Stels Benelli 600 - Cool streetfighter

We are all accustomed to the fact that Chinese motorcycles are usually something cheap and small in capacity. This was the case until a certain moment, until the Chinese company Stels bought out the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli, which has almost a century of history and vast experience. As a result, the world saw an amazing new steel horse, dressed in a plastic body kit - Stels Benelli 600, generated by the joint work of Chinese engineers and Italian designers. And, I must admit, the hybrid turned out to be very successful.

Features of Chinese-Italian relations

Need I say that the new bike immediately aroused great interest? The Stels 600 Benelli motorcycle is offered to customers at the price of a used Japanese 600 like a Yamaha FZ-6 or Kawasaki ER-6, but the guest from the Middle Kingdom, unlike them, will be new and with a factory warranty. Chinese designers developed the technical side of the new bike, using the developments of their Italian colleagues and giving the Stealth 600 Benelli motorcycle technical characteristics comparable to those of its Japanese competitors. Designers from the sunny European country, in turn, worked hard on the appearance of the Chinese motorcycle and gave it a very recognizable and attractive appearance. In addition to the naked version, by the way, there is also a road-tourist modification - the Stels 600 GT Benelli, which is distinguished by more developed wind protection and luggage cases.

And, by the way, if the Benelli Stealth 600 is a fairly typical road motorcycle, albeit with an aggressive appearance, then its touring modification looks much more interesting, and, perhaps, it will be a worthy competitor to such a popular bike as the Honda CBF 600. Stels 600 GT The Benelli is perfect even for really short trips on asphalt roads, although, of course, it’s better not to drive it off the asphalt - it’s simply not designed for that.

Bomb of the year - Stels 600 Benelli

May 14, 2013

A bright red “birdcage”, thick feathers of an inverted fork with a three-bolt lower yoke, two powerful mufflers under the tail, a “crystal” headlight of a complex shape... Well, how can one suspect that this is a brainchild of Russian-Chinese-Italian origin?

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Naked/2013/208 kg/600 cm³/81.6 hp/52 Nm/210,000 rub.

The motorcycle strikes not even the imagination, but the sense of reality. A motorcycle is a break from the mold. Beautiful, powerful, modern, technologically advanced and at the same time Chinese? And at the same time for two hundred and ten thousand rubles? No, there's definitely a catch somewhere. It doesn't happen that way.

To be honest, the first thing I really wanted to do was find traces of the “Chinese invasion” in the motorcycle and gloat a little, saying, “after all, they tailored it, saved it, made it worse...”. But no, a good quarter of an hour of crawling around the motorcycle on all fours did not reveal any significant signs of crooked hands or attempts to save money on matches. Before us is a full-fledged motorcycle, in the full sense of the word, both in terms of the quality of manufacturing and assembly, which we have all long been accustomed to from the “Japanese” and “Europeans,” and in terms of the level of manufacturability. Even the tires on the motorcycle are not some third-rate Chinese or Taiwanese ones from the “round and okay” series, but quite advanced sports-touring Metzeler Sportec M5!

I'm studying the design in more detail. The steel space frame is a “birdcage”, the thick tubes of the inverted fork are reinforced in powerful yokes, but there are no visible adjustments on the stays. The aluminum pendulum captivates with its massiveness, and on the side there is a monoshock absorber with adjustable spring preload and rebound hydraulics.

The engine is a classic design for modern classics and nakeds. Four-cylinder liquid-cooled unit with four valves per cylinder and two camshafts. Exhaust system - 4-1-2. Two massive “cans” are located under the tail plastic - in trend, so to speak. The only surprise was the presence of as many as four lambda probes on the exhaust pipes. For what? All their lives, everyone got by with a single sensor installed just below, where the pipes from all the cylinders merge into one. In general, a very extravagant solution.

The manufacturer claims 81.6 hp. at 11,500 rpm and 52 Nm at 10,500 rpm. The performance for the “six hundred”, frankly speaking, is not outstanding; the average Japanese 600 cc road car produces a little less than a hundred “horses”. But this is not a sport or even a roadster, although it looks very aggressive. Stels 600 Benelli is a city motorcycle, more like a neoclassic. Eighty-and-a-kopeck “horses” are beyond the roof for driving around the city and the immediate surroundings. And a low degree of forcing only has a positive effect on the resource.

