When Honda introduced the legendary CBX in the late 1970s many people did not realize that they were not the first to ship a production six-cylinder motorcycle. That trophy already went to Benelli, who introduced the original Sei (Italian for the number six) at motoring shows way back in 1973. Given, the original 750cc six cylinder was heavily based on Honda’s 500cc four cylinder with a pair of cylinders added, but it was the Italian manufacturer that beat the world to the six cylinder milestone. Today’s bike is a 900cc model – one of approximately 2,000 – the line having been incrementally improved as production inched along.
1983 Benelli 900 Sei for sale on eBay
This productive time in Benelli’s history can be attributed to DeTomaso’s ownership (which included Moto Guzzi at the same time). Both Benelli and Guzzi thrived in the late 1970s and early 1980s, thanks to the bold and ambitious approach taken by DeTomaso. One need only look at the Sei model run to understand the leadership. Yes the six cylinder had some Honda DNA, but touches such as relocating the alternator from the end of the crank to behind the cylinder bank reduced the width of the engine and made the inline six tolerable from a cornering perspective, was all Italian engineering. The power train was reported to be silky smooth, and styling took many cues from the Moto Guzzi Le Mans model – right down to the sport fairing. However the Sei was certainly the flashier of the two, and at $3,995 it was also more expensive. That $3,995 would not buy you very much today…
From the seller:
Rare in this original condition Benelli 900 sei 6 cylinder Italian super bike Great Original condition Numbers correct sold with clear clean title many up grades I have spent over 3k on reconditioning this bike in the past months ,it is head to toe ready to go !! new ignition system ,carbs rebuilt ,braking system rebuilt , front suspension re done new battery ,oil change and valve adjustment etc
Here is a video of the bike, as supplied by the seller:
Benelli sixes have turned out to be fairly robust, with a look and a sound like no other; time has treated the design fairly well. While nobody would mistake this as a new bike from this century, it continues to look recent and modern enough to stand tall in a parking lot full of plastic. DeTomaso’s ambitious gambled paid off in that respect, although the famed marque of Benelli has failed to remain among the living in terms of recent production. That makes this 900 Sei all the more collectible; in the law of supply and demand, there is no more supply. The seller in this case is asking $16,500 or best offer for this clean 1983 Benelli 900 Sei, which is pretty close to the trending line. Somebody please give this deserving bike a loving home – as this is a classic in the making already made. Check it out and then share your thoughts on this beast. Any Benelli experts able to share things to look for on these models? Good luck, and stay safe!!
MI
