Is This New Motorcycle Now the Best-Looking Bike Under $7,000?

Some band, business and product names are so odd, it’s a wonder they succeeded at all. Just think of Hootie & the Blowfish, GoDaddy and (sigh) McGriddles. 

They all triumphed in spite of these monikers, a flex that makes winning with a name that makes actual sense seem too easy.

Benda

Which leads me to the latest motorcycle to hit US shores, which from the jump faces a similar uphill battle: Benda’s … Napoleonbob 500. 

Let me know when you are done cackling, and I’ll explain why this surprisingly affordable bike might actually be pretty dope. (It certainly looks like it, after all.)

Name game

What’s kinda funny is, if you stop to think about it a moment, the name actually makes some degree of sense. 

Though he wasn’t actually that short, Napoleon’s rep is of a little guy who did big things. And here we have a smaller-displacement bike looking to outpunch its weight. 

Keeway America

Bob can be considered short for bobber (the style of bike) and 500 references the engine size, which I’ll get to shortly. 

Keeway America, the US partner of Hangzhou, China-based Benda that is bringing this bike stateside, seems to be trying to spell that out by breaking up the name — Napoleon Bob 500 — on its website.

But I like the way it’s spelled on the tank and hey, if you get it, you get it.

Power and performance

As flashy as much of the Napbob is, the most notable feature is easily its beating heart, a liquid-cooled 476cc DOHC eight-valve V-twin making 47 hp at 9000 rpm and 31 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 7200 rpm. 

It’s pretty rare to see a V-twin on a bike of this size and price — a notable exception being another Benda nameplate, the Chinchilla (I know) — but that’s not all.

Keeway America

The link between that engine and those glorious golden wheels is a belt transmission system that will very likely run longer and stronger than the traditional chain. 

Helping you handle this 473-pound beast are what Benda calls “Flying Wing” handlebars. They are angled almost like gullwings, which Keeway says “invites you to adopt a thoroughly sporty driving posture.” 

On a bike with forward controls, to me that means you’ll look cool as hell riding but be sore as hell when you’re done.

Modern nods

Elsewhere, the Napbob clearly signals that, despite its retro styling — which is pretty dang gorgeous, once you get over the overkill of gold on the fork — it’s living in 2025.

One example is the premium LED headlight, which is big and bright enough to help you see and be seen on the darkest of nights.

Keeway America

Another is the TFT color display, which is also refreshingly round but offers a digital readout to keep you aware of metrics such as speed, fuel level, trip length, ABS activation and more. 

Speaking of ABS, this bike complements that safety feature with the equally confidence-inspiring traction control, plus a slipper clutch to keep shifting simple and smooth. 

Don’t know about you, but I can’t think of any better vehicle to saddle up for a morning McGriddles run.

Availability and pricing

Thanks to Keeway America, the 2025 Benda Napoleonbob 500 is rolling into US dealerships now at a starting price of $6,399.

Benda

2025 Benda Napoleonbob 500

• $6,399 at Keeway America

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