Testing is underway on Benelli’s 750cc parallel twin we first scooped last year – suggesting it will be ready for an official reveal before the end of 2017.
Videos have emerged in China, where the Benelli is being developed by the firm’s parent company Qianjiang, showing finished-looking bikes in action. The as-yet-unnamed bike is even proudly displayed at the firm’s headquarters, as seen in this picture.
The red prototype shows that there have been few changes made since. The exhaust silencer has been mildly reshaped and there are new castings for both the main and pillion footpegs. The headlight is fractionally different and the rear brake caliper has been repositioned from above to below the swingarm. Additional oil feed pipework on the engine shows that there are mechanical changes afoot, too, although the basic design of the 750cc twin is unchanged.
While the current development is happening in China, the engine originated in Italy. It’s basically two cylinders of Benelli’s existing triple, and was first mooted a decade ago when the firm revealed the Due 756 prototype. That bike made its first appearance as far back as the Intermot show in Cologne in 2006, reappearing several times over the next few years but never reaching production.
Spec-wise, the Due 756 claimed 72kW from the parallel-twin engine at 10,000rpm along with 64Nm of torque at 8000rpm. Prototypes were regularly spotted running when it was under development, so there’s little reason to doubt the figures. Whether stricter modern emissions limits will reduce that output on the new Chinese-made twin has yet to be seen.
The Benelli 750 is expected to soon be joined by a 900cc three-cylinder version, which we also scooped last year, along with a 1200cc shaft-drive tourer in a couple of years’ time.
A prototype Benelli 750 takes pride of place in Qianjiang’s HQ
By Ben Purvis