Benda Chinchilla 350 CVT NEO Cruiser Unveiled

Forget fiddly gears – Benda’s latest cruiser brings twist-and-go simplicity to the full-sized scene.

Just when you thought gearboxes were getting clever enough to do your taxes, along comes Benda with a bold shout: why not just keep it simple?

While the big-name brands are diving deep into high-tech clutches and gear automation, Chinese manufacturer Benda’s gone old-school with a new-school twist – launching the Chinchilla 350 CVT NEO, a cruiser that swaps cogs for a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Yep – twist the throttle and go. No gears, no faff, no stalling on a hill start.

Why CVT on a cruiser?

It’s a fair question. After all, CVTs are usually scooter territory. But Benda’s clearly chasing a different vibe here – not performance, but confidence. If you’ve spent years buzzing about on a twist-and-go scoot and fancy moving up to a proper-sized bike without learning the fine art of clutch control in rush-hour traffic, this could be right up your alley.

And while it might sound like a gamble, it’s not the first time someone’s tried it. Aprilia gave it a whirl with the Mana 850, but it never quite clicked – possibly because its sporty styling didn’t match the mellow vibes of a CVT setup. Benda’s decision to package it all into a cruiser? That feels like a smarter shout.

What’s under the seat?

Benda’s Chinchilla 350 CVT NEO packs a 343cc V-twin delivering 32bhp and 16lb-ft of torque. It’s not setting any lap records, but that’s not the point – it’s built to cruise, not bruise. Think relaxed rides, less stress, and more focus on the open road ahead.

There’s a vented cover proudly showing off that CVT setup, and the bike’s coming in black, grey, or yellow. A European launch is pencilled in before the end of 2025 – and while pricing’s still under wraps, we reckon it’ll be wallet-friendly compared to most twist-and-go alternatives.

So, who’s it for?

New riders. Scoot graduates. Cruiser fans who fancy ditching the clutch. Anyone who wants to enjoy the ride without worrying about whether they’re in second or third.

Will it catch on? Time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – we’re always up for new ways to get more bums on seats and smiles on faces.