Benelli Leoncino 250: Pros, Cons And Should You Buy?

What are the fun and the not-so-fun bits on the baby Leoncino

Following in the footsteps of the larger Leoncino 500, Benelli launched the Leoncino 250. The small urban scrambler looks as stylish as its elder sibling but carries a hefty price tag. What are the pros and cons of the baby Leoncino?

Pros:

Looks fantastic, grabs a lot of attention

The Leoncino 500 was a pretty motorcycle and that holds true for the 250 as well. The neo retro styling has the typical Italian flair that one has come to expect from modern Benellis. It is a slim motorcycle, which is not something that Benelli is known for. The oval headlamp, LED turn indicators and LED brake light just look smashing. And before you forget, the Lion of Pesaro motif is finished in black.

Tractable motor -- less gear-shifts required in the city

The motor on the Leoncino 250 is derived from the old TNT 251 but it has seen severe revisions. It is no longer a peaky unit with the engine now tuned for better mid-range performance. Hence, you could carry speeds as low as 35kmph in fifth gear without any fuss.

Compact dimensions make it easy to ride in city traffic

The Leoncino 250 does work its magic when one has to slice through traffic. The compact dimensions and extra leverage provided by the wide handlebars make your daily commute a stress-free affair. 

Cons:

Cramped riding posture

There are downsides to the Leoncino’s compactness, namely the rider’s slim seat. It’s slightly scalloped rear end forces the rider to sit quite close to the tank. The foot-pegs are on the higher side and that causes leg cramps for riders taller than 5 feet 9 inches. Even for shorter riders, the 810mm seat height might feel a bit on the higher side when coming to a standstill.

Braking inconsistencies

The braking department is not one of the Leoncino 250’s strong areas. The front brake lacks bite while there is no feedback provided at the levers. In our braking tests, it takes longer distances to come to a halt than all of its rivals. Plus, the dual-channel ABS intervention is very inconsistent.

Motor lacks excitement

Despite tuning the 250’s motor for mid-range grunt, the engine does not feel as exciting or as refined as other motorcycles in this segment. Even the FZ25 was quicker than the Leoncino 250 in our acceleration tests. The engine shows its gruffness post 7000rpm where one can feel vibrations at the footpegs.

Should You Buy It?

At Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom India), we find it hard to recommend the Leoncino 250. Especially considering that at the same price point you could get larger and better motorcycles such as the KTM 390 Duke or the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. Even if you did not want to pick the conventional options and wanted something stylish, the Honda CB300R proves to be a fantastic buy.