Benelli Leoncino Trail: economical and total [ROAD TEST]

Benelli Leoncino Trail – The Leoncino has always brought good luck to Benelli, a great success since its birth in 1951, which received a strong boost from the victory in the '53 Motogiro d'Italia with the Bolognese Leopoldo Tartarini (and here another story begins... ). It is so perfect that it has been the subject of dozens of innovations and even transformations over the years. Among these, the ancient Carenato, Lusso, Motovan, Rikshaw (rickshaw) versions are worth seeing. Over time, the Leoncino Scrambler also arrived (first born in 1968, 125 2T), an idea now revived by Benelli. Since the '60s there has been a revolution, from the 125 cc of that time (which was a medium displacement), we moved on to the 500 of today (which is a medium displacement), from the two-stroke engine to the four-stroke one, and from Scrambler to Trail. Which however maintains that idea of ​​a pleasant and versatile vehicle, born for the road but capable of moving easily even on dirt roads.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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Excellent finishes, especially for its segment, the Trail gains a more fashionable look

The first impression is decidedly positive, the Leoncino Trail belongs to the group of economical motorbikes (under six thousand euros) but it doesn't show it: not only is the equipment of a good standard, but the details are also taken care of. Among these we mention LED lights; the dual outlet exhaust terminal with brushed steel cladding; the logos in relief and among these the iconic lion on the front mudguard. The digital dashboard is pleasant and complete, with the clock, the rev counter, the double trip and the fuel level indicator (in the example under test, however, not very precise).

The technical equipment is impressive, braking at the front is entrusted to a nice pair of 320 mm discs, the fork is upside down and adjustable in rebound and the monoshock is adjustable in preload and rebound. To adapt the Leoncino to on-off riding, the suspension has greater travel, the ground clearance gains 40 mm and the saddle goes from 735 to 835 mm (now it can be defined as high). Finally, there are the off-road spoked wheels, with the 19" front (from 17" on the road version) and the generous semi-knobby Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires (in sizes 110/80 and 150/70).

Engine and performance:

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Medium displacement (and power) twin-cylinder that knows how to surprise

The engine is the same as the road version, a 500 cc liquid-cooled four-stroke twin-cylinder, capable of delivering 48 HP at 8500 rpm and with a decent amount of torque, 46 Nm at 6000 rpm. It immediately presents itself very well, right from start-up: it runs smoothly and regularly, mechanically silent, no vibrations. And he continues to be loved, showing a perfect character for the role he has to play. In fact, to get a bit of liveliness you don't need to "wait" for the couple to join in: it isn't there, and that's an advantage. Because the shot is always nice and lively right from the bottom, and so nothing is missing, even if you drive in relaxation with an extra gear.

The best occurs between 3.000 and 6.000 rpm, with excellent acceleration up to 8.000 rpm, a speed that should not be exceeded. Not because something is missing, you can easily reach 10.000 rpm, but because it is better to move to the next gear and take advantage of the torque qualities, given that the thrust softens gently as you approach the red zone. A few words about power. Today those who have experience with powers under 100 HP don't even consider them, but on a fairly light motorbike (207 kg declared in running order), 48 HP combined with good torque qualities are more than enough to have fun, thanks to the agility of the vehicle . They are also perfect for those who are starting to gain confidence, the power is not scary and is delivered gently. Finally, excellent judgment also on the gearbox, fluid, regular and well spaced, and on the clutch, precise and modulable, which however requires a little force on the lever.

Ride and handling:

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Little lion in name, lion in fact

The Leoncino Trail is not "ine" at all, on the contrary. It accommodates comfortably even if you are of good height, the handlebars are well sized, the legs are not excessively bent, and better if they are long, given that, as already specified, the on-off version has grown in height compared to the road version. The riding position is therefore comfortable, you stand with your arms open to grip the handlebars, wide but not excessively, and your back erect; all controls are in the right place, easy to operate and precise. The wheels are also always in the right place, exactly where you want to put them. In fact, the chassis blends well with the good character of the engine, it too is easy, intuitive, obedient to orders, which it carries out with precision and, above all, with the great gift of always making you feel at ease.

Everything therefore works in favor of the simplicity of the ride, the chassis dimensions are agile but balanced, and the 19" wheel smooths out the descent into leans without however losing any agility. When cornering you can count on the excellent feeling of the tyres, which although also designed for dirt roads, offer support on the asphalt worthy of the best road tyres, thanks to the large blocks and the generous dimensions of the shoulder (behind there is a good 150 ). The suspensions maintain the sporty feel that we knew in the road version. Particular choice, given that generally the on-off settings are much softer, and allow you to take advantage of the wide excursions typical of models in this category. It is a characteristic that not only benefits "sporty" driving (within the category), but also ease of driving. In fact, the Leoncino, despite being a Trail, is very solid in all situations, in rapid changes of direction such as when leaning, on smooth, uneven and even at speed, always traveling precisely and safely and freeing the mind from the thought of adopting a guide round and shrewd. You can therefore brake hard, quickly descend into the bend, correct the trajectories as you want, always maintaining a nice precise set-up. Obviously there is a counterpart, which pays off on the most pronounced bumpy terrain, where comfort is lower than what can be expected from a Trail, and in particular the rear feels very solid on the most pronounced potholes.

The double 320 mm front disc has the appearance of a large sports car, but the bite is not aggressive, an acceptable choice given the calm cut of the Leoncino Trail. The power is therefore adequate for the vehicle, and what's more there is no risk of running into an excessively sudden action. Which wouldn't be a big problem anyway since any problem would be solved by the intervention of the ABS. On the left, hidden on the mirror support, there is the button to exclude it, and thus allow safe driving on dirt roads, where the majority of anti-lock braking systems do not guarantee braking, intervening at the slightest loss of grip (essentially there is no stops).

Price and consumption:

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Under 6 thousand, for a product truly worthy of praise

The Leoncino Trail is sold for 5.990 euros ex dealer, and considering its technical qualities we can state that the price/quality ratio is decidedly favourable. From an aesthetic point of view, everyone makes their own considerations; the technical one in our opinion is more than satisfactory. Then there is the dynamic aspect, which exceeds expectations: the engine has the qualities you would like, it is brilliant, it has a full and regular torque curve, it is silent, and blends well with the chassis, which is fun and has excellent athletic qualities. perfect for a beginner but at the same time capable of satisfying even an expert pilot.

Last gem: consumption. Having the motor sex of the road Leoncino we go back to the test already published, in which we found excellent data. On average, and without thinking too much about saving, in cheerful extra-urban driving we traveled 27-28 kilometers with one liter of fuel. With a full tank of 13,5 litres, you can thus cover more than 350 kilometres: you stop sooner to rest than to refuel. Clarification. The Leoncino is female, because it is a motorbike, but “the” Leoncino sounds bad, this time we'll make an exception.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
The engine and driving
We do not like it:
Comfort on rough terrain

Benelli Leoncino Trail: the Motorionline Report Card

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Tester clothing:
Gloves: Spidi Thunderbird Glove
Jacket: Spidi Ace Leather Jacket
Pants: Spidi
Shoes: Stylmartin Iron
Helmet: Scorpion Exo-City Wind