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Leoncino

Baru-baru ini, Qianjiang Motorcycle telah pun memfailkan paten nama Harley-Davidson 338R di Amerika Syarikat sekaligus mengesahkan kehadiran motosikal berkapasiti kecil itu tidak lama lagi.

Walaupun mengambil masa lebih dua tahun untuk kerjasama Qianjiang-Harley Davidson membuahkan hasil akhirnya perkembangan mengenai motosikal berkapasiti kecil sulung dari Harley-Davidson itu bakal direalisasikan.

*Harley-Davidson 338R

Seperti dilaporkan sebelum ini, HD 338R itu dikuasakan enjin sama daripada Benelli 302R.

Bagaimanapun, dalam perkembangan terbaru, Qianjiang dilaporkan sedang menguji sebuah lagi motosikal Harley-Davidson kali ini babitkan model 500cc.

Lebih menarik, motosikal Harley-Davidson 500cc itu menampakkan chasis dan enjin yang sama daripada Benelli Leoncino 500.

*Benelli Leoncino 500

Berdasarkan tangkapan gambar yang tular, segala elemen yang kelihatan – termasuk kerangka, fork depan 50mm dan kaliper brek radial – adalah mirip dengan Leoncino 500.

Bukan itu sahaja, bahagian swingarm, braket nombor plat, rim, footpeg dan handlebar juga dipinjamkan daripada Leoncino.

Namun, perbezaan ketara adalah di bahagian tangki dan subframe yang telah direka semula dengan DNA Harley-Davidson sendiri.

Bahagian sisi tangki juga memaparkan logo Harley-Davidson lantas memberi bayangan model ini telah berada dalam peringkat akhir ujian.

Sekiranya benar Harley-Davidson ini bernadikan enjin parallel-twin 500cc dari Leoncino maka dijangka model baharu itu akan menawarkan sekitar 45 hingga 50hp.

  • Benelli Leoncino 800 picture was leaked from vehicle type approval submissions.

  • It will use the 754cc engine from the 752S.

  • The bike follows the Leoncino 502’s neo retro design.

The Benelli Leoncino 800 concept was unveiled at EICMA last year but the picture of a production ready prototype was leaked recently.

According to Bennets, the picture came from Benelli’s submission for vehicle type approval. The Leoncino 800 utilises the 754cc parallel-Twin from the 752S (not available in Malaysia), while retaining the neo retro styling of the Leoncino 502.

The engine produces 74 HP and the manufacturer claimed a top speed of 190 km/h. The document also listed its weight at 223 kg, ready to ride.

As the picture shows, the bike features the usual beefy forks clamped by equally thick triple clamps. Braking is handled by Benelli-branded calipers with large brake discs. ABS is standard as the sensor plate is apparent on the left disc.

But unlike the concept, the production bike uses cast instead of spoked wheels.

The bike should be launched officially soon and we shall see if it comes to Malaysia.

While built in China, Benelli motorcycles are designed and engineered in Italy. The brand has grown stronger over the years and the TRK502 is now the third best-selling motorcycle in Italy behind the BMW R 1250 GS and Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin so far this year.

Benelli is currently owned by Qianjiang Motorcycle Company. Recently, Harley-Davidson inked a deal with the company to produce smaller displacement models for China and Asia.

Source: Bennetts UK

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