After a period of producing middleweights and quarter-liter motorcycles for the budget market, Benelli is back in the big bike market with the 2021 Benelli 1200GT sports-tourer. Revealed at the China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition in Chongqing, largest of its kind in Asia, the 1200GT follows the footsteps of rival CFMoto’s police specific 1250J.

Taking a leaf from the BMW Motorrad design book, the 1200GT follows the BMW R1250RT’s styling cues closely and from certain angles there would be little to differentiate the two sports-tourers. While price and final market specification have yet to be revealed, the 1200GT is expected to roll off the production line in the first half of 2021, reports newmotor.com.cn.

The 1200GT uses Benelli’s three-cylinder mill, a design going back over two decades now, and last seen as an 899 cc engine in the Benelli Tornado Tre. However, the 1200GT’s power plant, as its name suggests, displaces 1,209 cc and produces 134 hp at 9,000 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm.

As a basis for comparison, the R1250RT’s boxer-twin puts out 134 hp as well but has 142 Nm of torque under its belt. Showing that it’s moving away from the budget-conscious end of the market, the 1200GT comes with a high level of equipment specification, including Brembo brakes and ABS.

Inside the cockpit, a large TFT-LCD colour screen is flanked by a pair of analogue clocks displaying road and engine speed. Additionally, aside from riding comforts such as keyless start and powered windshield, the 1200GT also comes with electrically controlled wing mirrors that also fold and high-definition cameras located at the front and rear.

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