1967 Benelli Barracuda 250 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1967 Benelli Barracuda 250 - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
250cc BENELLI BARRACUDA
Motorcycling in the U. S. is somewhat different from
what goes on in the rest of the world. Americans pre-
fer machines that are perfectly legal on the highway and
yet can be used for any of the various off-the-road activi-
ties that we are able to dream up. In short, ours is an all-
round sporting market, requiring a rugged, flexible
machine.
This differs from most countries in that a rider decides
whether he is going touring or racing, because dirt riding
is usually confined to actual competition. But, thanks to
a tremendous land mass, motorcycling away from roads
and traffic offers a great deal of fun and excitement to the
largest part of our market. And a motorcycle that will do
both jobs well is therefore more appealing to the majority
of people.
One company to realize this fact is the Italian Benelli
concern. Benelli has been building some of the most ex-
otic racing, and some of the best utility touring machines
in Italy for many years. Their new model, designed specif-
ically for the American rider, is called the Barracuda.
The Barracuda began life as a 175, known as the
Sprite, which was eventually engineered into a full scale
250, and still called the Sprite. Each development step
was carried out with the American rider and the Barracuda
in mind.
Weight-wise, the new Benelli could be considered
light, especially for a street machine, and this is one of its
really good points for off-the-road use. At the same time,
it has a sturdy, stable ride for the time it will sp_end as a
touring machine. Suspension, front and rear, is extremely
good for road riding; however, as in the case of most
dual purpose machines, it is not up to the hazards of fast
motoring across rough terrain. Suspension is adequate for
the person seeking transportation through the woods.
We criticized the seat fitted to the Sprite, which was
intended primarily for the street. Thus, we were more than
a little surprised to find the same seat on the Barracuda,
although the comfort requirements are much greater when
a machine will be used in the rough. Granted, we are a
soft, pampered lot, but the seat is much too narrow.
Another point of criticism, since the machine will
sometimes be used where rocks and boulders are common,
is the lack of protection for somewhat sensitive engine
parts.
The engine is of rather typical Italian engineering with
overhead valves and unit construction. Even the horizon-
tal layout is common among Italy’s designers, offering
a lower center of gravity than with a vertical cylinder.
Benelli has utilized the advantage of a low engine mass to...
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