Benelli’s Baby Cub Roars Into India

• The baby Leoncino looks a lot like the bigger Leoncino 500.
• Will fill the space vacated by the discontinuation of the Benelli TNT 25.
• Bookings can be made online with a Rs 6000 downpayment.

Benelli has given us a pleasant surprise by unexpectedly launching the Leoncino 250 in India today. The new motorcycle is priced at Rs 2.50 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and bookings can be made online. A refundable Rs 6,000 downpayment will put you on the waiting list for the new baby cub.

The Leoncino 250 is styled similar to its elder sibling, the Leoncino 500, but gets a different oval headlight and graphics schemes. While the two bikes may appear similar, the Leoncino 250 has all-new underpinnings with the steel trellis frame, suspension and swingarm all unique to the smaller lion cub.

The 249cc engine is from the older Benelli TNT 25, and while this engine has a slightly lower output abroad due to Euro 4 certification, the Leoncino 250 produces 25.8PS and 21Nm in India. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

Also unique to the Leoncino 250 is a new all-digital instrument cluster. This, along with full-LED lighting and standard dual-channel ABS, means that the Leoncino 250 is a well-equipped motorcycle. However, considering that its biggest competition comes from motorcycles like the KTM 250 Duke and Suzuki Gixxer 250, both of which are much cheaper and more powerful, we can’t help thinking that Benelli has priced the Leoncino 250 very expensively. The closest competitor in terms of price Honda's CB 300R, but at Rs 2.41 lakh (ex-showroom, India) even this bike is slightly cheaper and a fair bit more powerful than the Leoncino.