Motorcycle specifications Benelli 500 Leoncino Sport 2018 A claw between the ears.

It's amazing! When it comes to style, these Italians are good at it. And we love it. Because the Leoncino makes the most of it. Barely out on the street, the young fawn concocts a café-racer version to great effect. Fashion dictated the exercise, of course, as it has for so many others. But there's plenty to enjoy here. No stopwatch, no pressure, just tension and a dose of gym-tonic for the 500 Leoncino Sport.

Benelli has thus decided to continue the trend by "courting" its little roadster. With a certain panache that cannot be overlooked. And the Leoncino Sport is no slouch. It's got all the right paraphernalia. The added fork head takes care of the look with a minimum of protection. Behind it, good care is taken to allow the rider to smash his arms as he should on a pair of handlebar straps. While some of its rivals do without, Pesaro's bike respects the tradition of spoked rims. Then, a series of gimmicks will turn the temptation on its head: seat cover, radiator protector overflowing into scoops, split sport exhaust, saddle with specific patterns and covering, black exhaust line, frisky coloring, and the little touch that kills: a mini hard case on the right-hand side, simulating a number plate. Barely enough room for a wallet.

Under the skin, there are no technical changes for this Leoncino Sport. With its big, sporty front end, the threat begins with a 50 mm inverted fork, 320 mm discs and 4-piston radial brake calipers. The engine's bite is much more moderate. The 500 cm3 twin puts out a mere 50 hp (47.6) and 4.6 mkg of torque. Too little for a racer, but enough for a long coffee on a country terrace. The little lion adorning the front mudguard is sure to make an impression on any onlooker.

We're entitled to wonder about the motivations of the Sino-Italian brand. As capable as Benelli is of producing dubious copies (Imperiale, 402S, 752S, TRK), this pencil sketch can be quite seductive. The Leoncino benefits from this good grace. With its sporty look, everyone will want to crack some mini-specials between quarters. It will be all the more regrettable to have a frankly modest dose of watts, given its provocative nature.

M.B - Photos contructeur