I’ve Never Seen a Cruiser This Affordable With This Iconic Feature

Boasting the coolest engine in its class, Benda’s unusually named Chinchilla 500 should leave Honda and Kawasaki in a cold sweat.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published May 15, 2025

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Updated May 16, 2025

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If you’ve been reading GP’s moto coverage lately — as you should be! — you may have noticed I’ve been giving a lot of shine to smaller-displacement bikes, particularly cruisers.

There’s a good reason, which is that many of these bikes are refreshingly attractive, affordable and approachable, not only for newer and smaller riders but veterans as well.

benda chinchilla 500 hero — From tip to tail, the long-awaited Chinchilla 500 simply screams “ride me!” (It does to me anyway. Maybe I should see a doctor about that.)

They are also seemingly proliferating, but sadly much more in Asia, India and Europe than stateside.

While American brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian seem reluctant to go small — I suppose Harley’s $9,999, 975cc Nightster is a start — many Asian and Indian brands have yet to reach the US.

Which is why I’m stoked to see Benda bringing three cruisers with eye-catching looks — and head-scratching names — to our shores.

Unlike other brands’ small-displacement cruisers, Benda’s bikes boast heart-pumping, chest-thumping V-twin engines.

And as excited as I am about the opportunity to buy something called the Napoleonbob 500, I dare say the Chinchilla 500 is the most compelling of the bunch.

Distinctively, it packs an engine that’s quite badass for its class, but that’s not all.

V-twin for the win

First off, what is Benda? Based in Hangzhou, China, the nine-year-old brand makes a number of motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides that are primarily distributed in Asia and Europe.

However, thanks to a partnership with Keeway Group, the brand has been extending to additional areas including India, South America and, yes, the US of A.

chinchilla 500 v-twin detail — Performance metrics aside, the iconic look of a V-twin just cannot be denied.

They picked some good bikes to make their American debut, too.

Because unlike other brands’ small-displacement cruisers — think Honda, Kawasaki and CFMoto — all three Benda bikes boast heart-pumping, chest-thumping V-twin engines.

(For the record, the yet-unmentioned third bike is a little brother, the Chinchilla 300.)

benda chinchilla 500 cruiser action — Are you familiar with the term ATGATT? This ain’t it. But it is a hell of a way to market a motorcycle.

With the Chinchilla 500, that shape hosts a 476cc power plant making 47 horsepower and 31 lb-ft of torque and claiming a top speed of 90 mph.

In other words, it’s beyond qualified to rip city streets and country roads and has just enough juice for the highway.

Finishing touches

While that engine’s shape alone will likely get the attention of red-blooded American motorcycle fans, the bike boasts some other promising details too.

The curb weight of 474 pounds combined with a seat height of 27.2 inches and a relaxed riding position mean just about anyone can swing a leg over this thing and go for a spin.

benda chinchilla 500 exhaust pipes — As much as I love chrome pipes, the blacked-out approach totally works on this bike.

An exposed 41mm inverted fork up front and a coil-spring twin-shock suspension in back, together with a 61-inch wheelbase and beefy 16-inch tires, help to ensure a safe and comfortable ride.

One final feature I’m rather obsessed with is the upside-down bar-end mirrors. You rarely see such a badass tweak on a stock bike.

That little detail instantly makes me think of Indian’s fantastic 2025 Scout Bobber, part of the all-new Scout lineup that blew me away on a big west coast press ride last year.

benda chinchilla 500 front end detail — Upside-down bar-end mirrors give the Chinchilla 500 an attitude you rarely see at the $6,000 price point.

The big difference is a matter of scale. Yes, the Chinchilla 500’s engine is less than half the size of the Scout Bobber’s 1250cc beast.

But when it comes to hitting your bank account, it also costs less than half of that bike’s $12,999 starting price.

Availability and pricing

Thanks to Keeway America, the 2025 Benda Chinchilla 500 is rolling into US dealerships now at a starting price of $5,999.

2025 Benda Chinchilla 500

Starts at $5,999

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.