Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Road Test Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Speed, and What You (Really) Need to Know
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Road Test Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Speed, and What You (Really) Need to Know
The bike under review: Benelli Leoncino 800 2025, priced at €7,490 (ex-dealership).
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Build Quality
The build quality of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is remarkably solid and competitive with other motorcycles in its price range. While the Leoncino 800 remains on the heavier side and doesn't utilize exotic materials or sophisticated components, everything is well-made and functional. It boasts numerous premium aesthetic details, such as the prominent Benelli logo, the iconic Leoncino emblem, excellent footpegs, attractive wheels, good paintwork, and many other thoughtful touches like the incredibly soft-pull clutch.
The engine's paint finish is also beautiful and well-executed; it's difficult to find any flaws, at least on a new bike. Ultimately, at first glance, the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 offers excellent value for money.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Ergonomics and Riding Comfort
The riding comfort of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is exceptionally good for a naked bike. The only missing element is wind protection if you plan to consistently exceed 110 km/h. The seat is comfortable and accommodating for both rider and passenger, handlebar controls are smooth and intuitive, and the instrumentation is comprehensive and clearly visible. Vibrations are practically non-existent.
The only minor gripe is the lack of a secure grab handle for the passenger. Even with a pillion, up to 110-120 km/h, the riding comfort remains very good. Beyond 130 km/h, wind pressure becomes noticeable and can be tiring on long journeys. The controls are excellent, with levers that are adjustable for reach from the handlebar. For its category, the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 ranks near the top for comfort.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Suspension
The Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 features good suspension, always in relation to the motorcycle's type. Both the front fork and rear shock work well in tandem and are well-matched. They are stiff enough for excellent stability, just a bit firm on small bumps, and slightly soft on more severe compressions.
The front fork is non-adjustable, but its compromise setting is very effective; it absorbs harsh impacts well without feeling overly soft under light braking. It only dives significantly during emergency braking, but stability remains uncompromised, and the hydraulic damping prevents a quick rebound that could affect stability. The same behavior applies to the rear shock, which notably has an excellent remote control for quick spring preload adjustment – a convenient feature when riding with a passenger.
In conclusion, the suspension setup of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is appropriate for the bike's type, slightly firm but not so much that you feel every tiny road imperfection.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Braking and ABS
Overall, the braking performance of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is more than adequate, though there's a difference in behavior between the front and rear. The rear brake, unlike on some other bikes, is powerful and allows for excellent deceleration without requiring excessive lever effort. The front brake is equally powerful, but achieving sudden deceleration requires a firm pull on the lever.
Brake modulation is excellent, and the ABS intervention is also superb. The Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 may not set records for stopping distances, but the system is effective and well-suited to the bike's performance. Riders coming from a TRK will find it very powerful, while those accustomed to a sport bike might find the initial bite less aggressive. In our opinion, changing the brake pads should resolve this. It's also worth noting that the engine braking on the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is very effective, and for everyday, relaxed riding, it's often all you need to slow the bike before entering a corner.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Engine Performance and Top Speed
The engine of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is a now-mature product, reliable, and with good performance. Shifting into first gear immediately reveals a gearbox almost comparable to a Japanese unit. It starts instantly and emits a distinctive, pleasing sound, with reduced mechanical noise and smooth gear engagement and clutch disengagement.
Its operational smoothness is excellent; you can comfortably ride in sixth gear at under 50 km/h, partly due to a short but not excessively short gearing. In first gear, you can crawl in traffic at very low speeds without any issues. While engine heat is present, it's not particularly bothersome.
Overall performance is excellent, surpassing bikes of similar price and category, and not far behind bikes of the same displacement but significantly higher cost. Essentially, the engine's 77 HP are delivered with remarkable operational smoothness almost up to the 11,000 RPM redline, though it's rarely necessary to rev it that high. Its robust and lively mid-range means you'll find maximum satisfaction between 4,000 and 8,000 RPM, achieving respectable performance, even considering you're not utilizing the engine's full potential.
The top speed we achieved was just over 200 km/h, reached in a short distance, but it was heavily influenced by the rider's attire and physique due to the lack of wind protection. While some aspects of the chassis might raise questions about design choices, the engine deserves "honors." It's truly well-conceived and almost overkill for a bike that isn't primarily a "sprint" machine.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Transmission and Gearbox
The gearbox of the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 never presented any issues throughout the test. It's light, precise, and fluid, with a soft clutch. While it's not the absolute best gearbox in the world, it's better than many bikes touted as the best. Neutral is easy to find, and it's quick when needed – an excellent gearbox overall. The final gearing is generally short.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Handling, Stability, and Safety
The Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 demonstrates excellent handling characteristics, along with great ease of use and riding safety. It's incredibly easy to use in the city, proving to be an excellent choice for commuting. It stands out for its high maneuverability, excellent stability, and precise handling.
Its performance is somewhat limited by the stock tires with their tread pattern, but with more aggressive sport tires, it can hold its own on twisty roads. Cornering entry speed is excellent, and high-speed stability is also good. On winding routes, it's both fun and competitive to ride.
Its behavior on simple, unpaved dirt roads is also commendable; it's not an enduro, but it performs better than many adventure bikes, at least as long as the surface is hard and compact. Its performance on mountain roads is equally good.
It has no real chassis flaws. Only at high speeds does it become less precise, as you tend to grip the handlebars to counter wind force, which compromises steering precision. However, we're talking about speeds beyond legal limits. On long highway stretches, the only discomfort comes from the lack of wind protection; otherwise, the bike is excellent. The wide handlebars facilitate control.
Ultimately, the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 is far more fun and effective to ride than it might appear, and most importantly, it's significantly faster than other bikes credited with higher performance.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Real-World Fuel Consumption
In our test, the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 achieved an average fuel consumption of approximately 24 km/liter, with peaks of over 27 km/l and a maximum consumption of about 20 km/l. In essence, the new 800cc engine consumes similarly to the previous 500cc unit, which is an excellent result.
Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 Test: Conclusions, Pros, and Cons
The Benelli Leoncino 800 2025 has proven to be a highly capable motorcycle with an excellent price/performance/quality ratio.
Among its drawbacks, if we're to find any, we note the absence of a passenger grab handle, the lack of wind protection, and the front brake's somewhat less aggressive initial bite at the start of the lever's travel. For everything else, it's all pros.
Do you have any further questions or curiosities about the Benelli Leoncino 800 2025? salvatelliluca @ hotmail.com