Enter The Benda!

The NapoleonBob 500 looks like a much more expensive bike from the US or UK OEMs. PHOTO CREDIT: Benda

So, remember back when we told you that Chinese motorcycles were here to stay in the Canadian market? For more evidence, take note that Benda (who?) is now reportedly coming to Canada.

If you aren’t familiar with the Benda name, that’s no surprise. It appears this is a homegrown Chinese marque, unlike the Keeway and Benelli names that it’s tied to, under the Keeway Motors brand. But while Benelli sells adventure bikes, cafe racers and scramblers and Keeway is mostly about scooters, Benda is a cruiser brand.

The oddly-named Chinchilla 300 looks a bit like an Indian Scout with maybe some Sportster DNA mixed in. PHOTO CREDIT: Benda

In other markets, Benda sells machines with a V4 engine but in North America, they will enter with the Chinchilla 300, Chinchilla 500, and NapoleonBob 500. These are your classic pocket cruisers, for commuters and learners and riders who want that low-rider look but can’t physically or maybe financially handle a full-sized machine. The same kind of rider who buys a Honda Rebel or a Kawasaki Eliminator, which are both very popular models in a bike genre that built the foundation of the industry once upon a time.

The Chinchilla 500 is much the same as the 300, but with about 20 hp more. PHOTO CREDIT: Benda

The Chinchilla series looks vaguely like a blacked-out Indian, with liquid-cooled V-twin engine, dual rear shocks, bar-end mirrors, a USD front end and lots of black paint.

The NapoleonBob 500 has more of an upscale look, like a Triumph bobber, with a liquid-cooled V-twin, bar-end mirrors and a softail-style rear end providing monoshock suspension and custom bike lines.

Benda’s 300 V-twin is supposed to make about 30 horsepower, and the 500 V-twin makes right around 50.

Pricing remains unknown, and while Benda seems to plan on coming to Canada, it make take some time for that to happen; their priority is the US market, it appears.

 

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