The BENDA stand at EICMA 2026 is so packed that I have to play the important guy and squeeze past people just to see the new bikes. That’s a big deal. I remember this brand’s first trade-show booth: small, quiet, nobody cared. Now it’s wall-to-wall journalists and dealers, and the public isn’t even in the building yet.

Most of us know BENDA for cruisers with fat rear tires and loud, look-at-me styling. This year they show up with something completely different: a new 700 cc V-twin that already carries three new bikes in three classes BENDA has never played in. Plus an electronic clutch I somehow missed in my prep.

The Capra 700 is BENDA’s first adventure bike

First up, the Capra 700. BENDA calls it the brand’s first adventure bike, built for the European market. The 691.66 cc 65-degree V-twin makes 72 hp and 50 lb-ft, and BENDA lists the weight at 485 lbs. On paper it’s a serious travel enduro: a 4.8-gallon tank, an adjustable upside-down fork with 9.1” of travel, a 21” front and 18” rear, a steel trellis frame, a big TFT and a striking high-mounted twin exhaust. For me that’s another real addition to the adventure class. But that’s exactly where things get crowded next year. I’m curious how the Capra lands and how all the new adventure bikes hitting the market in 2027 sort themselves out. The variety is nuts, and now BENDA has a horse in the race.

BENDA Capra 700 in a manufacturer press photo

Vinster 700 and Vinster X 700 lean scrambler

The bikes right next to it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. The Vinster 700 leans scrambler: tall tank, knobby tires, the same V-twin, an aluminum single-sided swingarm and a high exhaust. The Vinster X 700 takes it a step further, with a 19” front wheel and more touring kit, according to BENDA. I’d have loved to sit on them, but it didn’t look like that was allowed yet. What impresses me: with one new engine, BENDA covers completely different segments right out of the gate. In the past the brand was mostly about show bikes like the Napoleon Bob, all looks and presence. These new ones are supposed to win you over with real-world usefulness. I haven’t ridden any of them. But I’m betting all three will go over big in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

The Benda scrambler with yellow tank, knobby tires and single-sided swingarm at EICMA 2026 in Milan.

When the new twins hit Europe

At the stand I meet Patricia, who does marketing for Germany, Austria and Switzerland out of BENDA’s office in Salzburg. About 30 people work there now, field reps included. Her first trade show was EICMA a year ago, and that was also her first day on the job. Talk about being thrown in the deep end. Public interest has jumped, she tells me: the press conference was standing room only, even though the stand got bigger. Then the big question: when do the Capra, Vinster and Vinster X come to Europe? She’s straight with me. The three are still prototypes, they’ll get more development and refinement this year, and Europe should see them around 2028. So patience is required. The engine itself is already on sale, though, with a trick I didn’t see coming.

The Rock 707 EC shifts without a clutch lever

That same V-twin already lives in the Rock 707 EC, a cruiser that’s on sale now. EC stands for Electronic Clutch. I only found that out at the stand, which tells you how well prepared I was. Guilty as charged. The system handles pulling away, shifting and stopping without the clutch lever, and the rider can still work the lever whenever they want. Here the twin displaces 692 cc and makes 72 hp, there’s electronic air suspension in the rear with automatic ride-height adjustment, and the seat sits between 27.2” and 28.3”. In Germany it reportedly goes for €9,999 plus fees. On a cruiser that setup makes a lot of sense, because it makes city traffic even more relaxed. Anyone who dreads clutch work in stop-and-go now has an out.

BENDA Rock 707 EC in a manufacturer press photo

Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC and the big Dark Flag 950

The V4 bikes get the Electronic Clutch too. The Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC grows from the old 500 to a 598.5 cc V4 with 70 hp, and BENDA plans a 35 kW version for A2 license holders in Europe, with the European launch set for 2027. Next to it stands the biggest motorcycle BENDA has ever built: the Dark Flag 950, with a 948 cc V4, 107 hp and 63 lb-ft, still with a conventional manual clutch here. Sitting on it makes clear what a slab of iron this is: 534 lbs ready to ride, yet the seat is only 27.2” off the ground. The first European markets get it from late November 2026, and in Germany it costs €10,999.

BENDA Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC in a manufacturer press photo

Why BENDA is shaking up dealers

What sticks with me at this stand isn’t a single bike. I’m pretty sure BENDA is going to move into dealerships where established Japanese brands have had the floor to themselves. That puts real pressure on the Japanese. They’ll have to work harder for buyers with great bikes, and they’ll have to treat their dealers better instead of cramming the showroom full with a crowbar. Then there’s the speed. The Salzburg team soaks up customer feedback and feeds it straight back to headquarters, and the pace of development is breathtaking. Even the ATVs, which are basically work animals, impress me with their paint and finish. In 2027 I want to do another big China trip and walk through some factories. BENDA is on my list, because this brand isn’t messing around.

Can you buy a BENDA in the US?

Yes, just not these bikes yet. Keeway America is BENDA’s exclusive distributor for the US and Canada, and its current lineup lists the Chinchilla 300 at $4,999, the Chinchilla 500 at $6,149, the Napoleon Bob 500 at $6,499 and the LFC 700 at $10,899. None of the EICMA bikes, not the Capra 700, the Vinster twins, the Rock 707 EC or either Dark Flag, shows up there or has been announced for the US. The European numbers give you a rough idea: in Germany the Dark Flag 950 costs €10,999 and the Rock 707 EC reportedly €9,999 plus fees. US pricing would have to be set separately, so treat those as a ballpark, not a promise.

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