Benelli motorcycles are now imported and distributed in the United States by Keeway America, a subsidiary of brand co-owner Keeway Group, which is also the brand’s worldwide corporate manager. Keeway Motor Company became a Benelli shareholder in 2005.
In addition to Benelli motorcycles, which will arrive at US dealers in early 2024, The Keeway Group also includes MBP motorcycles, EZI scooters, and Benelli bicycles, which we expect to see in the United States by the end of 2024. Keeway America, based in Frisco, Texas, takes over from Southern California’s SSR Motorsports, best known for its highly successful lines of inexpensive pit bikes.
Keeway Group is based in China’s Zhejiang Province and is known as Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Group in China, where it sells QJ Motor motorcycles. The Keeway Group is a subsidiary of Geely, which owns an extensive portfolio of automobile brands, including Volvo, Lotus, Polestar, and Smart. Greely also has stakes in the Mercedes-Benz Group, Renault Korea Motors, and Aston Martin.
The Keeway Group two-wheelers are manufactured at various factories in China, with design work in Italy and Spain. R&D is done in Shanghai.
Benelli will start 2024 with a seven-motorcycle lineup.
There are four adventure bikes—the TRK 702, TRK 702X, TRK 502X, and the TRK 502. We have tested the TRK 502 and TRK 502X, and were impressed by many aspects of the two ADV bikes. We have also done a comparison test of the Benelli TRK 502 and Honda CB500X.
Two naked bikes will be available. The TNT 135 (which we have tested and compared the TNT 135 to the Kawasaki Z125 Pro) and the TNT 302S. In 2018, we reviewed the Benelli TNT 300, a predecessor of the TNT 302S.
Entirely new for Benelli in the United States is the Imperiale 400. It is an authentically retro-styled motorcycle with an air-cooled single-cylinder 375cc motor, twin shocks, conventional fork, and wire-spoke wheels. Watch for our review of the 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 soon.
Notable absent from the Benelli lineup in the United States are the Leoncino 500 and 800. We quite liked the Leoncino 500 when we tested it, and had been anticipating the arrival of the 800.
There are several Benelli motorcycles sold in other markets that we hope will make it to America, including the Benelli 752 S trellis-framed sportbike and the 502 Cruiser.
It could be time for a revival for Benelli, which was founded 112 years ago in Pesaro, Italy.
