VOL. 54 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 P47
D
riven especially by demand in Asian markets like Thailand and
China, small-capacity sport bikes are now many and varied, the
latest of which is the new Benelli 302R out of China under the
Quinjiang Group (but with Italian genes, as Benelli's HQ is still noted as
Pesaro, Italy).
That's because Benellis are manufactured in the Far East, as they
have been for some time. The 302R is not exactly new—it was released
at the 2015 EICMA Show in Milan, but this new one comes with Euro4
compliance and some funky new color schemes that will offer the
discerning junior something a touch different to the Yamaha R3, Honda
CBR300R, KTM RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the new Suzuki
GSX-250R—that's if they can get hold of one in America, because we
have yet to receive word the 302R will actually make it to our shores.
The 302R is powered by a 300cc parallel-twin that cranks out about
36 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 20 lb-ft of torque at 9000 rpm,
putting it on par with the CBR300R, which cranks out about 27-29
horsepower—depending on who is doing the dyno run.
Hopefully, we'll see this little beauty on U.S. roads in the near future
as (in our humble opinion) we think it's aesthetically the pick of the
junior sport bike crop. CN
2018 Benelli 302R
