EICMA 2014 Live - India-bound Benelli BN251

Will have the KTM Duke 200 in sight.

The Benelli BN251 naked street fighter has had its world premiere at the ongoing EICMA 2014 in Milan, Italy. The BN251 is the Italian bikemaker's smallest and the most affordable model.

With sharp styling, the newest Benelli has the popular KTM Duke 200 in its crosshairs. Power comes from a 249.2 cc single-cylinder liquid cooled engine which is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The fuel-injected powerplant is capable of a healthy 24.5 PS (24.1 bhp) at 9,000 rpm and 21 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. The figures are better than its main rival.

The BN251 is based on a steel trellis frame just like the Duke. The suspension system is also similar with an inverted telescopic fork at the front and a monoshock with a two-sided swingarm at the rear. The 17-inch alloy wheels come wrapped in 110/70-ZR17 (front) and 140/60-ZR17 (rear) rubbers.

A 280 mm four-piston caliper front disc and a 240 mm two-piston caliper rear disc take care of braking. The compact sportsbike measures 2,080 mm long, 805 mm wide, 1,090 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 1,385 mm. The seat height and ground clearance stand at 780 mm and 130 mm respectively.

The bike has a fuel tank capacity of 16.5 litres but Benelli has not disclosed the kerb weight.

Benelli has recently entered into a partnership with India's DSK Motowheels to locally assemble and sell its motorcycles in the country. The automaker also showcased a range of its motorcycles in India including the BN302. The Benelli BN251 seems to be an ideal fit for the growing compact sportsbike segment in the sub-continent.