Benelli BN251 launch kicks off

Like so many Italian motorcycle manufacturers, Benelli’s 105 year history contains more peaks and troughs than a rollercoaster ride. However, since the firm was taken over by the Chinese Qianjiang group in 2005, life has become considerably simpler. The brand now has far more focus and with the Chinese taking care of the manufacturing process and the Italians dealing with the styling, on the face of it that would seem a match made in heaven. And for 2016 we have a new fruit from this partnership – the BN251.

The Benelli BN251 is a fairly basic 249cc single cylinder commuter that has a dash of style to help it stand out from other Chinese, Japanese or Indian built rivals. Making a claimed 24bhp it is A2-legal, and with an expected price tag in the region of £2,500 it appears to offer fairly decent value for money. MCN is in Italy for the riding launch, which kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday), so if you are in the market for a funky budget commuter with a dash of heritage, keep an eye on the website and next week’s paper.