The brakes are a sight for sore eyes. There's a two-piston caliper at the rear, and four-piston radial brake calipers with four pads up front. Externally, the unit is very similar to Brembo products. Actually, for good reason. They were “copied” from them. We'll check how it works a little later.

Actually, smaller components and parts that do not affect the speed are made with the same high quality and accuracy. The once famous name - Benelli - is emblazoned on the sides. It is worth dwelling on it in more detail. Where does this internationality come from? The Italian motorcycle manufacturer, like many others like it, in order not to completely collapse in the harsh realities of the European economy, gave itself over to the ownership of the Chinese concern Qian Jiang, or simply “QJ”. The concern is one of the leaders in the Chinese market for the production of motorcycles. The company produces more than 1.2 million units per year! Benelli was taken over by the Chinese with the condition that the design bureau and designers would continue to work from Italy. That is, the main European backbone developing motorcycles has been preserved.

, which produces products under the Stels brand, purchases kits from QJ and produces large-unit assembly at a motorcycle plant in Zhukovka, near Bryansk. By the way, unlike quads and scooters, which are assembled at the factory using a conveyor belt, the flagship motorcycle is assembled like a Rolls-Royce - each specific motorcycle has the signature of the master who carried out the assembly. This method may take longer, but the quality reaches a completely different level.

There were no complaints about the ergonomics of the device. Steering wheel, seat, footrests, levers, pedals, everything is in its place. You don't have to get used to the landing. The steering wheel is moderately wide, but not so wide as to get in the way in traffic jams. In general, the landing is quite collected, with a slight, barely noticeable tilt forward - a classic of the genre.

On the move, I was somewhat surprised by the lack of torque, typical of more powerful engines like the Yamaha FZ-6. Such engines have rather stunted “bottoms” and “middles”, but they “shoot” great at the “tops”. The mystery is that the stealth’s engine is not even boosted at all. You expect even traction from it throughout the entire range, but there is none. Towards the middle, subjectively, between 5000 and 7000 rpm there is generally a noticeable dip. And only after 7000 rpm the engine wakes up and begins to drive more or less cheerfully. In general, of course, you can’t expect the agility of a sports 600 from an eighty-horsepower unit, but such a strange characteristic of the power curve is somewhat frustrating. I would like to have a more even character.

If you take a break from driving around the catrodrome, where our test drive took place, in the city such a device will be very comfortable, especially for beginners, for whom the sharp and nervous reactions of more powerful devices will be completely inappropriate.

But the suspension, unlike the engine, showed a completely sporty character. The very sharp angle of the steering column makes the behavior of the motorcycle very sharp and even nervous. The motorcycle, although not very pronounced, breaks noticeably in turns and reacts very sensitively to the pilot’s commands. On the track, this behavior turned out to be very useful, but in the city, and for a first-season driver, it can do a disservice. You will have to get used to the device - this is not at all the plush Honda CB400 and others like it. The rear suspension seemed a little flimsy, but adjusting the shock absorber to the Hard position practically eliminated the feeling of a “floating” rear. Again, not a racing car, but more than enough for a city roadie. The overall rigidity of the chassis seemed quite adequate to me.

The brakes, even after a rather long session at the karting track, did not show even a hint of weakening their grip. Obviously, the Chinese “copy-pasters” did their job “excellently”. Of course, it lags behind the original, but not critically. For the price, the brakes can be given five plus. The information content and transparency of the front contour lever are also quite satisfactory. The rear brake, contrary to expectations, also turned out to be up to par. Unlike many similar motorcycles, it is easy to use. The slowdown is predictable and measured. But it often happens that the rear brake only works in the “on-off” mode.

