EXCLUSIVE: MBP M502N 500cc Italian Naked Bike Launch At Auto Expo 2023

The niche Italian brand will be brought to India in January by Adishwar Auto Ride, and will be sold at Keeway and Benelli dealerships

The middleweight segment is set to get even more exciting with the introduction of another brand, that too at the Auto Expo 2023 (which starts from January 10, 2023). Called Moto Bologna Passione or MBP, this niche Italian brand will be Adishwar Auto Ride’s sixth brand launch and will be sold via Keeway and Benelli dealerships. 

As per our sources, it will commence its onslaught with the MBP M502N, a 486cc, twin-cylinder naked bike that has a bit of Honda vibes (Honda CB500F, to be precise) when it comes to the engine. It churns out a healthy 51.6PS and 45Nm, along with a claimed top speed of 160kmph. We also hope its engine tune is similar to the 500cc Honda bike. 

The bike gets modern features including an all-LED lighting, a 4.2-inch TFT display, KYB preload-adjustable inverted fork and monoshock, a generous 17-litre fuel tank and a decent 165mm ground clearance and 790mm seat height. That said, at 195kg dry, the bike is on the heavier side.

Expect the bike to be priced at around Rs five lakh (ex-showroom). It will be a more powerful alternative to the KTM 390 Duke as well as the QJ Motor SRK 400, while undercutting the Kawasaki Z650 by a large margin.