Benelli 750 Sei
Benelli 750 Sei was the world's first mass-produced motorcycle with a 6-cylinder engine.
Special motorcycles have always attracted attention and created fascination. MC enthusiasts have had an outlet for their dreams, and designers have nodded in satisfaction when their product has been the subject of superlatives from the press and the public. Italian Benelli belongs to this type of motorcycle. Not so strange considering that Benelli 750 Sei was the world's first series-produced motorcycle with a 6-cylinder engine.
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De Tomaso's dream
When Alejandro De Tomaso bought the Benelli factory in 1971, expectations were high. The Argentine-born Latino already had several spectacular vehicles on his “conscience”. For car enthusiasts, De Tomaso’s name is forever linked to the Pantera sports car. The predictions of what was in store for the motorcycle side were not disappointed, and the big event took place on October 26, 1972, at De Tomaso’s own hotel in Modena. A large press corps was able to witness the unveiling of the very spectacular Benelli 750 Sei, a masterpiece of a motorcycle, equipped with a transversely mounted straight-six engine. On the podium stood the motorcycle with De Tomaso sitting on the saddle in a shower of flashbulbs. The world had hardly seen anything like it.
750 Sei and 900 Sei
As competition from Japan increased in the 1970s, European motorcycle manufacturers had to either fold or bet big. In Benelli's case, they bet big, and literally wide. The result was the two inline-sixes, the 750 Sei and 900 Sei.
Six exhaust pipes
The 750 Sei had great all-round characteristics, and combined good acceleration with a solid bottom. The sound from the six megaphone mufflers was indescribable! The “square” design on the covers, fuel tank and indicator lamps set it apart from most other brands. From a critical point of view, it was claimed that the 750 Sei was actually a Honda CB 500 Four and a half, almost a copy. However, it was not so common for European manufacturers to copy the Japanese, it was probably the other way around. Despite the fact that the engine in Honda CB 500 Four with its single overhead camshaft has clear similarities with the Benelli, there were many differences. The 750 Sei showed very good handling characteristics thanks to a solid frame in combination with Marzocchi front forks and Brembo brakes. Only the best was good enough when De Tomaso was building a motorcycle.
Sixpack power
Benelli's new "sixpack" cannot be described as anything other than spectacular and delicious. The engine is a masterpiece. De Tomaso had to endure many questions about why he used a 6-cylinder engine instead of a 4-cylinder. The press corps immediately compared the 750 Sei to Honda's super four, the CB 750 Four. For Alejandro De Tomaso, the answer was as simple as it was logical: "a straight-six fires at 120 degrees, unlike the straight-four, which fires at 180 degrees. That's why the six runs much smoother. It's also much more aesthetic." Who could argue with such arguments? No one was surprised that the engine pulled over a liter per mile. The climate fight was still miles away from politicians and hysterical press.
Little fours and big sixes
Under the leadership of De Tomaso, Benelli developed a series of small, medium and heavy motorcycles. Among the most famous are the 354 Sport, 500 Quattro, 750 Sei and 900 Sei. The first two with a 4-cylinder engine, and the last two with an inline-six. However, the 750 Sei never became a volume seller. A total of 3,200 copies were made in the period 1974 to 1977. The same was true for the 900 Sei. It was produced in only 1,878 copies from 1979 to 1987.
Technical data Benelli 750 Sei, 1975 model:
Engine:…………6-cylinder 4-stroke, SOHC
Displacement:……747 ccm
Compression:….9.8:1
Power:……….…71 hp v.8900 rev.
Carburettors:……3 x 24 mm Dell`Orto
No. of gears:………...5
Front tires:…...3.50 x 18 Pirelli
Rear tires:……..4.25 x 18 Pirelli
Tank:…………...22.5 litres
Weight:…………...219 kg (dry)
Top speed:……..185 km/h
The engine in the 750 Sei had a lot in common with the engine in Honda CB500Four