Benelli 302R To Be Launched In First Week Of January

The 302R is a highly anticipated offering from DSK-Benelli that is set to be launched in India soon. It is the first fully faired motorcycle to be launched by Benelli in the country, and has grabbed the attention of several motoring enthusiasts. The bike was previously scheduled for launch in December this year but has now been shifted to the first week of January, as informed by the company. The reason for change in dates is in order to have the bikes ABS-ready, as per the soon to be implemented two-wheeler safety norms. Although we would wish for the bike to be launched sooner, it is a notable safety concern taken into consideration by the company. There has been no confirmation regarding the pre-booking of the motorcycle but expect them to begin few days prior to the confirmed launch date.

The Benelli 302R will soon join the current portfolio of Benelli motorcycles in India. The bike is based on the TNT 300 and is basically the fully faired version of the same. Benelli had unveiled the 302R (Tornado 302) at the 2015 EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan followed by India showcase at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi. The 302R sports is a stylish and modern design aimed at youngsters. The bike, as per the company, is a better handler around corners due to the use of a newly designed trellis frame that is now lighter than before.

Bolted on to the frame of the 302R is the same 300cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor that also does duty in the TNT 300. The motor is capable of developing 36PS of power at 12,000rpm and 27Nm of peak torque at 9,000rpm. Transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed gearbox. The bike comes with USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Stopping power is achieved from a dual-disc setup at the front and single disc unit for the rear. ABS will be offered as standard fitment on the bike.

Expected to carry a sticker price of Rs 3.5 lakh ex-showroom, the DSK-Benelli 302R, when launched, will compete against the likes of the Yamaha YZF-R3, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the KTM RC390.