Cruisers sure aren’t what they used to be. I’ve said this again and again, but the days of massive, loud, fire-breathing V-twins being the only option in the cruiser scene are long gone. The modern cruiser world is all about being practical, approachable, and, dare I say, sensible. Look at bikes like the Honda Rebel, the CFMoto CLC, and yes, even the Harley-Davidson X440, a bike I think should absolutely make its way to the US.
Now, let’s talk about Benda. If you’re not familiar, Benda is a Chinese motorcycle brand that’s been making waves with some interesting, out-of-the-box designs. They’re not just cranking out cookie-cutter bikes but instead pushing some unique machines into the market. Some of their notable models include the LFC700, a futuristic muscle cruiser with a massive 310 rear tire, and the Darkflag, a wild take on a V4-powered cruiser.
And now, they’ve got something new: the Napoleonbob 500. And yes, it’s a weird name. But let’s break it down.
Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t the biggest guy around, but he was a strong, strategic, and formidable leader. Could that be what Benda is going for with this new bobber? Small in stature but big in presence? Let’s take a closer look.
The Benda Napoleonbob 500 is powered by a 475.6cc liquid-cooled V-twin that makes 47 horsepower and 31 pound-feet of torque. It’s got a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch, meaning smooth shifts and less wheel hop under hard downshifts—particularly useful for beginners, too.
Suspension-wise, you get telescopic forks up front with 100 millimeters of travel. Don’t let the fork covers fool you—this thing isn’t rocking some unique hossack or telelever—it’s just a good old-fashioned telescopic fork underneath some fancy-looking plastics. Meanwhile, at the back, it gets a preload-adjustable monoshock with an incredibly short 30 millimeters of stroke. The brakes are decent, with a 320-millimeter disc in the front and a 260-millimeter disc in the rear. Lastly, the bobber rolls on 16-inch wheels with some chunky rubber—150/80 in the front and 180/65 in the back.
The retro-inspired bobber gets a floating central instrument pod with a TFT color display, an LED headlight, and illuminated buttons. It tips the scales at 473 pounds wet, which isn’t too bad for a bike in this category.
But here’s the kicker. Benda’s offering the Napoleonbob 500 at a price tag of just $6,399. That’s right in the sweet spot where Chinese motorcycle brands like to play—offering more bang for the buck than the big-name brands. But here’s the real question: Can Benda’s aggressive pricing and respectable spec sheet lure customers away from more established names?
Only time will tell.
Source: Benda Motorcycles
