Just a few months after the Australian launch, the Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail has landed here at BikeReview for a long-term test! Check out what Zane thinks of his new daily ride...
It has been a fair few years since I last had a long-term machine, there’s simply no better way to become acquainted with a machine. After jumping off the all-new Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail at the Australian launch, UMI have signed off the bike to be my daily rider for the next year!
Zane has just picked up the latest BikeReview long-termer, the 2022 Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail!
Check out Zane’s Leoncino 800 launch report…
The Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail seriously impressed me at the Australian launch, tackling dirt roads at high speeds, being completely submerged in water crossings and touring a fair chunk of the Victorian coast lines. Hundreds of KM’s down, thrashing the life out of it and the cross-over machine wanted more thrown at it!
It’s like being reunited with an old friend and being reminded of all the silly things you did together! Like pretending to be a submarine…
I’m excited to be reacquainted with one of the exact bikes were riding at the Australian launch, even more excited to see it still puffing along after definitely sucking through a heap of water. I believe that’s a testament to it’s build quality in itself.
Grabbing the bike from MCAS Superstore in Campbelltown, I’m met by a shop full of friendly faces and motorcycling heaven! The store moved from Liverpool to Campbelltown a few years back but I have a fond memory of gearing up for my first ever motorcycle, a KX65 dad had bought me for Christmas. I’m glad to see that the friendly formula hasn’t changed and everyone is simply stoked to be working there.
Sitting in the corner of the workshop is my old friend, still looking stunning. I’m glad they chose the “Forest Green” as my long-termer, I did mention it was my favourite out of the three choices! Italian styling remains unbeaten in my books, Benelli have done an awesome job incorporating that exposed frame with neo-traditional parts, like the number plate, oval headlight and high exit muffler.
First ride home, the Leoncino 800 Trail feels even better on the familiar roads of the Illawarra.
I forgot how awesome this bike sounds for its category, the parallel twin sounds so cranky down-low with the twin exit on the Trail being the better sounding option between the Standard and Trail models. The 754cc twin-cylinder has plenty of lowdown grunt that loves to pick up for a little bit of extra go at the top of the rev range.
Leaving MCAS, I’m reminded of the easy rideability seen across the entire Leoncino range. The clutch action is awesome, not too grabby and an easy to find bite point. The Trail does have a slight reduction in gearing size, this translates to some more low-end grunt over the road model!
The 40mm USD forks feel awesome with the longer travel seen on the Trail model, it suits the chassis so much better! I can’t wait to have a muck around with the preload and rebound to see if just a little bit more comfort can be obtained as it can be harsh at times.
The Pirelli Scorpions round out the bike perfectly, I’m still yet to find a pair of hoops that can tackle the on and off-road sides of an adventure machine quite the same as the Scorpions. Combine this with the twin four piston calipers up the front and the USD forks mentioned previously and the machine corners and stops excellently for its price point!
Make sure you tune in for our longterm update! You might just fall in love with the Leoncino 800 Trail like we have.
I’m looking forward to the next year with the Leoncino, hopefully we can score a few bits and pieces to chuck on it and improve this already awesome bike. Make sure you check out my launch report for a comprehensive test and stay up to date with my updates. Like having your mate as a roommate, we will be seeing if the Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail is as awesome to live with as it is to ride for a few days!
Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail Tech Talk
The heart of Leoncino 800 is the 754cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, twin-cylinder engine; which is now Euro 5 approved. Suitable for off road use thanks to the configuration with crank pin angle phase of 90° from which it gets an irregular firing sequence (0° – 270° – 450°).
The new cylinder-head has been redesigned to integrate a secondary air system, and optimise the intake and cooling system. The distribution case has also been stiffened in order to reduce noise emissions and strengthen the engine/chassis fixing points.
The suspension consists of a front upside-down fork with 50mm tubes. On the back there is a swingarm with central adjustable monoshock with spring preload and rebound damping. The frame is a steel tube trellis (ALS 420) with cast and forged details. It has four engine fixing points on each side. The engine is used to strengthen and stiffen the overall frame.
The braking is sorted by dual 320mm diameter semi-floating discs on the front and four-piston radial-mount monoblock calipers, with a 260mm diameter disc on the back with a double-piston caliper. Despite early press information showing Brembo calipers and Marzocchi suspension, Australia will not receive this equipment. Suspension, Brakes and ABS were all development in-house at Benelli.
The Leoncino 800 Trail features everything from the standard model but adds a double exhaust in a raised position and 19in front wheel. Also different is suspension travel length.
The transmission has undergone updates to the clutch (spring calibration, discs and clutch damper) and to the final ratio, now reduced with the 46 tooth sprocket. The exhaust system has been completely redesigned, low and short silencer for road version, high with double exit for Trail version.
In turn, the suspension has been upgraded: the front fork has longer travel, from 130mm in the road model to 140mm in the Trail version. The same upgrade took place on the rear, travel was increased from 130mm to 140mmm. The Leoncino 800 Trail seat is raised to 834mm from 805mm seen on the road model.
Also different on the Trail model are the spoked rims with tubeless tyres (19in front, 17in rear), the bike comes stock with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres, 120/70 19in front and 170/60 17in rear.
2022 Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail Specifications
Price: $13,990 rideaway
Colours: Forest Green, Rock Grey and Terrain Brown
Claimed Power: 56kW@8500rpm
Claimed Torque: 67Nm@6500rpm
Wet Weight: 234kg
Fuel capacity: 15L
Engine: Liquid-cooled, in-line two-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC, four-valves per cylinder, 754cc, 88 x 62mm bore x stroke, 43mm throttle-bodies, 11.5:1 compression ratio, 6-speed gearbox, slipper clutch.
Chassis: Frame: Trellis steel tubes
Rake: N/A Trail: N/A
Suspension: Upside-down forks with 50mm tubes 140mm Travel (f) Aluminium rear swing arm with central shock absorber spring preload and hydraulic rebound adjustable 140mm Travel (r)
Brakes: Twin semi-floating disc 320mm, mono block radial caliper 4-pistons and ABS (f) Single disc 260mm with double piston and ABS (r)
Wheels & Tyres: Spoked Wheel, 19in x MT3.00, 17in x MT4.25.
Dimensions:
Length: 2200mm
Height: 1210mm
Width: 870mm
Seat Height: 834mm
Wheelbase: 1480mm
Ground clearance: 191mm
Instruments & Electronics: DRL, LED lighting, TFT Dash
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The Author
January 16, 2023
I have been waiting near 3 weeks in Sydney for a MT07 Clutch Cable.
Can’t imagine the parts problems down the track with low volume selling brands
and low selling models of large brands either. !!!!!!!!