The Benelli Sei is a series of

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

s that were produced by Italian manufacturer

Benelli Benelli may refer to: *Benelli Armi SpA, an Italian firearm manufacturer *Benelli (motorcycles), an Italian motorcycle manufacturer *HSR-Benelli, an Austrian-Italian manufacturer of personal watercraft * Andrea Benelli (born 1960), Italian sports sh ...

, and masterminded by automotive designer

Alejandro de Tomaso Alejandro de Tomaso (10 July 1928 in Buenos Aires – 21 May 2003 in Modena, Italy) was a racing driver and businessman from Argentina. His name is sometimes seen in an Italianised form as ''Alessandro de Tomaso''. He participated in two Formula ...

, from 1973 to 1989.Benelli 750/900 Performance Portfolio 1973-1989. R. M. Clarke. Brooklands Books, 20 Jan 2005 Two models were made, with 750 and 900 cc displacement. The 750 was the first production motorcycle with a six-cylinder engine.

Benelli 750 Sei

The Benelli 750 Sei was the first production motorcycle with a 6-cylinder engine and had two model releases. De Tomaso intended it to become Italy's premier sporting motorcycle and wanted it badged as a Moto Guzzi. On its launch, it received tremendous publicity overshadowing all other Italian bikes of that year. It started the trend of angular designed motorcycles moving away from traditional round forms. The engine was based on the four-cylinder Honda CB500, but with two extra cylinders. The cylinder head fins of the Sei were squared off to provide a cosmetic individuality, but otherwise the engine is in most respects obviously derived from the Honda. The "angular, bold design" was by

Carrozzeria Ghia Carrozzeria Ghia SpA (established 1916 in Turin) is an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firm, established by Giacinto Ghia and Gariglio as "Carrozzeria Ghia & Gariglio". The headquarters are located at Corso Guglielmo Marconi, 4, Turin ...

. It produced at 9,000 rpm, had a top speed of around and was one of the smoothest European tourers. Despite the extra cylinders, the Sei's width was kept to a minimum by siting the alternator (which, on the Honda, is at the left-hand end of the crankshaft) behind the cylinders. Cooling was improved by having air passages between the cylinders; the Sei had three Dell'Orto VHB 24 mm carburetors (the Honda CB 500 had four, for four cylinders). The vehicle appeared to reviewers as heavy and cumbersome but handled surprisingly well, and had a unique signature exhaust note from its six mufflers. Production Frame numbers started at 5000. Production figures were as follows ; Series 1 . 1974 293 #5001-5293 1975 1,479 from # 5294 Series 1 ,2 1976 87 from # 6774 Series 2 1977 283 from # 6861 1978 1,058 from # 7145 Sei 900 Series 1 1978 23 # 100001- 100023 Series 1 1979 515 # 100024- and up Series 1/2 1980 322 # 100539- and up Series 2 1981 312 # 100861- and up Series 2/3 1982 176 # 101174- and up Series 3 1983 26 # 101351- and up Series 3 1984 106 # 101377- and up Series 3 1985 25 # 101484- and up Series 4 1986 200 # 101510- and up Series 4 1987 88 # 101710- and up Series 4 1988 0 # 101798- and up Series 4 1989 85 # 101799- and up Total production 1878 The Benelli 750 Six / 900 Six remained the only six-cylinder motorcycle in production until the entrance of the

Honda CBX The Honda CBX sports motorcycle was manufactured by Honda from 1978 to 1982. With a 1047cc inline six-cylinder engine producing , it was the flagship of the Honda range. The CBX was well-received by the press, but was outsold by its sibling intr ...

in 1978.

Benelli 900 Sei

In 1979, by which time Benellli had sold 3,200 vehicles, Benelli developed the 750 Sei into a 900 cc motorcycle by increasing bore and stroke, with six-into-two exhausts and a small bikini fairing used on the

Moto Guzzi Le Mans The Moto Guzzi Le Mans is a sports motorcycle first manufactured in 1976 by Italian company Moto Guzzi. It was named after the 24-hour motorcycle endurance race at Le Mans in France. The Le Mans designation was first used for an 850 prototype, base ...

. Less than 2,000 were made over four model releases. Described at the time as "outrageous" or a "flashbike". Flashbikes tended to be "rare, expensive, European, quirky, handsome and high performance".Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader, March 2008, Dominion Enterprises,. Originally published in Cycle World, It had an original MSRP of $3,995. Benelli 900 Sei Sport

It was later released as a "Sei Sport" model with a larger bikini fairing.

References

External links

''Motorcycle Classics'' article on Benelli 750 Sei
{{clear 750 Sei Six-cylinder motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1972 Standard motorcycles Sport touring motorcycles

Benelli 750 Sei

Benelli 900 Sei

See also

References

External links