Benelli BN 125: small in displacement and price, but to be enjoyed [ROAD TEST]

Benelli BN – In the nineties, having a 125 was truly “cool”. Arriving at school with the "real" motorbike, the one with gears, was already a source of pride in itself and even more so to have one with a sporty appearance. These were the years of the Mito or the Aprilia replicas which, thanks to their successes in the MotoGP, were also very popular on the market. Today things have changed a bit. Above all, but not only, for the rules that have eliminated the 125 2-strokes even with almost 40 horsepower, in favor of the 4-strokes with the limit of 15 colts. However, the world of two wheels today is also more accessible, the offer has multiplied and even younger consumers have become much more expert and aware. It is therefore logical to expect products that are increasingly similar to their sisters with larger displacements and this is the case of the Benelli BN 125, small in engine size, but with an overall quality and very respectable equipment. All offered at a price that is, on the contrary, decidedly low and which makes it not only an alternative to the scooter, but even a first choice.

At Benelli they must have racked their brains to the hilt before launching the BN 125. A lot of effort, however, was rewarded by the fact of having created a motorbike with a sporty nature, but also versatile and with a lot of character. The engine is lively and despite a horsepower below the legal limit, it is able to give satisfaction to the driver, with very low consumption. Comfort is of a truly high level, as is the general construction quality, made up of a steel tube trellis frame that works very well, a powerful braking system and also a nice digital instrument panel complete with all the information and also easily readable. in full sun. If being very beautiful is clear at first glance, we'll tell you about being good below. So happy reading and have fun when you have the opportunity to get on it.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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“Monstrous” look for the little Benelli

The white version arrived for testing and from an aesthetic point of view we have few things to note. The line is modern and aggressive, the combination between the white of the tank, the red of the trellis frame and the other color contrasts are definitely spot on. Furthermore, as in all self-respecting naked bikes, the engine becomes an integral part of the design. Everything has an extremely tidy appearance, even the wiring which has no burrs or parts that are not optimally inserted into the structure. In fact, at first glance, the BN 125 doesn't even look like a 125.

Rather, she recalls the worthy heir of many other nudes who have made the fortune of Italian motorcycling. Let's say that the effect is "monstrous"... The rich visual impact is completed by the two large brakes and a generously sized exhaust but not at all in contrast with the rest of the bike's line.

Engine and performance:

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Just crank up the revs and the fun is guaranteed

The Benelli BN 125 is equipped with a single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine. The engine has a maximum power of 11,1 HP (8,2 kW) at 9500 rpm and a torque of 10 Nm at 7.000. The distribution is single overhead camshaft and 4 valves per cylinder. The electronic fuel injection with 28 mm diameter throttle body. The gearbox is 5-speed, with wet clutch, precise and with an immediate feel.

The engine has the classic single-cylinder voice, but once running there are only positive surprises. The driving must always be quite "cheerful" with high revs and in this area, in our opinion, the BN gives its best. The top speed is not bad: 115 km/h reached with wide open throttle and asking the engine for a little more effort, which it reciprocates by raising the tone of its voice, but complying with our request.

Ride and handling:

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Glued to the road and ready to brake

Rideability is certainly the best weapon, together with the price, of the Benelli BN 125. The bike is compact, light, but has very good ergonomics and road holding that we have no hesitation in defining as excellent. The driving position is very comfortable. The average height pilot will have his legs at the right angle, which allows him not to tire his hind limbs and his torso doesn't suffer either, despite the absence of shelter from the air. The trunk, in fact, remains in a fairly upright position, but not too much: in short, a cross between a sports car and a motard. Your arms and neck thank you. The fact that the bike has narrow sides gives the feeling of always being in full control and wriggling through traffic is child's play (even for adults).

But as soon as we have some space available, the little Benelli surprises us. We open the throttle, rev up the engine and tackle some wide-ranging curves. The front is glued to the ground and the trellis frame allows for truly exceptional road holding, among the best in the category. Even when the wind and the trails of the trucks try to put her in difficulty, she responds presently. Contributing to all this are the upside-down fork with 35 mm stanchions at the front and an oscillating swingarm at the rear, with central shock absorber adjustable in spring preload with 40 mm travel. Earlier we mentioned the braking system, let's delve deeper. The Benelli BN 125 features a 260mm disc and three-piston caliper at the front, while at the rear we find a 240mm disc with a two-piston caliper. In short, a very respectable braking system, perhaps even a little oversized, but which you learn to exploit in a very short time, with the front taking on almost all the work and the rear ready to correct any imperfections.

Price and consumption:

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It's cheap, it's complete and it's not even on sale!

The Benelli BN 125 is available in three different colours, white, black and red and is on sale at a price of 2.390 euros ex-dealership, well below all its direct competitors, but with very good build quality. Consumption is very good. The company claims 1,7 liters per 100 km, well over the 50 km/l threshold! Honestly, we haven't reached these peaks, but we haven't strayed too far either. Also for this aspect we liked it a lot.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Truly excellent driving position and road holding.
We do not like it:
A few more horses are missing, which would have made a very versatile bike even more fun.

Benelli BN 125: the Motorionline Report Card

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Tester clothing:
Gloves, jacket, trousers and shoes: Spidi
Back protector: Spidi Back Warrior
Helmet: Nolan N40-5 GT