BENELLI 250 Sport Special (1972-1973) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1972, the Italian motorcycle maker released the Benelli 250 Sport Special, a quarter-liter motorcycle in its fifth consecutive production year that packed the same specifications as the previous one without any changes.

The 1972 model came in the same shape and form as the previous one, which was revised, featuring a Marzocchi front fork and a higher, adjustable handlebar. The model survived until 1973, before it was discontinued.

The 1972 Benelli 250 Sport Special was set in motion by a 245cc four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine mounted underneath its fuel tank, delivering 12 hp with maximum strength at 8,500 rpm.

The power crafted by the quarter-liter engine was converted into speed by a five-speed manual transmission controlled by a wet multi-plate clutch and sent to the rear axle via a final chain drive, launching the motorcycle to 140 kph (87 mph).

The bike was built around an open-cradle tubular steel frame with a Marzocchi telescopic fork on the front and a swingarm with side-mounted hydraulic shock absorbers on the rear, offering optimum handling capabilities.

As for the stopping power, the bike packed a 175 mm drum braking unit on the front and a 125 mm drum braking unit on the rear, offering the braking performance needed to stop the bike in safe conditions.

Aesthetically, the motorcycle packed features like a round headlight with a chromed housing, analog instruments, a long fuel tank, a one-piece, two-up seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a single exhaust system with a silencer mounted on the right-hand side, a center stand, and cross-spoke wheels.