- 2 colours
- Engine
- 500 cc
- Power
- 46.8 bhp
- Kerb weight
- 207 kg
In short
The Leoncino 500 is Benelli's modern-classic naked, built around a 500cc parallel twin that makes 46.8bhp and starts at ₹5.59 lakh ex-showroom. It looks distinctive next to the usual naked-bike crowd, but at 207kg and with no mileage figure Benelli discloses, running costs are the trade-off for the retro-scrambler design.
What works
- 46.8bhp parallel twin outguns the Ninja 400 and 500
- Fully adjustable USD forks and monoshock as standard
- 320mm front disc with a 4-piston caliper
- Distinctive scrambler-naked styling, not another sportsbike silhouette
What doesn't
- 207kg kerb weight, heavier than every direct peer here
- Only single-channel ABS at this price point
- Benelli resale and dealer network trail Kawasaki's in India
Best for: Style-first buyers, Weekend backroad riding, Riders wanting something different
Price and variants
Ex-showroom Delhi list prices from the manufacturer. On-road for your city is in the panel above.
The Leoncino 500 comes in a single variant at ₹5,59,894 ex-showroom Delhi, so there is no trim ladder to climb: every Leoncino 500 leaves the showroom with the same equipment.
That makes it priced 91th lowest among the 148 sports bikes we have reviewed. Its closest price rivals are the Ninja 500 (₹16,106 more) and the Crossfire 500 X (₹53,329 less).
On the road in Delhi the base Leoncino 500 comes to ₹6.37 Lakh: ₹5,60,000 ex-showroom, ₹49,800 in Delhi road tax and registration (8.9%), ₹27,663 for first-year insurance. Dealers add handling and accessory packs on top; both are negotiable.
| Variant | Ex-showroom | Rough EMI |
|---|---|---|
Standard | ₹5,59,894 |
Compare on-road price across all 189 cities, with an EMI calculator
Engine and ride
The 500cc liquid-cooled engine makes 46.8 bhp and 46 Nm through a 6 Speed. With a kerb weight of 207 kg that is 226 bhp per tonne, 71th best power-to-weight of the 146 bikes in this class we have reviewed.
The torque and power figures are well balanced, so it neither needs to be revved hard nor feels lazy when you do.
Chassis hardware includes USD front forks, a rear monoshock and single-channel ABS, with a disc, 320 mm, 4 piston caliper up front and disc, 260 mm, 1 piston caliper at the rear.
The 810 mm seat is on the tall side. Riders under 5'6" should sit on one before buying.
Our review
Riding impressions and the buying advice a spec sheet cannot give.
Verdict
The Leoncino 500 is Benelli's take on the modern-classic naked, wrapping a 500cc parallel twin making 46.8bhp in scrambler-inspired bodywork that stands out in a segment full of look-alike streetfighters. At ₹5.59 lakh ex-showroom it sits between the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Ninja 500 on price, and it needs its styling to do a lot of the selling because on paper the Kawasakis are lighter and arguably better resolved.
Riding it every day
The twin is torquey enough to be relaxed in traffic and has enough top-end for confident highway overtakes, helped by a 4-piston front caliper on a 320mm disc. At 207kg it is noticeably heavier than the Ninja 400 or 500, so low-speed manoeuvring and U-turns take more effort than the numbers might suggest. Benelli doesn't publish a mileage figure for this bike, so budget for fuel costs on the higher side of the naked-bike class, typical of a liquid-cooled twin this size.
What to know before buying
Switchable single-channel ABS is standard, and the USD forks and rebound-adjustable monoshock are genuinely capable hardware for the price. Where it falls behind rivals is dealer reach: Benelli's India network is smaller than Kawasaki's, so factor in longer waits for scheduled service and harder-to-source spares if you're outside a metro.
Who should buy it
Anyone who wants a naked bike that doesn't look like every other naked bike, and is willing to trade some weight and running-cost efficiency for that styling, will get along with the Leoncino 500. Buyers chasing outright value or the lowest cost of ownership in this bracket should look at the Ninja 400 first.
Features
- Single-channel ABS
- Front disc brake
- Rear disc brake
- Tubeless tyres
- Alloy wheels
- Side-stand engine cut-off
- Hazard lamps
- USD front forks
- Rear monoshock
- LED headlamp
- +5 more
On safety kit the Leoncino 500 has single-channel abs, front disc brake, rear disc brake, tubeless tyres, side-stand engine cut-off and hazard lamps. ABS acts on the front wheel only; the rear can still lock under a hard stamp.
Against Seiemmezzo, Bear 650 or 502C, it gets single-channel abs and rear monoshock that most rivals skip.
What it lacks: dual-channel abs, colour tft console, bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, which rivals at this price offer. The safety items in that list matter more than the console.
It is offered in 2 colours: Red and Silver. Colour availability varies by variant and dealer stock.
Warranty, service and ownership
Standard warranty is 2 years, unlimited km.
Benelli runs a limited sales and service network in India, at roughly 40 touchpoints. Check the nearest workshop before buying if you live outside a metro; a 40 km ride for every service adds up.
On sale since 2021, the Leoncino 500 is established enough that early production issues have been worked through and used examples give a fair read on resale.
Leoncino 500: questions people ask
- What is the price of the Benelli Leoncino 500?
- The Leoncino 500 is priced at ₹5,59,894 ex-showroom Delhi in its single variant, as of September 2026. On-road price adds road tax, registration and insurance.
- What is the on-road price of the Leoncino 500 in Delhi?
- About ₹6.37 Lakh for the base variant in Delhi: ₹5,60,000 ex-showroom plus ₹49,800 in Delhi road tax and registration and ₹27,663 for first-year insurance. Figure from dealer quotes, updated monthly; handling and accessory packs can add more.
- What is the EMI for the Leoncino 500?
- With 10% down, a 36-month loan at 9.5% on the base variant comes to about ₹17,760 a month. A shorter tenure raises the EMI but cuts total interest; see the EMI calculator on the price page.
- What is the engine capacity and power of the Leoncino 500?
- It uses a 500cc engine producing 46.8 bhp and 46 Nm, with a 6 speed.
- Is the Leoncino 500 suitable for short riders?
- It is on the tall side at 810 mm. Riders under 5'6" may be on tiptoe at stops and should try it before buying.
- Leoncino 500 or Seiemmezzo: which is better?
- The Seiemmezzo is ₹1,20,699 less expensive to start. Pick the Leoncino 500 for style-first buyers, the Seiemmezzo for retro-styled weekend riding. Our side-by-side comparison covers every spec.
- Which bikes are cheaper than the Leoncino 500?
- Among the 148 sports bikes we have reviewed, the Pulsar 125 (₹93,507), the MT-15 V2 (₹1.68 Lakh), the Roadster (₹2.02 Lakh) start lower.
- Is the Leoncino 500 comfortable for daily commuting?
- The upright bar and 810mm seat height make it manageable in traffic, but 207kg is noticeable at parking-lot speeds and in stop-start jams. It's better suited to weekend rides than a daily grind through city traffic.
- Can the Leoncino 500 carry a pillion on the highway?
- Yes, the twin's 46Nm of torque and monoshock rear end handle two-up highway riding reasonably well, though the seat is firmer over long distances than a dedicated tourer's.
Leoncino 500 vs its rivals
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