The only thing that upset me was the sound of the exhaust. Massive and voluminous mufflers sound, to put it mildly, so-so. The sound lacks pronounced high and low notes; the engine growls hoarsely on inexpressive mid notes, even when the tachometer needle approaches the red zone. But you can clearly hear a hoarseness and an absolutely terrible rattling sound, as if a couple of loose bolts were hanging in the muffler. Moreover, if this “overtone” is practically inaudible in the saddle, then you can easily earn a dismissive “bucket with nuts” after it. You can hear it from the outside just fine! The only good news is that the manufacturer in the near future promises to bring to the market a fairly wide range of branded accessories and tuning, which will also include a carbon muffler with a “tuned” sound. At the same time, the price tag, according to Velomotors representatives, will be more than humane.

What remains to be said in the end? The Stels 600 Benelli motorcycle is truly a new word on the domestic market. There are simply no motorcycles of this quality at such prices in Russia. This is where it’s really worth wrinkling your brain and deciding what’s better, the “400” tortured by an unknown Japanese, or a full-fledged 600 cc machine, and a new one at that. In my opinion, in terms of technical characteristics, consumer characteristics, and even aesthetic ones, this motorcycle will “eat up” any “used” “itch” along with old oil and cracked rubber. It may not be able to compete with its Japanese classmates in terms of dynamics and power, but in terms of workmanship it can easily do so. Of course, the question of the reliability and durability of the device remains open, but only time can answer it. I would like to hope that with this parameter everything will be as good as with the others. And the reasons to believe in this are more than serious.

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Parameters and characteristics

Of course, everyone's first concern is what a new motorcycle can do and how reliable it is. From a design point of view, everything is correct - the space frame contains a 4-cylinder 600 cc 81-horsepower liquid-cooled engine, equipped with an injection system and capable of accelerating the Stels 600 GT Benelli motorcycle to 200 km/h (and the naked modification - even up to 220 km/h). The gearbox is a 6-speed, quite modern and works clearly, without false “neutrals” and other unpleasant moments. The gas tank holds 15 liters, and the manufacturer recommends filling with AI-95, although reviews from owners claim that the engine works no worse on a clean AI-92 with a normal gas station. Fuel consumption on this Chinese motorcycle is about 5.7-5-8 liters per hundred kilometers when driving at a speed of ~120 km/h, but if you unscrew the right handle “all the money”, it will instantly almost double.

The bike's dry weight is about 210 kg (and about 230 kg for Benelli's Stels 600 GT), but due to its fairly high center of gravity, it doesn't feel too light. In addition, the motorcycle is quite compact in size, so it may simply feel cramped for a tall biker. Before buying, you should sit on the bike and listen to your feelings.

Stels 600 Benelli. Serious competitor

Once upon a time, the oldest European motorcycle company, Benelli, produced super sports motorcycles, was popular and loved, but a crisis struck, then another, and it, like many others, had to sell to the Chinese

Natalya Umnova
Stels 600 Benelli. Price: from 230,000 rub. On sale: since 2013. Once upon a time, the oldest European motorcycle company, Benelli, produced super sports motorcycles, was popular and loved, but a crisis struck, then another, and it, like many others, had to sell to the Chinese. The masses of Russians would never have known about it if not for one event - the new Stels 600 Benelli motorcycle began to be sold in Russia.

Oh, Stels Benelli... I want, I want, I want! Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

- Wow, this is a real motorcycle! - this is the reaction of almost everyone who sees the Stels Benelli in person for the first time. No wonder: we know what 90% of Chinese motorcycles look and ride, but here it is! True Italian design: contrasting birdcage frame and monoshock absorber, streetfighter-like contours of the fairings, tank, tail, shaped convex headlight, two mufflers lifted under the saddle - this is an evil roadster.

The assembly was also pleasing: all the parts fit well, the seams are even, not a single “cricket” is heard at idle - Velomotors employees work conscientiously, assembling the devices from Chinese components at the plant in Zhukovka. The motorcycle components themselves were developed by Italian Benelli engineers.

Stels Benelli turned out to be very compact: with my not very outstanding height of 170 cm, it already seemed a little small to me. But there is also a plus: it’s very easy to get through dense traffic jams, but the mirrors need to be changed immediately - they are too long, they cling to the cars, and almost nothing is visible in them anyway.

