Chris, is this a Chinese product??
It is as Chinese as Volvo. Or as Indian as Land Rover. And let's face it the R3 is hugely Thai.
It is a Benelli. Benelli is owned by Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Group Co. Biggest 2 wheel mfr in China. But very focussed on export.
The 402 Was announced this year - but it will not surprise me if they make it as a 500. And maybe later as a 700/800.
I won't be getting one as frankly I do not like the Diavel look. But can see it's appeal.
I am by nature rather solitary. And also hate being in cities. I live in the sticks and am happy doing so. (OK a few more take-aways would be nice).
It means however I am VERY out of touch. I bought my R3 to do longish FAST trips (Spain-UK) and weekends with Monti.
But since my mates moved the workshop into Madrid capital I am having to "mingle" and I am seeing what many "day-to-day" users ride.
Only a real nitwit takes a Rocket into Madrid traffic. Unless of course he has nothing else to ride.
And I feel very "hemmed in" with the R3 on UK roads. Traffic is not the R3's domain. It is not much fun in narrow twisty lanes imo.
It has truly surprised me the number of smaller bikes there are milling around now in Madrid. I don't mean scooters. And don't mean 125's either (For the uninformed ANYBODY in Europe with a car licence more than a few years old, can simply ride a 125cc with no additional endorsement). But whereas I was unsurprised to see (say) a BMW 1200 - now it would more likely be a BMW 650. And from the aesthetics (gear) of the owners - it is not always driven by money.
I think it is all too easy for us (I include me) to think of these as "small and insignificant". But there is a massive market for mid sized commuter bikes that can also serve as weekend day-trippers. Given Spanish salaries - it is really no surprise at all that budget bikes sell well here.
In Europe too there is a BIG market at the A2 licence limit. I think in OZ they have a similar thing called LAMS. I know quite a few A2 bikes get sold and then are simply kept as their owners realise that they don't actually need/want more. This did surprise me as I had always assumed these would be high turnover models - ride an A2 for a couple of years then move up. But the used A2 market (here) is basically stagnant. I am told that Spain is not unique - but I do not know for fact.
I am not so blind as to believe that ALL Chinese bikes will be GOOD or BAD. But equally no so stupid to think that small scale mfrs can hope to compete unless they also generate income from what MOST OF THEIR customers want. I feel more and more companies will start to specialise (and maybe dominate) in one market segment and less and less try to cover everything. Why? - because if the Chinese decide they want the general mid range and younger market - they are going to take it.
Anyway - there it is - ramble over.
