Benelli 752S Parallel-Twin Roadster First Look Review

The Benelli 750cc twin roadster project has been around for so many years that I have a hard time recalling when I first heard about it. Thinking back, though, I remember longtime industry associate and friend Pierluigi Marconi was at Benelli and that means it was around 2006 or so. But the 2019 Benelli 752S is finally here.

Why did it take so long? The project has been in and out of planning because Benelli owners—Chinese mega group Qianjiang—had other priorities. Also, through the years, the Benelli design team acquired more competence in the design and development of parallel twins, which might look rather basic because they have been with us for so many years, but are actually quite difficult to design well.

Add to this also that modern Benelli must maintain the lowest possible production cost as Qianjiang strives for extremely competitive pricing in all markets.

The Benelli 752S is a tidy roadster, compact enough for its displacement and solid looking. The all-new liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder unit is oversquare at 88.0 x 62.0mm and it displaces a real 754cc. Compression ratio is a moderate 11.5:1 to make sure that pistons will safely digest the low-octane fuels available in many emerging markets. As in the case of the other Benelli parallel twins, the 302 and the 502, specific output is just above 100 hp per liter. Strong-enough performance for a general-purpose motorcycle, but also leading to relatively low mechanical stress and therefore good long-term reliability.

Here, output is 77 hp at 8,500 rpm, with 49.5 pound-feet of peak torque at a moderate 6,500 rpm. The torque curve is said to be broad and smooth, fitting an all-rounder like this. Counterbalancers kill vibration and ensure a comfortable ride. The frame is a massively structured tubular steel trellis.

Front suspension is a 50mm inverted Marzocchi fork, while at the rear a vertically cantilevered shock connects to the beefed-up midsection of the twin-steel-tube swingarm.

Brakes are by Brembo in the well-known form of generous 320mm dual discs teamed with four-piston radial-mount calipers. The Benello 752S rolls on Pirelli Angel radial in 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear sizes. Instrumentation is by a neat-looking TFT display and the headlights are by over-under twin LED units.

In many markets, Benelli 752S will be on sale (price TBD) by mid-2019, though it is unconfirmed whether the bike will be offered in the US.