The mirrors are stylish, but it’s hard to see through them, and they stick out a lot beyond the dimensions of the motorcycle. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

The four-cylinder in-line engine of the Stels Benelli produces as much as 81 hp. With. power, which is more than many branded classmates. Although the engine still lacks the smoothness and evenness of operation inherent in the same “Japanese”. It’s almost impossible to ride smoothly on this motorcycle: you’ve picked up speed, keep the gas steady, you’re moving, and then the engine begins to gradually slow down, and at 5000 min-1 there is a sharp dip, as if the gas has been completely released, and you have to open the “hole” again. The ride turns out to be jerky, nervous, engine braking is quite sharp, and you need to constantly monitor this so that the car behind you or a fellow motorcyclist does not get into an unpleasant situation. On the other hand, for the city this is just the thing: scour the lanes in 2nd-3rd gear at 7-9 thousand rpm, don’t let yourself and the vehicle relax, keep it in constant readiness for a sharp maneuver - this gives you greater control over the situation. Stels Benelli, although it is a “six hundred”, cannot be called a “newbie”: it is not friendly, not imposing, and is happy to goof off at the second opportunity.

Stels 600 Benelli. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

Another significant difference from the same “Japanese” is sound. I haven't heard such squealing and rattling for a long time! But no direct flows are needed - motorists already shy away to the sides.

The Stels Benelli turns quite adequately and predictably, although the fork “walks” a little. The brakes correspond to the weight and dynamic capabilities of the device; the front ones grab, perhaps, even a little stronger than would be comfortable.

A small radiator is not always enough: in traffic jams the engine gets noticeably hot. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

But all these are little things that, as they say, do not affect the speed: the Stels Benelli was a very pleasant surprise! Both in appearance, in performance quality, and in driving capabilities. The topic of reliability and durability still remains unsolved - for this you need to conduct a long-term resource test, but something tells me that there shouldn’t be any serious problems: the quality of Velomotors products is growing year after year. By next season, the manufacturer promises to further refine the motorcycle, do something with the sound, and release a collection of accessories and tuning. But now it’s absolutely no shame to drive a Stels Benelli, and in its case we can definitely say that the new “Chinese” is better than the used “Japanese”.

Stels 600 Benelli. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

From the back the device looks no worse than from other sides. Photo: Evgenia Lyubimova

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What is it like on the road?

The new motorcycle from Stels was received with interest, but also with caution. On the one hand, it is attractive - the technical characteristics of the Stels 600 Benelli are enough to compete with Japanese competitors on the roads, and the bike looks good. On the other hand, many motorcyclists are confused by the Chinese origin of the new product, since the stereotype “Chinese means bad” is firmly established in their heads. And the bike also has congenital problems - in the case of the Stealth Benelli 600 model, owner reviews say that at around 5 thousand revolutions the standard muffler begins to rattle very unpleasantly. Nothing critical, of course, but it’s annoying, so tuning the new Stealth Benelli 600 usually starts with replacing the original exhaust with a “can” from third-party manufacturers.

The speakers of the Stels Benelli 600 are impressive - it picks up speed very confidently, and powerful disc brakes provide predictable and well-predicted braking. The usual modification, of course, does not have wind protection, so after 120-130 km/h the wind begins to very noticeably blow away the rider, but the Stels 600 GT Benelli does not have this drawback - its developed front fairing perfectly cuts off the wind flow, and there is no desire to lie with your chest on the gas tank occurs even at higher speeds.

Opinion of the two-wheeled public

This Chinese-Italian hybrid is a very controversial bike, not least due to its origins. But in the case of the Stealth Benelli 600, reviews from real, real owners are crucial, because those who have only seen this motorcycle in photographs, but have not owned it, usually judge it with the prejudice that many bikers feel towards Chinese motorcycles .

I bought a bike shortly after the start of sales, new, under warranty, and I did it well, since after six months the prices had already increased. I'm happy as an elephant - I received a vigorous new motorcycle under warranty for the price of an old Ruff or Phaser. There are no problems, although the sound of the standard can is, of course, disgusting, so I replaced it with Arrow. Alexey, Moscow, Stels Benelli 600 '2014.

