1-. INTRODUCTION:

                              In 1975 Benelli launch the 500 Quattro.  It was a 750 Sei with only four cylinders, four silencers and a front drum brake. With the same frame, suspensions and bodywork but with 20 bhp less the handling and road performance has no problem.

                              Only very few were made by problems with the front drum (lack of stopping power) and the gearboxes (quality of the pinions and no oil feed to main axle bearings). With the adoption of a single front disc and the new cured engine the Quattro wanted to be an option to the Honda 500 Four. No matter. In 1995 Honda launched the CB550F, the first evolution of the 500 with some good improvements. The exagerate price of the Benelli (30% plus that the Honda) and the uncertain reliability of the engine and the electrics made that machine very scared in the worldwide roads.

                              In 1976 Benelli launched the 500 LS model, a really new model. Only the engine with the four silencers and some electric components and controls were reteined from the Quattro. A new smaller frame, new wheels and brakes and a new bodywork composed a bike that was a really option to the rest of japanese fours.

                              That new bike was evolutionating to the 504 Sport in 1978 and to the 654 in 1980.

                              2-. ON THE ROAD:

                              It´s not an easy job to have these machines together for a test, but in this case all three are mine. The Quattro and the LS are restored but the 504 sport is in original condition with 25.000 km on the clock.

                              It´s evident taht the Quattro it´s bigger and taller and the heaviest of the trio. The LS and the Sport are 25 kg less than the Quattro and their general dimension are smaller too. With the similar engine power the Quattro feel dynamically less atractive.

                              From the point of view of the design, the Quattro take the same Italian luxury styling of the Sei, reinforced visually with the retro-touch of the drum brake. From the point of view practical, the advance of the new rolling-frame and bodywork styling it´s over the japanese options.

                              The Quattro it´s a bike to preserve, to admire and to be admired riding on. The LS and the Sport are not so exclusive, they are just for riding, and really enjoying doing it.

                              The modifications caused by the new frame, more accourate to the dimensions and the power of the four cylinder engine made the machine very compact, even too small, like a 350 “big bore”. The general dimensions, very good frame, good ground clearence, very good brakes, good riding position and the final dry weight of 185 kg for the declared 50 bhp are inviting you to the sporty way. That´s why the 504 Sport is born. In the way to recuperate the sport-racing style of the make Benelli. And they do!! At last in my opinion for the Sport it´s a beautifull bike, a café-racer made by the factory.

                              The riding position in the Sport it´s radical, and not very confortable for long trips. You feel very integrated with the bike and the only idea it´s going faster and faster. The engine it´s the same used in the LS with domed pistons, but the increase of power it´s no sensible at all. With a Marving exhaust 4-1, air filter K&N, rejetted carbs and electronic ignition, the things are better and the engine pull hard from 6.500 to 10.000 rpm.

                              The LS it´s the bike for everiday use, a classical with spocked wheels and the special italian design completed with the look of four silencers. And the best it´s that finally Benelli made an very reliable engine (more or less). But if you arrive to find a Quattro with drum brakes, and the price it´s not your problem, buy it!. A big smile will be in your face and a beautifull bike will be in your garage.