They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s the case, then the folks at Benelli are positively glowing for their fellow Italians at Ducati, as the Benelli 402S seems somehow very familia to our eyes…
Ok, let’s just call a spade a spade here: Benelli wholesale copied Ducat’s XDiavel motorcycle when the Pesaro company designed its latest machine, the Benelli 402S.
Lately, the Chinese have earned themselves a reputation for this sort of design…flattery…so perhaps we should not be that surprised at this news.
Then again though, it wasn’t more than a year ago that we were praising Benelii for its plethora of unique small-displacement machines, like the Leoncino.
The supplies for those creative juices must have finally run out, however, with the Benelli 402S fitting so well the stereotype of cheap Chinese knockoffs.
Beneath the fairings, a 399cc parallel-twin engine powers the action, with 39hp and 26 lbs•ft of torque on tap. Tipping the scales at 352 lbs, the Benelli 402S comes with fairly upscale parts, like USD forks, an adjustable rear shock, two four-piston calipers, and ABS brakes.
We doubt we will see the 402S in any of the Western markets, where intellectual property laws would eat Benelli alive, but it seems that the Benelli 402S will launch in at least the Chinese market for the 2018 model year.
Source: Gearheads
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