Benelli 302 R Breaks Cover. Kawasaki Ninja 300 Should Be Worried

From the approval documents leaked last month, it was clear that Benelli is working on the latest iteration of the 302R. Now the production bike has been revealed in China and it will be launched in India soon as well. So, what has changed on the Benelli 302R for 2021?

To keep up with the emission norms, Benelli has housed a BS6-compliant 302cc parallel-twin motor with an output of 35PS and 27Nm -- 3.5PS less power and 0.5Nm more torque than the BS4 version. The engine is coupled to a 6-speed transmission. To offset this drop in performance, Benelli engineers have made the new bike lighter by 22kg and it now weighs 182kg (kerb).

The most prominent changes come in the form of a new fascia and an overall tweaked silhouette. It sports a vertically stacked projector headlamp flanked by LED turn indicators. Similarly, the rear end too has been altered with an LED taillight and air vents under the pillion seat.

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The cockpit view is also different from before. The analogue-digital instrument console has made way for the TFT display with an odometer, speedometer, gear position indicator, fuel level, and engine temperature. While the screen is well laid out, the switchgear seems to have received divided attention.

The 2021 Benelli 302R is suspended on the same 41mm USD front fork, but now with preload adjustability. Braking hardware comprises dual front discs with 4-piston callipers and a single disc at the rear. Dual-channel ABS comes standard.

As of now, the 2021 Benelli 302R is available in China for CNY 29,800 (approximately Rs 3.38 lakh). We expect it to be launched by late 2021 and be priced around Rs 3.60 lakh (ex-showroom). Once launched, it will rival the TVS Apache RR 310, KTM RC 390 and the Kawasaki Ninja 300.