I was choosing a road bike so that I could drive around the city to work and go to the sea in the summer; the choice fell on the road tourist Benelli 600 GT. The bike is interesting, the acceleration is not exactly hurricane, but decent, the brakes are grippy. The plastic seems quite thin, but, fortunately, I haven’t had a chance to test its strength yet. Wind protection is at the level, I only want to lie down on the tank at 160-170 km/h, but I still don’t drive at that speed, because... consumption immediately jumps to 7-8 liters. I don’t plan to do any tuning; the standard body kit will suit all occasions. The panniers can be removed from the motorcycle in 10 minutes using a standard set of tools, and if necessary, they can be put back just as quickly. In the city they are not needed, as they increase the size, but in a long-distance commute they fit all your junk perfectly. I didn’t notice any assembly problems, although after the purchase, just in case, I removed the plastic, checked how the wiring was laid, and at the same time tightened all the available bolts and nuts. Vitaly, Nizhny Novgorod, Stels 600 GT Benelli '2016

I bought a Stealth Benelli 600 second hand with 22 thousand mileage, completely stock, nothing has been done. The paint on the plastic is easily scratched even by a zipper on a jacket. The standard headlight does not shine at all, I plugged in xenon and forgot about this problem. The acceleration is crazy, if you turn off the gas too sharply, the motorcycle literally moves away from under you, so you have to turn it off carefully. The brakes are good, but there is no ABS, so there is always a risk of overbraking. For the money, he’s a good spender; a Japanese man of that amount would be quite old. Arseniy, Moscow, Stels 600 Benelli '2015.

Main competitors

• CFMoto CF650NK (naked bike) and CF650TK (road tourer) are direct competitors of the Benelli Stealth, also from China. A similar price, nice design, good quality and almost identical characteristics to the Stealth Benelli 600 make it a possible alternative. Yes, this is also a Chinese motorcycle, but CFMoto technology has a good reputation.
• Yamaha FZ-6 is the world famous “Phaser”, which also has two versions, both “naked” and wrapped in plastic. This motorcycle is good in everything, except for its rather “jerky” behavior at low speeds and the fact that for the price of a brand new Benelli Stealth it will no longer be young.
• The Kawasaki ER-6 is another extremely popular model, proven over the years and by thousands of owners. A lightweight and unpretentious motorcycle, it is famous for its friendly character, but it also costs more than the Benelli Stealth.
• Honda CB 650F is an excellent motorcycle, balanced in all respects, a kind of strong mid-ranger. The price will also be more expensive than the Stealth, but Honda is always worth the money - it’s a matter of budget. On the other hand, if you can’t see the difference, then why pay more?
• Hyosung GT650 is a Korean competitor with an L-twin engine. In Russia, this model is not very common, and reviews about it are very contradictory, so whether to consider this motorcycle as a serious alternative to the Stealth or not is at the discretion of the buyer.

Specifications

About a year ago, when I was the proud owner of a Stels Flame 200, I got around to writing a short report on it. Much time has passed since then, I met a significant number of owners of this motorcycle, some of whom ( sic! ) made their choice precisely after reading that post. Which, of course, just flatters me. The most important thing is that not one of those with whom I spoke regretted the purchase. And that's really great. And now I’m finally ready to write a review of my Stels 600 Benelli . Why now? Because for most of this season (which, unfortunately, is already over), my motorcycle went through fire, water and copper pipes: over 22 thousand kilometers (half of which was traveling), I tested this device to the fullest. In addition to long-distance racing, there were traffic light races through Moscow at night, and flights over bumps in enduro style, and even one very serious accident (but more on that later).

Under the cut, I will try to clearly tell you what kind of beast this Stels 600 Benelli is. It will be full of photos, few videos and, naturally, many books. I hope that in this case, my report will help someone decide to buy. However, I am sure that after reading it, many will refuse to purchase. But first things first.

In the language of numbers So, let's assume that we have 220-250 thousand rubles (depending on the greed of the dealer) and we have a strong desire to buy a motorcycle. What can you buy for this money? Of course, used Japanese! For that amount of money, there are a whole bunch of offers on the market, and among them you can find quite fresh devices with quite low mileage.

