h) or at least the crew (the bike weighs 182 kg with full tanks), the brakes feature a 300 mm disc at the front and 240 mm at the rear, under ABS control.

Is 5,499 euros expensive?

Benda doesn't mince its words when it comes to pricing. This 125 is one of the most expensive 125s on the market. For once, we're not totally against inflation, but you get what you pay for, starting with a machine that will leave many mouths agape when you arrive at the traffic lights, at work or at the café. The warranty is two years on parts and labor, so if the bike's fittings age well beyond that, you won't have been cheated! A little machine that the families who own it will probably not be ready to part with...

Vincent Beaucousin