Benelli is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle names. It started as a family workshop, and its later history shows how much a brand can change while the badge stays the same.
The milestones
- 1911. Benelli was established in Pesaro by Teresa Boni Benelli and her six sons: Giuseppe, Giovanni, Francesco, Filippo, Domenico and Antonio, known as Tonino.
- Oldest? The company claims to be among Italy's oldest operating makers. Moto Guzzi, established in 1921, is described as the oldest motorcycle factory in non-stop operation, and Peugeot, founded in 1898, as the world's oldest still producing.
- 1971, De Tomaso. The Italian-Argentine industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso bought Benelli, in a troubled period of quality issues and an eventual merger with Moto Guzzi.
- 1974, the 750 Sei. Debuted in 1974 as the first six-cylinder motorcycle on the road. It was named "Moto dell'anno" in 1974, and 3,200 were built up to 1977.
- 2005, Qianjiang. Benelli was acquired by the Qianjiang Motor Group, controlled by the Geely Holding Group since 2015. Design and marketing remain in Pesaro, and production is in Wenling, China.
What to know when buying
- Which Benelli. Machines from the original family years, the De Tomaso years and the modern years are different bikes. Check the year in the papers. See what counts as a classic motorcycle.
- Small machines. Many classic Benellis are small-capacity bikes and mopeds, and those are welcome on Epic Motor Trading too. Parts can be harder to find, so ask before you buy. See finding parts.
- The 750 Sei. Rare and expensive, with an expert-only restoration scene. Get an inspection. See the pre-purchase inspection.
Parts and community
See clubs and federations and buying a classic motorcycle abroad if the bike you want is in Italy.