But let’s assume that complexes / dislike for used cars / religion do not allow you to take a Japanese one. In my particular case, the bitter experience of owning an elderly German and a real desire to buy new equipment, although not entirely suitable for my interests. What do we get by choosing the Stels 600 Benelli ?

The in-line injection four (yes, yes, I know, Benelli has had three cylinders all its life) produces 82 horsepower . A thousand revolutions per minute earlier we get a peak torque of 52 Nm . These characteristics, combined with a 6-speed gearbox, are enough to accelerate the bike to hundreds in less than five seconds. Unless, of course, the gasket between the steering wheel and the seat is too dull.

At idle the bike hardly moves; for a confident start you need to add a little gas. Well, all the fun here starts at about 7-8 thousand rpm. Spin the engine as it should and go for all the money!

Two morons are strength! Pahomius and I decided to start. Spoiler: the blood of the intestines painted everything ended well.

But a hundred, of course, is not enough for us, so we move on. And we are really surprised - the absence of any aerodynamics (naked!) does not prevent a carcass weighing 220 kg from showing a maximum speed of 223 km/h 11,500 rpm (I checked it personally). Only it is not possible to hold it for long, because something in the lower part of the back begins to play frantically. And the head is slowly being torn off by the oncoming wind.

If you lose your nerves, it’s not a problem. Two wonderful four-piston calipers up front can make this car stop. I haven’t tried it myself - it’s scary, but there were precedents. The rear brake, well, it is there. But it’s just not very popular, you understand. Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact tires help a lot in preventing the wheels from skidding . By the way, the rubber really holds the road superbly and allows you to confidently place the motorcycle on the driver’s footrests.

How much does he eat? Yes, in fact, not so much for six hundred. In vegetable and mixed urban mode, keep it to 5.5 liters . On the highway - five liters or less, even if you drive 150+. With an aggressive driving style, you can achieve an appetite of 7 liters, but I couldn’t do more than six. Did I do something wrong?

As for the suspension , the rear mono-shock absorber is fully adjustable, the front fork (thick, inherited from its Italian counterparts) without any adjustments.

Comfortable ride This motorcycle is designed for riding around the city. Get to the lookout point, pull away from the traffic light, and take the girls for a ride not far away. However, as I learned, one particularly stubborn guy drove to Brest, Crimea and Stavropol...

... and the other guy goes to Norway !

At slow speeds it is quite difficult to handle this device. Due to the high center of gravity, I dropped it three times (!) while simply rolling my motorcycle in the garage. When driving, this problem is not felt at all. In traffic jams I began to feel like a fish in water quite quickly. Not YBR, of course, but not Golda either. With Marina, MotoEzh tried to perform all sorts of figures at near-zero speeds - it was inconvenient. I talked to some ladies who are choosing a second/third (too powerful for the first, I think) motorcycle. So they refuse to buy precisely because of the heaviness!

However, there are exceptions.

I have never ridden a Stels 600 Benelli as a passenger. However, passengers were given rides. True, married women weigh up to 50 kg, damn it. The reviews are quite positive - it sits high, you can see the road, the rear pad can be called a seat. The driver's seat is fine, if you don't drive far - you won't feel any discomfort from a walk of two hundred kilometers. But if you go further... in general, I didn’t die, of course, but it wasn’t particularly convenient, I’m not a tourist. But this is subjective.

I really like how the suspension performs on the move. Made the backside softer - it confidently swallows small bumps. I made it tough - you can go to the track to bite into corners with enviable agility. On turns you feel very confident on it. The landing is flat, almost classic, but the legs are slightly set back, like in sports. But at high speeds you still have to bend down to the tank, otherwise it will blow away.

Beauty will save the world I don’t know what it is about the world, but from the outside the motorcycle is damn beautiful. And everyone notices it. I repeat, only fierce China-haters can say about “the Chinese mutilated the design of Benelli.” And only if they know that it is Chinese. I had a chance to communicate with the Italian owners, and they didn’t say a word about any ugliness. The motorcycle is devilishly attractive. Especially white. Especially mine.

