A Turbocharged Supersport? Yes, Please!

Published January 27, 2021
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Benda Motorcycles has teased the VTR-300 Turbo along with VTC-300 and LFS-700, hinting at a 2021 launch

Benda Motorcycles, a China-based motorcycle brand, has been dominating the headlines for building some interesting bikes. From the 300cc V-Twin cruiser to the sinister-looking Asura 400 that features a single-sided swingarm, Benda aims to offer high-end features in an accessible package. The brand has now teased three new motorcycles, one of which is a turbocharged 300cc supersport, christened the VTR-300 Turbo.

Though details are scarce at the moment, we suspect ‘VT’ stands for V-twin, used in the Jinjira cruiser, while ‘R’ signifies its sporty intent. For reference, the cruiser’s 298cc liquid-cooled V-twin motor belts out 30PS. With the turbo added to the engine, the resultant power could be close to the 50PS mark, depending on the boost levels.

The idea of plonking a turbo to a small-displacement engine isn’t new. Honda’s stint with tech started during the 500cc Grand Prix but didn’t see the light of the day, despite the Team Red’s turbocharged 250cc inline four-cylinder motor belting out an astounding 152PS at 20,000rpm! In fact, Honda almost brought the tech to production in the form of the VTF250 Turbo.

Along with the Benda VTR-300 Turbo, the silhouettes of the VTC-300 and LFS-700 have also been teased. The LFS is likely to have the same motor that we have seen on the LF-01 concept showcased last year. While the concept will be launched as the LFC-700, the LFS could be a slightly sportier variant. The LF-01 concept used a 680cc inline four-cylinder motor producing 97PS at 12,000rpm, something unique for a cruiser. Plonking this engine in a sporty model would certainly make sense, right?

As for the Benda VTC-300, it could use the same V-twin engine from the Jinjira. Going by the silhouette, the bike may get a different rear seat as well as bigger and wider handlebars. While the Jinjira is more of a bobber, the VTC-300 is likely to don traditional cruiser styling. If bobbers are your thing, the road test of Jawa Perak is worth a read.

Will these bikes come to India? Certainly not. But if you are on a lookout for a new motorcycle, the five impending launches of this year should cheer you up.