Ever since Benelli started showcasing us products designed by CentroStile Benelli, their reputation seems to have gotten back to its original charm albeit owned by a Chinese firm. The same design house has once again wowed us by showcasing the Leoncino (pronounced Leon-cheeno), meaning the Lion Cub street and the Leoncino Trail, the scrambler-esque edition.

These motorcycles were first showcased at the 2015 EICMA as a concept, and the very next year, the production model came out for the European and a few Asian markets, and it had maintained the rugged and beautiful lines. We are here for the "all-terrain" version of the two-cylinder Casa di Pesaro.

2016 - 2018 Benelli Leoncino Trail

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 - 2018 Benelli Leoncino Trail
  • Horsepower: 48
  • Torque: 33
  • Transmission: 6
Pros
Cons

STYLING

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Benelli Leoncino Lion Cub

Benelli Leoncino Trail


The retro – modern design language is literally in vogue now. And this Leoncino Trail has got the same treatment by the fashion gurus at CentroStile Benelli along with the standard Leoncino Lion Cub. It is an intelligent fusion of an old-school cover over modern technology that is born to live both the city and the wild life. The Leoncino Trail is designed to be on the gravel with poise reminding you of the pure emotions that Benelli was famous for.

Similar to the Lion Cub, the curvy fuel tank, round headlight, stubby mudguard and floating tail section is an intelligent fusion of old-school design with modern touches that will appeal to every enthusiast. The LED package takes care of all illumination duties on the motorcycle, and the highlight has to be the Lion of Pesaro which sits atop the front mudguard.

The saddle being both accessible and linear perfectly follows the lines of the bike along the exhaust and tank design, which gives the Leoncino balanced and modern proportions. The lines get even extenuated when you notice the frame, a trellis in exposed steel tubes, integrates itself into the design forming along the fuel tank.

The Leoncino Trail ditches the sophisticated look of the 17” alloys and street radials of the Lion Cub instead attire 19” aluminum alloy rim and hub with steel spokes wrapped with knobby tires. Both engine and the trellis frame gets the black theme along with the padded Alcantara pilot seat to give the permeated X factor. Due to all this, the bike looks taller and longer than the Lion Cub.

Overall Dimension

Make Model

Benelli Leoncino Trail

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag

Length

85.5 in

84.6 in

Width

34.4 in

33.8 in

Height

45.6 in

45.8 in

Wheelbase

57.3 in

57.4 in

Seat height

32.4 in

31 in

Wet weight

462 lb

403 lb

Fuel Tank

3.5 gal

3.6 gal


POWERTRAIN

The Trail gets the same heart seen in the Leoncino Lion Cub. It is a twin-cylinder, four-stroke engine, liquid-cooled, 500cc, with a maximum power of 48 hp at 8500 rpm and maximum torque of 33 lb-ft that comes in at a low 5000rpm. This early surge of torque will enable the Leoncino to get off the block quicker and also give the scrambler a strong mid-range power band while on the move.

Featuring wet sump lubrication, electronic injection, overhead double camshaft timing system and four valves per cylinder, this mill promotes to be a fluid and reactive engine, which responds very well in acceleration. It also features a 37 mm dual throttle body, clutch in oil bath and a 6-speed gearbox completing the picture of a motor-safe and modern transmission wile duly abiding Euro IV emission norms.

Engine Specification

Make Model

Benelli Leoncino Trail

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag

Capacity cc

499.6

399

Bore / Stroke mm

59 / 66.8

72 / 49

Output

48 hp @ 8500 rpm

40 hp @ 8750 rpm

Torque

33 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

25.5 lb-ft @ 8000 rpm

Type

In line 2 cylinders, 4-stroke, liquid cooled, double overhead camshaft, 4 valves for cylinder

L-Twin cylinder, Desmodromic distribution, 2 valves per cylinder, air-cooled

Clutch type

Wet- Multiplate

Wet multiplate clutch with mechanical control

Transmission

6-speed

6-speed


RIDE AND HANDLING

Given the genre of these motorcycles, the riding position is quite upright with the slightly raised handlebar and footrest position. The saddle will provide sufficient cushion, and its contour puts the rider at ease and comfort. The frame is of the trellis type lattice of steel tubes on whose terminal part is hidden under the tank. All of this leads to more control over the bike, with enough room to move around and stand up on footrests when the situation demands for it.