In addition to the fact that most of the optics on the motorcycle are LED, there is also a very beautiful, informative and convenient dashboard.

The overall picture is spoiled only by the vile, disgusting and miserable squealing and rattling sound of the exhaust. There is something special about it, but what the hell with such features. I drive and don’t worry, but in the winter I plan to do a little tuning...

Stickers “Sparco” and others like them Strange as it may seem, but by the middle of the season in Moscow you could buy various whistles and fakes. For 18 thousand rubles, even now you can get a good, suitable Chinese direct flow, disguised as this Akrapovic of yours. It looks, and most importantly sounds, simply amazing. Moreover, in the capital there were two options on sale, slightly different in design and sound.

One of the most important elements that I immediately sawed down for myself was the windshield. Although, this is more of a fly swatter, but it directs the air flow a little higher and allows you, hiding behind it, to calmly shoot 200+.

The guys from there also quickly jumped into action and released sliders and bars for this motorcycle onto the market. I highly recommend sliders, my motorcycle slid on the left on the asphalt for about 50 meters... and ended up with broken turn signals and a couple of scratches!

Ordering tuning from China is a different matter. There is so much for this bike: from multi-colored handles, legs and bolts to mounting for panniers. There are probably five variations of the exhaust system alone. Moreover, the prices, of course, do not bite much. So I'm waiting for winter.

Expensive toy As a separate item, I’ll try to calculate how much it cost me to own this miracle. About changing the oil and filter every five thousand (and even more often during break-in) - Motul 7100 MA2 + HF 303 = ~2200 rubles at a time . Chain lubrication and cleaning - three Motul Factory Line cylinders + Motul Chain Clean cylinder = ~2400 per season . Tires - the rear ran out at 12 thousand, the front at 18. I installed a touring Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Interact = ~12000 with installation . It holds up a little worse than stock, but is used much more economically. I accidentally damaged the chain (I drove for a long time in the rain and didn’t lube it), replacement cost 6,000 rubles . Fly swatter + sliders = 6000 rubles. Just out of curiosity, I changed the spark plugs - I didn’t notice any changes, so I paid ~1200 rubles . Replaced the rear pads, the set cost $1,000. Replacement in a circle will cost about three.

Total - a very impressive 40k . But by the beginning of the season we will still have to change the stars; the leading one is completely worn out. By the way. Official dealers finally have spare parts! And many people managed to beat the motorcycle... Prices, by the way, are quite affordable. This week I'm going to change my turn signals, which are held on with nano-adhesive tape.

Unfortunately, this is China. Well, now supporters of used Japanese and others like them can start giggling sarcastically and rubbing their hands. I can write a laudatory ode to this motorcycle for a very long time and colorfully, but let's move on to the critical part.

Over this summer, I met more than a dozen Stels 600 Benelli owners. And, no matter how sad it may sound, I have not met a single copy without any jambs . Moreover, while some “shoals” could be attributed to trifles and childhood illnesses, others were truly life-threatening. very, very pleased with the policy of Stels dealers. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for my own (volokolamka salon). Noticing that many owners were experiencing some problems (such as a broken fan sensor or cracked glass on the dashboard), they contacted the factory and obtained replacement parts under warranty. And they wrote about it, inviting the owners for a free replacement, everything is like with adults. I’m also happy with the fact that I forgot the warranty and was never in for maintenance, but they replaced my sensor without any questions - they know that this is a massive problem.

Well, you probably want to know what problems you may encounter when purchasing? Let me emphasize that you will not all of on your new motorcycle . But some of this is almost certain.

The first widespread problem (I heard that everything was fixed in the last batches) is the rear brake locking . They tried to explain to me for a long time what the point was, but I still didn’t understand. And I caught this thing with a mileage of a couple of thousand at a speed of 160 km/h - I wrote in a post about the trip to Brest. In addition, apparently, it was not possible to completely get rid of this jamb - the moto ate up the new rear pads over five thousand kilometers, despite the fact that I hardly use my rear.

