Chinese-owned Italian motorcycle brand Benelli has
launched the 2020 302S naked roadster in the USA for a retail price of USD
4,299.
The 302S carries a massive visual upgrade over its
predecessor, the TNT300. It packs full-LED lighting that includes a projector
headlight. More changes are visible in the cockpit that now includes a digital
display instead of a semi-digital layout on the TNT300. The compact screen on
the 302S is surrounded by telltale indicators. The radiator shrouds are shorter
on the new model.
Rest of the styling cues aren’t too different from
the TNT300, and the 302S carries a near-identical design for the fuel tank,
saddle, rear panel and the engine cowl. The 302S shares its underpinnings with
the TNT300. The motorcycle is built around a trellis frame. The 302S is
available in four colour options – White, Black, Red and Green – in the US
market.
Engine specifications have also received an upgrade
and the 302S's engine offers more power and torque than the TNT300's engine. A
larger bore and stroke has increased the displacement from 282 cc on the TNT300
to 300 cc on the 302S. The motor retains the parallel twin-cylinder, 4-stroke,
liquid-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC layout although it now makes 37.5 hp of peak power
at 11,000 rpm and 25 Nm of max torque at 9,000 rpm. In
comparison, the TNT300 pumped out 32.2 hp at 10,500 rpm and 25 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The mill is linked to a six-speed gearbox.
The braking setup comprises 260 mm dual-discs with
four-piston callipers at the front and a 240 mm single disc with a two-piston
calliper at the back. Shock absorption tasks are handled by 41 mm inverted
front forks and an asymmetrically mounted, pre-load and rebound adjustable
monoshock at the back. The motorcycle rides on Pirelli sourced Angel ST tyres
with 120/70-ZR17 front and 160/60-ZR17 rear configurations.
