Among Benelli’s releases at EICMA 2023 was the elegant and robust BKX 300. First revealed as a prototype in early 2023, the BKX is aimed at the younger generation of motorcyclists, thanks to its affordable performance, radical and futuristic style, and performance. It is the latest addition to the growing number of entry-level adventure machines that made their debut at EICMA.
As you probably know, Benelli is a motorcycle company with Italian roots, but has been owned by the Chinese giant Qianjiang (QJ Motor) for some time now. According to Benelli, the new BKX 300 was developed at the Benelli Design Center in Pesaro, Italy, the birthplace of the Italian brand.
The design language is distinctly modern, and a strong departure from the adventure bike style of the brand found in the TRK range. It has a rally-inspired aesthetic and a simple, surgical look, almost like that of Husqvarna.
At the front of the bike, we find two vertical LED headlights that give it a futuristic look, while the rear lights feature an interesting “combined lights” setup. The high stance of the bike is accentuated by the aerodynamic fairing that seems to follow a contour line from front to back.
Meanwhile, the motorcycle’s engine is exposed and breathes through an upturned exhaust system that is positioned parallel to the rear of the bike. The bike has spoked wheels with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear.
Regarding technology, the BKX 300 remains quite accessible and simple. It has a single-cylinder engine with a displacement of 292.4 cc, liquid cooling, and electronic fuel injection, delivering a maximum power of 29.6 hp at 9,000 rpm and a torque of 24.5 Nm at 7,000 rpm.
Power is sent to the rear wheel through a six-speed manual gearbox, but an assisted clutch has been added to smooth out gear changes – a feature that beginner riders will surely appreciate.
The engine is installed in a double steel cradle frame to keep weight low and the suspension system consists of a non-adjustable inverted front fork and a rear mono-shock with adjustable preload. The suspension travel is a generous 180 millimeters front and rear, so the bike is certainly capable of going beyond the limits of asphalt. For braking duties, there is a single front disc brake with a 280mm disc and a 240mm floating rear disc.
Regarding price and availability, Benelli states that the bike will be available from the second semester of 2024. Additionally, they will also launch smaller versions – 125cc and 250cc – for markets with stricter licensing criteria. However, at the time of writing this article, Benelli has not yet released information on the prices of the new model.
