Benelli 402R Revealed In Patent Images

China's Qianjiang Group, Benelli's parent company, has filed a patent application for a new 400 cc sports bike, that appears to be a new model, to be called the Benelli 402R. In fact, just last year, Benelli released the 302R, but now Qianjiang is looking to upgrade the model to a segment higher, with a slightly bigger displacement engine, despite being introduced just a year ago. The 402R will mark an upgrade for the Benelli 402R, but the brand's sister brand QJMotor already has the SRK 400 RR in its line-up. The 402R will be a Benelli-branded model, but will likely use a new engine.

The patent filings for a 400 cc Benelli 402R is surprising, considering the new Benelli 302R was only unveiled a year ago.

The design revealed in the patent filings reveal that the bike resembles the current Benelli 302R, including the stacked headlight, and the DRL strips on either side. The mirrors also appear to be identical to the 302R, and the overall design appears to be unmistakably, Benelli, more in line with the earlier Benellis for the international market, than the rather sharp and chiselled styling direction taken by sister brand QJMotor, which addresses the Chinese market. The patent filings show a muscular fuel tank and a stepped seat with a raised pillion perch.

The design of the 402R is typical Benelli with stacked headlight with twin strips of DRL beside it.

The engine is expected to have output of around 45 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 39 Nm of peak torque at 8,000 rpm. The patent designs reveal an upside down front fork, and a monoshock linked to a single-sided swingarm, something which isn't seen in motorcycles in this segment. There's single disc brakes at both ends, which will come equipped with ABS. What is not clear at this stage is why Benelli is looking to introduce a 400 cc sports bike, when the 302R is barely a year into production.