- Benelli’s parent company gets a 350cc sportsbike type-approved
- It might replace the Benelli 302R in markets outside China
Benelli’s Chinese parent company, Qianjiang, has a lot of motorcycles under wraps that will be introduced first in China and then probably in other markets. However, some of these upcoming products have been uncovered ahead of their official debut. One of these is a new 350cc fully-faired sportsbike.
Qianjiang has recently received type approval for this motorcycle in China. To some extent, it looks similar to the 600cc sportsbike that QJMotor already has in its line-up. So there’s a dual-LED headlamp, a tall windscreen, a geometric-looking fairing, a muscular fuel tank and a sharp tail section. With a split seat, a clip-on handlebar and mildly rear-set footpegs, the ergonomics should also be fairly sporty.
The leaked type-approval document has also revealed certain specifications of the bike. What we know so far is that it is powered by a 353cc, parallel-twin cylinder engine that makes around 36bhp of power. And the kerb weight stands at 179kg, which is pretty heavy for a bike of this class. For instance, the KTM RC 390 weighs just around 147kg (kerb). There will be two versions of the motorcycle in China including a standard variant with a single front disc and a higher-spec trim with dual rotors.
This motorcycle could be launched in other international markets as a replacement for the existing Benelli 302R. We might also see it entering India in the distant future. Meanwhile, Qianjiang is also readying a 250cc fully-faired motorcycle and you can read about it here.
