BMW F 900 R versus Benelli Leoncino 500

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW F 900 R

Naked
Benelli

Benelli Leoncino 500

Naked

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2019 bis 2024~
Built von 2018 bis 2024~
RRP 9.400 €
RRP 5.990 €
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Pros:
  • Engine
  • Basic price
  • Comfort
Pros:
  • manoeuvrable and bustling bike
  • easy to use
  • comfortable upright sitting position
  • You don't need an instruction manual
Cons:
  • Windbreak
  • Pillion comfort
Cons:
  • starts only when idle
  • Sound could be better
  • Bench a bit tight

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.518 mm
Length :
2.140 mm Height : 1.130 mm
Seat :
815 mm
Weight :
211 (max: 430 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.460 mm
Length :
2.160 mm Height : 1.160 mm
Seat :
815 mm
Weight :
207 (max: 397 ) kg

Engine

Motor design: In-line motor 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 895 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 86 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Motor design: R2 cylinder, 4 valves/cylinder, 4-stroke 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 500 ccm
Hub: 67 mm
Hole: 69 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 216 km/h
Performance: 105 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.500 U/Min
Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
310 km

Performance: 48 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 46 NM bei 6.000 U/Min
Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
302 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Bridge frame in shell construction (steel)
Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 135 mm)
Rear suspension:
Directly hinged central strut, spring base hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable (travel 142 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17
Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)
Front suspension:
adjustable upside down fork Ø 50mm (travel 125 mm)
Rear suspension:
adjustable central strut (travel 128 mm)
Rear suspension:
Double tube profile swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70 - 17
Rear tyres: 160/60 - 17

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brake, floating brake discs, 4-piston radial caliper ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, 1-piston floating caliper ( 265 mm)
Front brake
2 floating brake discs with 4 piston radial brake calipers and ABS ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc ( 260 mm)

Ideal for a sporty short trip

If things go the way they did with their predecessor, BMW has a potential bestseller in its range with the F 900 R. Why not: The machine is quite cheap for BMW ratios and at the same time quite good.

You just have to know what you want. This bike is ideal for a sporty excursion without great travel ambitions. Whose wish this was always: Test drive please!

The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann and Söhne in Pinneberg near Hamburg.

Price / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 8.800€
  • Years of construction: since 2020
  • Colours: red-silver, blue, black

Conclusion - what sticks

The Benelli Leoncino 500 pretty much met our expectations. It is manoeuvrable and is therefore a lot of fun in city traffic. The maintenance interval of 7,000 km is a bit tight, but once a year you should have your bike checked anyway.
 
The price for the machine is fine. As a competitor, we can only think of the Brixton Crossfire 500, which is slightly more expensive. The Honda CB 500 F has no retro bonds, must also be mentioned here as a 500cc classic (felt since the seventies) and as an extremely reliable bike, especially since it is not more expensive than the Benelli.
 
The test bike was provided by Legenday Cycles in Hamburg. There, the Benelli Leoncino 500 stands as a demonstrator and waits eagerly for more test riders. If you are looking for an A2 bike, style and want retro-naked scrambler design: Check it out.

Price/availability/colours/years of construction

  • Price: 5.899 €
  • Used (3 years old): 4.500€
  • Years of construction: 2018-2022
  • Availability: from 2018
  • Colours: red, bright yellow