Benelli take inspiration from Harley-Davidson with all-new V-twin Leoncino Bobber 400

Benelli are stepping into the bobber game with the introduction of their all-new Leoncino (Italian for lion cub) Bobber 400 cruiser.

Joining the existing three strong Leoncino family, the retro-inspired cruiser bridges the gap between their CBT-suitable Leoncino 125 and the beefier 500 and 800cc models, calling upon a new Euro5+ compliant 386.5cc V-twin motor that produces a claimed 25bhp at 8000rpm and 27lb.ft of torque at just 4500rpm.

This new powertrain is the Pesaro brand’s first attempt at creating a 60-degree twin and uses a 60mm bore and 68mm stroke.

Transfering the Leoncino’s A2 licence friendly thrust to the back wheel is a synchronous belt drive – uncommon on smaller capacity machines but a staple of the heavyweight cruiser world.

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The output system offers lower maintenance and a quieter running than a conventional chain drive, although it is usually accompanied by the complexity of having to remove the swingarm for eventual belt replacements.

Styling cues appear to come courtesy of the big players in the bobber game such as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, with Harley’s hallmark right-hand side mounted air intake adopted for the mid-sized Benelli.

This could purely be an exercise to replicate the look of the Milwaukee brand’s iconic machines, or a clever means of cutting down on servicing complexity, with the air filter made more readily accessible without the need to remove the 15-litre fuel tank.

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Housing the motor is a steel double cradle frame, mated to a steel swing arm arrangement – standard fare for this genre of bike.

In terms of suspension, the Leoncino gets non-adjustable units all-round, the rear using a twin shock set-up and the front getting 35mm upside down forks. These are good for 100mm and 125mm of travel respectively.

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Packing a seat height of just 730mm, the 400 Bobber should make for an unintimidating package to most riders, especially combined with an easily manageable wet weight of just 180kg.

Ergonomics are just what you’d expect from a bobber, with footpegs drawn forward away from the rider and low-rise bars upfront. UK pricing is yet to be announced, however bikes will be available in 2025.