The Benelli 49X, or QuattronoveX, was a 50 cc scooter built from 2008 to 2015 and aimed at young riders. It was styled after the company’s Tornado Tre and TNT motorcycles and shared its steel cradle frame with the later X125 and X150 scooters.
Benelli 49X at a glance
| Maker | Benelli (Qianjiang Group) |
|---|---|
| Production | 2008–2015 |
| Class | 50 cc low-wheel scooter |
| Engine | 49.2 cc single-cylinder two-stroke, air-cooled |
| Claimed power | 2.7 hp at 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 3.7 Nm at 5,000 rpm |
| Fuel system | electronically managed carburettor, Euro 2 |
| Front brake | 190 mm wave disc |
| Rear brake | 110 mm drum; 180 mm disc after the 2010 update |
| Wheels | 12-inch front, 10-inch rear |
| Versions | On Road, Off Road |
| Built at | Wenling, China |
The 49X is described in the Italian Wikipedia article on the model (one detailed source).
History of the Benelli 49X
Back to the 50 cc class
The 49X was presented in 2008 and marked Benelli’s return to the sporty 50 cc segment five years after the 491 left the range. It was part of the “X” scooter family, which later grew to include the X125 and X150 introduced in 2011. The scooter was designed at Benelli’s R&D centre in Pesaro and built at the Qianjiang Group’s factory in Wenling, China.
Design and engineering
The styling drew on the Tornado Tre and TNT motorcycles, with similar headlights and indicators. The fuel tank sits on the central tunnel under a chrome cap, and the rear light cluster includes LED indicators. The frame is a steel-tube cradle with single-sided front suspension and, at the rear, an engine-swinging arm with a hydraulic shock adjustable for preload in five positions. The underseat compartment takes a full-face helmet. Braking is by a 190 mm wave disc at the front and a 110 mm drum at the rear.
Versions and update
The 49X came in two versions: On Road, with 120/70 R12 front and 130/70 R10 rear tyres, and Off Road, with knobbly 120/90 R12 and 130/90 R10 tyres. At EICMA in November 2010 Benelli presented the X125 and X150, which used the same frame and styling with four-stroke engines, and showed a restyled 49X with digital instruments, a 180 mm rear disc and a Euro 3 engine. Production ended in 2015 when the brand left the scooter segment.
Design and features
- Motorcycle-inspired styling: headlights and indicators in the style of the Tornado Tre and TNT.
- Steel cradle frame: with single-sided front suspension.
- Practical: underseat storage for a full-face helmet.
- Two specifications: road tyres or knobbly off-road tyres.
Benelli 49X versions
- 49X On Road (2008): 120/70 R12 and 130/70 R10 tyres.
- 49X Off Road (2008): knobbly 120/90 R12 and 130/90 R10 tyres.
- 2010 update: digital instruments, 180 mm rear disc, Euro 3 engine.
Benelli’s other small scooter is described in the Pepe article, and the motorcycles that inspired the styling are in the TNT article. More models are in the Benelli collection.
Video: Benelli 49X Sport DD Roller/Scooter Anleitung
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Benelli QuattronoveX, Italian Wikipedia: history, engineering, versions
- Benelli, English Wikipedia: company background
