Benda Dark Flag 950 packs 109bhp V4 power into a cruiser
The BENDA Dark Flag 950 is a new 948cc V4 cruiser producing 109bhp, with Brembo brakes, belt drive and a 690mm seat.
Never one to follow the V-twin crowd when it comes to a cruiser, Benda has revealed its latest laid-back, feet-forward challenger. The new Dark Flag 950 is built around a 948cc V4 engine, which should bring a distinctly different engine character to a class still dominated by V-twins, and it's set to make its European debut at EICMA this November
The headline figure is 108.77bhp at 9,000rpm from the liquid-cooled, 16-valve V4, while peak torque stands at 85Nm (62lb ft) at 8,000rpm. That gives the Dark Flag considerably more top-end potential than the big-bore V-twin cruisers it is likely to find itself alongside, although Benda says the four-cylinder engine is designed to deliver smooth power as well as responsive acceleration.
The engine drives through a six-speed gearbox and belt final drive, with an anti-hopping (slip-assisted) clutch fitted to help keep things stable during aggressive downshifts. The belt should also mean less routine maintenance than a conventional chain final drive.
As you would expect from a cruiser, the Dark Flag 950 is long, low and wide. Its 1,590mm wheelbase and 690mm seat height give it a suitably laid-back stance, while forward-mounted foot controls and a wide handlebar create a relaxed riding position.
The chassis uses a tubular steel frame and steel swingarm, with an upside-down fork at the front and twin hydraulic shocks at the rear. Brembo supplies the brakes, with twin 320mm front discs and four-piston radial calipers, plus a 260mm rear disc with a two-piston radial caliper.
Benda has also given the Dark Flag a decent amount of modern equipment. Cruise control is fitted for longer rides, while the 3.6-inch TFT display has an 800-nit brightness rating and a claimed 120-degree viewing angle. There are also USB-A and USB-C charging ports and an idle shutdown system.
Visually, the Dark Flag sticks fairly closely to the established cruiser recipe, with a sculpted tank, long wheelbase and clean rear end, but the V4 gives it a mechanical point of difference. Five colours are planned: Obsidian Black, Glimmering White, Burgundy Red, Mountain Silver and Prism Grey.
Benda has yet to confirm UK pricing or availability. More information is expected when the Dark Flag 950 appears at EICMA in November.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
