Benda expands cruiser line-up

Benda – the oddly named manufacturer that’s already brought us a number of quirky cruisers, including the inline-four-driven LFC 700 and the aesthetically unique Napoleonbob 500 – has added three new cruisers to its line-up. And they’re no less unique than their predecessors.

You can check out our Benda LFC700 review here and our Benda Napoleonbob 500 review here.

“Benda’s core mission is to design bikes that redefine the ride, combining technology with striking design to deliver new dimensions of performance for a bold new generation of riders,” said Benda Motor Europe General Manager Libo Liu.

The three new models were introduced at EICMA 2025. They are the Rock 250, Rock 707, and Dark Flag 950

Rock 250 CVT

We told you a few months ago about the Chinchilla 350 CVT Neo, which, as the name implies, features a scooter-like ‘twist and go’ CVT transmission. Equipping a motorcycle with such a transmission is a little bit odd, but not unheard of. Aprilia did it with the Mana 850 back in the early 2000s. 

If you’ve never heard of that bike, that fact, in and of itself, offers a clue as to how well the bike was received. (Although, in fairness, it was produced for eight years.)

Benda is clearly more enthusiastic about the tech, because it will also feature on the forthcoming Rock 250 CVT. The transmission is paired with a 249cc V-twin engine to create an “American-style neo-retro cruiser” claiming peak outputs of 25.8 hp and 18.4 lb-ft of arm-ripping torque. OK, arm-tingling…

Benda says the Rock 250 CVT is aimed at “riders seeking an effortless introduction to motorcycling,” and offers up a few features we wouldn’t necessarily expect from a 250, including switchable traction control and full LED lighting.

Rock 707

Driven by a 691cc V-twin, the Rock 707 claims a respectable 73.4 hp and 50 lb-ft of torque. Somewhat unique to the class, it has belt drive (Often it’s the case that smaller-capacity cruisers are chain-driven and a pain to keep maintained). But one of the real stand-out features is again the transmission.

In this case, the Rock 707 relies on the so-called Benda Electronic Clutch MK-II. The Chinese manufacturer describes the transmission thus: “A fully redundant, optional electronic clutch mode allows for smooth, clutch-lever-free shifting, making high-performance riding less physically taxing while retaining full manual clutch capability.”

Without any more details, we’d say it sounds a bit like Yamaha’s Y-AMT system.

But the whizzbangery doesn’t stop there. The bike also features an electronically adjusted suspension that can drop the seat height from 720 mm to 690 mm at stops. And you get over-the-air updates for the bike’s software.

Dark Flag 950

Sounding like the title of an unfinished album by My Chemical Romance, the Dark Flag 950 stands out from the crowd with a 948cc V4 engine claiming peak outputs of 108 hp and 62 lb-ft of torque.

“This technique cruiser is engineered for raw power and refined composure,” says Benda.

We’re not sure what Benda means by “technique cruiser” but the claim that it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds ain’t bad. Nor is the fact that it features high-end components, like Brembo brakes. We also don't hate that it borrows certain styling cues from the Indian Scout.

You also get switchable ABS and traction control, “one-touch” cruise control, and cylinder deactivation at idle to reduce heat and fuel consumption.

Pricing of the three models has not yet been announced, and we’re unsure if or when they will arrive in the UK market. I guess, as we already get the Napoleonbob and the LFC, it kind of depends on how well those two sell.

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