The idle speed sensor is a problem for many people, but not everyone knows about it. This little plastic thing is located right under the air filter. A motor with a piston and a pipe from which rubber tubes go to the cylinder is responsible for idling. If your rpm jumps on its own, or hangs at more than two thousand when heating up, congratulations, welcome to our club. Pahomius and I had this.

Next is the cracked glass of the dashboard . God had mercy on me, but many have faced the same problem.

A little more rare is the fan switch sensor . I got it at 11,000 miles. The point is that it is covered and the fan starts working constantly, such things.

Someone's cooling system pipe was poorly screwed on , and there were drops of antifreeze under the hot motorcycle.

Some have the front fork bracket screwed on crookedly , which is why the wing rubs against the feathers when the suspension is operating. I've seen it on several motorcycles, and it happened on mine too.

one of the four bolts that hold the tail was cut off (I don’t know how, where or why) . That is, the part on which the seats, rear optics + license plate, muffler, etc. are located. Diagnosed by play in the rear part relative to, for example, a tank or cage. That is, we take the passenger handle by the handle and try to swing it up and down, left and right. If it wobbles quietly without bending the suspension - congratulations, you are the owner of a rare example, check the bolts I was lucky with

.

It’s quite rare to have a front wheel runout of 160+. I had it, balanced the wheel and that’s it.

The following are isolated cases known to me. One of my comrades had his bearings screwed up, or whatever they call it, in other words, the engine came to an end (at 9 thousand mileage, I think). They change the engine under warranty, that's it! My friend and I had a leak in our fork. I only have the left pen, but! I had an accident in which the entire impact was on the fork. As for that comrade, I don’t know. No one else had this. On one example, when the ignition was turned off, the fan continued to work and the instrument lighting was on - this is exclusive! Well, let's finish this whole thing with my biggest mistake - incorrectly assembled front brakes erased one of the drive hoses. The result is a sudden failure of the front circuit and failure of the lever. Moreover, I saw that the right hose was rubbing against the bolt, but did not attach any importance to it.

Impressive list, isn't it? But…

Let's try to summarize? The opinion of the majority of owners regarding the jambs is almost unanimous. These are (suddenly) not parts made of shit, but a crooked assembly . Moreover, as far as I know, the assembly is Chinese. It was the excessive tightness (apparently the Chinese were tired of hearing that their equipment needed to be tightened and tightened) of individual elements that led to cracks on the instrument panel, cut off bolts in the tail, bending of the front wing bracket, etc. I’m generally silent about the straightness of the hands of the eccentric who assembled my front brakes (the other guys are fine).

People who were disappointed in the Stels 600 Benelli and decided to immediately dump it... yes, I have only seen one of those. Everyone else is happy with the motorcycle. Perhaps the most accurate phrase on this matter was said by pahomius: “When buying a new six hundred for 200 thousand, I was ready for minor problems and childhood illnesses.” In general, I was ready. And I don’t regret buying this motorcycle at all: after riding it for four months and 22k, I still don’t feel any lack of power, speed or maneuverability. Until now, I’m simply in awe of its appearance - my white Broom, sparkling in the sun, pleases the eye like no other motorcycle. I'm not the least bit bored with its design, its delightful dynamics and good handling. So I’ll install a new exhaust in winter, and... to the Arctic Circle!

Oh yes, of course I forgot about my favorite disclaimer. I’ll specifically put it at the very end of the War review. War never changes. This post is not intended to incite holiwars. Therefore, connoisseurs who have never ridden a Chinese one, but my cousin had a Chinese moped, or who have not had personal acquaintance with them, please pass by. But I would like to see comments from people who are ready to engage in reasoned communication under my message. This post does not see propaganda (or mixing with shit) of Chinese technology as its goal. When I talked about my motorcycle, I did not try to speak for all of China. I tried to express my subjective opinion regarding the Stels 600 Benelli. Subjective, but formed as a result of long-term use and communication with owners of the same devices.

Finally, I would like to express special gratitude to our wonderful Marina MotoEzh for the gorgeous photos of my motorcycle. Thank you for your attention, see you again!