The Benelli Velvet was the largest model of the scooter family that Benelli created under its new Merloni ownership in the late 1990s. Presented at the Munich show in October 1998 and built from 1999 to 2013, it used liquid-cooled four-stroke Yamaha engines made by Minarelli and was also sold as the Renault Kouranos.
Benelli Velvet at a glance
| Maker | Benelli, Pesaro (Italy); later also Wenling, China |
|---|---|
| Production | 1999–2013, with a break in 2003–2005 |
| Also sold as | Renault Kouranos; Benelli Andretti 150 XT in the USA |
| Frame | truss frame with Ceriani single-sided front suspension |
| Front suspension | Ceriani fork with 33 mm stanchions; 35 mm from 2001 |
| Rear suspension | twin Paioli shock absorbers |
| Brakes | two 220 mm front discs |
| Wheels | 13-inch front, 12-inch rear |
| Engines | liquid-cooled four-stroke Yamaha: 125, 150, 250 and 400 cc |
| 125 cc output | 12 CV at 9,000 rpm and 12 Nm at 7,500 rpm |
| 250 cc output | 20 CV at 6,500 rpm and 23 Nm at 5,750 rpm |
| Tank | mounted on the footboard |
Based on one detailed source: the Italian Wikipedia article on the Velvet.
History of the Benelli Velvet
A new flagship scooter
The Velvet was designed under the new Merloni ownership as the biggest model of Benelli’s new scooter family. It was presented at the Munich show in October 1998 and went into production in 1999. Its chassis used a truss frame with a Ceriani single-sided front suspension with 33 mm stanchions and twin Paioli rear shock absorbers, wide tyres and two front disc brakes. The engines were four-stroke Yamaha units made by Minarelli, liquid-cooled and available in 125 and 250 cc, both with a catalyst and Euro 1 approval.
The 125 produced 12 CV at 9,000 rpm and 12 Nm at 7,500 rpm; the 250 produced 20 CV at 6,500 rpm and 23 Nm at 5,750 rpm. The scooter also had a headlight whose beam height could be adjusted by a button, and the fuel tank was mounted on the footboard. Two 220 mm discs provided the braking, with a 13-inch front wheel and a 12-inch rear.
More engines and the Touring
The 2000 range gained a 150 cc Yamaha engine alongside the 125 and 250, with 12.9 CV and 12.3 Nm and Euro 1 approval. At EICMA in 2001 Benelli presented the Velvet Touring, a restyling with a sportier look in which chrome was replaced by smoked details, a new three-dial instrument panel, a new two-seat saddle with more padding, new shock absorbers and a 35 mm fork. From 2002 the Velvet was also sold as the Renault Kouranos in many European countries, with 125 and 250 engines.
At EICMA in 2002 Benelli showed the Velvet 400 Dusk, with a 383 cc Yamaha engine of 31.3 hp and Euro 2 approval; it went into production in 2003, and the other engines were also re-approved to Euro 2. At the end of 2003 production was temporarily suspended because of the parent company’s financial difficulties and restarted only at the end of 2005, with the 2006 range after the Qianjiang Group took a share in Benelli. Production at Pesaro was then joined by the Wenling plant for Asian and American markets; the engines were Yamaha 125, 150 and 250 units re-approved to Euro 3, and the 400 was not offered again.
The final years
From 2008 production at Pesaro ended and the Velvet was imported from China in the 125 cc version only, updated with new two-tone yellow and black paint. In the United States it was imported by Andretti and sold as the Benelli Andretti 150 XT with the 150 cc engine only. From 2011 the 150 returned to the European range alongside the 125, and production ended for good in the summer of 2013.
Design and features
- Yamaha engines: liquid-cooled four-strokes made by Minarelli in 125, 150, 250 and 400 cc.
- Strong chassis: truss frame, Ceriani front suspension and twin Paioli shocks.
- Twin front discs: two 220 mm discs on a large-wheeled scooter.
- Touring update: three-dial instruments, new saddle and 35 mm fork from 2001.
Benelli Velvet versions
- Velvet 125 and 250 (1999): the original range.
- Velvet 150 (2000): 12.9 CV Yamaha engine.
- Velvet Touring (2001): sportier styling, new instruments and suspension.
- Renault Kouranos (2002): badge-engineered version for Europe.
- Velvet 400 Dusk (2003): 383 cc, 31.3 hp.
- Velvet 125/150 (2008–2013): Chinese-built final versions.
Benelli’s smaller high-wheeled scooter is described in the Pepe article, and the sporty 50 cc model in the 49X article. More Benelli models are in the Benelli collection.
Video: Benelli Velvet 250
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Benelli Velvet, Italian Wikipedia: history, engines, versions
- Benelli, English Wikipedia: company background
