Scooter Review Benelli 491RR If the World Superbike paddock is slightly beyond your reach, at least you can ride a World Superbike paddock scooter
- Ever dreamed of being a Superbike or GP racer? It seems as if the 50cc class is where all the action is when it comes to race replica brothers of the big bikes and Benelli hasn’t failed to impress.
The 491RR comes with a high-performance liquidcooled two-stroke engine, front and rear disc brakes and aggressive air scoops on the sides. The limited edition 491 Replica oozes the feel of Benelli’s Tornado Tre Novecento Superbike ridden by Australian Endurance World Champion Peter Goddard. The sculpted bodywork has the curves and feel of the sportsbike along with touches of ‘plastic carbon fibre’ and air ducts in the tail piece and front end, all quite reminiscent of the Superbike. Even placement of the decals on the replica are in the same place as they were on the superbike. How’s that for authenticity!
Sadly missing on the Replica from the superbike are the radiator extractor fans and earth shattering sound from the Arrow exhaust. The scoot does have an Arrow - but with a two stroke ring.
Race replica handling comes courtesy of the NAS 42-type frame and excellent suspension. Even the brakes look the real deal in gold to match the Goldline Brembos that the Superbike carries and stop just as well.
If the race replica feel and cred isn’t quite your thing, or if you’ve missed out on the limited numbers, there are another two 491s in the range that might be more your cup of tea. The 491 ST and 491 RR vary slightly from the Replica but essentially carry most of the stuff that makes the Replica so good. The scooters differ in styling and ergonomics. Try one!
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 28/10/2003
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