Could a new six-cylinder super-tourer be incoming from Benda?
New images have surfaced showing an inline six-cylinder engine from Benda that could power a new premium touring bike.
Benda Moto, the Chinese motorcycle maker, where the headlines literally write themselves. But is it time to take the quirky brand a bit more seriously, as it has its sights set on taking on some of the biggest in the business?
I write this as recently images surfaced showing a new engine from the brand, and sticking with the unconventional theme laid down by its LFC700 inline four-cylinder cruiser, Benda is keeping it leftfield.
You may also like to read our Benda LFC700 review.
The engine in question is an inline six-cylinder, boasting 1,700cc and dimensions that are similar, but not identical to those found on the BMW K1600. Indeed, the piston diameter is reported to be the same, 72mm, although with 1.5mm more stroke, the Benda power unit tops out at a slightly larger overall capacity.
Like the BMW engine, the Benda unit employs a forward inclined configuration, something that helps to hide some of the weight of the engine thanks to a slight reduction in the centre of gravity. And that is key with an engine this big. But exactly what the engine will end up residing in remains to be seen.
As Benda clearly has a penchant for plonking unusual powerplants in unconventional chassis - see the aforementioned LFC700 - we could see the Chinese brand break cover with some wild-looking Honda Rune-esque super cruiser, although the smart money is on something a little more conventional.
With Benda sailing so close to the original design of the BMW motor, it could be that the team are eyeing up a new super tourer more aligned with the K1600. And there is further evidence to back that up. Bolted on to the engine will be an electromechanical dual-clutch gearbox, the same kind of super-smooth tech we find on Honda’s range-topping tourers. With that news confirmed, it seems totally sensible for at least the first bike to carry this engine to be landing in the touring category.
What we don’t know about the engine is any hard and fast specs, such as peak power, torque or how much the lump of metal weighs. We do know the Beemer unit pumps out a seriously addictive 160 bhp and a whopping 130 lb ft of torque.
If Benda can get anywhere near that, they might be on to a winner.
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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!