The Leoncino Trail was born to raid the rugged terrains. It ditches the 17” alloy wheels and gets on with the larger 19" front and 17" rear aluminum alloy rims and hubs laced with steel spokes instead. The knobby tires also change in size with 110 / 80- R19 at the front and 150/70 - R17 at the rear, guaranteeing grip, stability, and performance as they ride dusty back roads as well as rough terrain with ease all day. Maybe why the bike loses 35 pounds compared to the Lion Cub.

Suspension duties are handled by upside down 50mm adjustable forks which now comes with a 10mm longer travel compared to the ones seen in the Lion Cub. At the rear, swingarm’s movement is controlled by a laterally mounted shock absorber, also have a higher rate of travel at 45mm - (112mm wheel excursion post). Hence the rider now sits 40mm taller compared to the Lion Cub.

For some reason, the braking department sees a step down in the form of a two-piston caliper at the front instead of the 4 piston brake calipers seen on the Lion Cub. The steel disc remains the same nonetheless at 320mm at the front and a 260mm disc with a single piston floating caliper at the rear with ABS as standard.

Chassis Specifications

Make Model

Benelli Leoncino Trail

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag

Frame

Frame in steel tubes

Tubular steel Trellis frame

Suspension / Front

Upside-down fork with 50 mm stems adjustable in the extended brake

Traditional Showa 41 mm fork

Suspension / Rear

Swingarm with single side damping adjustable in spring preload and extension brake

Kayaba rear shock with fully adjustable preload

Brakes / Front

Double disc 320 mm with floating caliper 2 pistons and ABS

320 mm disc, 2-piston floating caliper with ABS as standard

Brakes / Rear

Single disc 260 mm with single-piston floating caliper and ABS

245 mm disc, 1-piston floating caliper with ABS as standard

Tires / Front

110 / 80- R19

Pirelli MT 60 RS 110/80 R18

Tires / Rear

150/70 - R17

Pirelli MT 60 RS 160/60 R17


PRICE

Unfortunately, Benelli USA is not currently interested in getting this Lion onto our shores. It has been on sale in European and a few Asian markets for a couple of years now and costs around $7,000 - $8,500 depending on the market.

Leoncino Trail is available in red, silver and black colors and comes with a 24-month factory warranty and 24-month Customer Care Program.

Make Model

Benelli Leoncino Trail

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag

MSRP

$ 8,500 (Est)

$ 8,650


COMPETITION

Ducati Scrambler Hashtag

The Hashtag 400 takes all of its cues from the Scrambler Sixty2 that ran the streets of America right up until last year. The same bare-ass nakedness rolls on here with the minimal frame components and a light, clean look. Although this is the most affordable Ducati, the Italians haven’t made any compromises in giving it genuine, top-class materials such as the steel on the swingarm, the same material used to make the teardrop tank and the frame just like the Sixty2.

It runs on the same powertrain made of the 399 cc, air-cooled, L-twin engine that cranks out 40 ponies at 8750 rpm and 25.5 pounds of grunt at 8000 rpm, sufficient power for fun while staying well within the manageable range. The same six-speed transmixxer is also employed here.

The Hashtag also shares the chassis, wheels, suspension and braking units with the Sixty2. Featuring a twin upper spar steel Trellis frame and swingarm, the frame provides sufficient sturdiness for throwing around the machine on uneven rocky surfaces. 41 mm, Showa right-side-up forks and Kayaba coil-over monoshock handle the suspension with the right mix of comfort and performance. Whereas braking is taken care of 320 mm disc with a twin-pot caliper up front and 245 mm disc with a single-pot caliper in the back are sufficient. Bosch 9.1 MP ABS system with an internal pressure sensor give maximum stopping performance.

VERDICT

Leoncino is a tribute to a legend of Italian motorcycling, the original 1955 125cc Leoncino, that has made the history of Benelli, and that today, thanks to the new CentroStile della Casa di Pesaro, finds its identity and its strong personality in the modern world.

Designed to perfectly match the motorcycle’s sharp forms with harmonious lines all the while representing the pure emotion that Benelli is famous for, the Leoncino Trail will flaunt unique styles of riding to give the riders a modest, yet a tasteful take on the young generation of bikes. With knobby tires, spoked wheels and higher suspension travels, this Trail is ready to take on tough terrains across the world.

It is a sincere attempt by Benelli to enter the retro styling bandwagon with this scrambler. The strategy many manufacturers like the Ducati and Triumph have been spurned by. Competition for them, a treat for us. Bravo!