Benda LFR700 for production soon By Ben Purvis
Benda is one of the several Chinese brands that appear to have come from nowhere with an increasingly impressive array of bikes, and its new LFR700 - although a concept at the moment - is expected to reach production looking virtually unchanged.
The company sprung into focus a couple of years ago with the launch of the LFC700, a mad-looking muscle-cruiser with a homegrown 700 cc four-cylinder engine, a huge wheelbase and an enormous 340-section rear tyre.
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That bike made the transition from concept to production unharmed and was followed by a more sensible Café Racer-style machine, the LFS700, using the same engine. Benda has also launched a 500 cc V4 cruiser - again using an entirely new engine, which is also due to be sold in 1,200 cc form eventually - and a range of V-twin models, all within just a few years. The company is still mainly focused on China and trying to ramp up production to meet demand, but it does have a European importer and a selection of dealers in Spain and Portugal.
While the LFR700 looks wild, going by Benda's own record, the production version isn't likely to be toned down. The company hasn't announced specifications, but the engine is once again the 700 cc inline four used in the LFC700 and LFS700. Developed by Benda, albeit as something of a reverse-engineered version of Honda's CB650R four-cylinder, it currently makes around 69 kW (93 hp) and 63 Nm of torque, but might well gain a more aggressive tune for the sporty-looking LFR700.
Elsewhere, the bike has high-end parts including Brembo brakes, plus some intriguing-looking electronics. There appears to be a camera in the front fairing below the main headlight (the larger 'headlight' sections on the sides are actually running lights), and onboard there's a typically modern TFT dashboard.
Given Benda's previous record, the LFR700 is likely to reach production in 2024, but it's still far from clear whether the model will be offered outside China.
