I've owned my 1980 Benelli 900 Sei since 1986, in 2004, I changed the three 24mm Dell 'Orto carbs for a bank of six 22mm Dell 'Orto's. The stock six into two exhaust had rusted through, so I replaced it with a new old stock six into six system which was destined for a 750 Sei, to avoid the silencers hanging too low, the pipes had to be cut and rewelded at a different angle to compensate for the upright cylinder block on the 900 compared with the slanted forward block on the 750. To avoid my knees hitting the outer carb air cleaners, I installed modified Paulo Tarozzi rear set foot controls which were originally meant for a Moto Guzzi Le Mans II. I changed the duplex drive chain to a 630 simplex chain, I had new sprockets specially machined to fit the chain. I also installed Tomaselli clip-on bars and QA throttle, the stock Lego block switchgear was replaced with modern Domino items. The 900 Sei is basically a reliable machine apart from the multi-plate dry clutch slipping when accelerating hard, I cured that by adding an extra plain and friction plate, the clutch can also be noisy, but it is a dry clutch after all. The 900 Sei was in production between 1979 and 1989, only 1878 units were produced in that ten year run.
@@raremotorcycles Thank you for your reply, my Benelli is certainly a keeper. How about doing a video about the Laverda 1000 and 1200 triples? I owned a 1979 Laverda 1200 before I bought my Benelli. When the Laverda "Jota" was released in 1976, it was the fastest production motorcycle in the World. The Jota had a top speed of about 140mph.
There was a debate at the time about this concept. The Benelli is basically a Honda 500 copy with two extra cylinders; however, the Honda 500 drew a lot of inspiration from the 1968 Benelli GP 500/4; however, the Benelli GP bike was based upon (Continue as necessary...)
true the engine was based on the Honda 500-4 but according to an in depth article i read in a motorcycle magazine it was not as close a copy as people think
In the early 80s my family went to France via train from italy.My uncle had the 900Sei he took me for a ride at night i was around 14 years old at the time ill never forget i had the fear of god in me .The bike sounded amazing.
Around 4:10, you say the Sei used identical carbs to the CB500, with one extra. My '72 CB500/Four came from the factory with 4 carbs. I like that the Sei cut the number in half, but are they really identical?
I remember the adverts in MCN at the time you could supposedly balance a 50pence coin on the engine at tickover and it wouldn't fall over.It was a great looking bike but too expensive compared to Japanese bikes.
5:18 - "The Benelli 750 Sei could top out at around 115 MPH, as compared to the Honda's top speed of just about 100 MPH." Meanwhile, my lightly used, $500, Kawasaki Mach III 500 with chrome J&R Power Pipes would be blowing past them in a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke on the way to its top speed of 130 MPH. 😎
@@captainaxle438 Everybody from the era knows that an H1 500 goes 115 MPH indicated when bone stock, and 130 MPH indicated with pipes. And I did it on many occasions on several different H1's. And if you want to argue "indicated" vs "actual" speed, nobody had GPS in the 1970's, including Benelli, so it's a moot point.
Can you please do the 1985 or 86 Kawasaki ninja 900 the one that kinda started it all for the street missles. My dad had one growing up and I've got the fondest memories of going way to fast 😆
"started it all for street missiles........" 😂😂😂 Vincent Black Shadow, Laverda Jota, Ducati SS900 to name a few. The Europeans were doing it when the only things that was coming from Nippon were mopeds.
@@raremotorcycles oh hahaha. Harley and Indian deserve a mention as producers of high power motorcycles before Ducati or Yamaha? Yeah nah. Just how many Motogp or World Superbike Championships have those two manufacturers put together actually won? Yep. None.
I've owned my 1980 Benelli 900 Sei since 1986, in 2004, I changed the three 24mm Dell 'Orto carbs for a bank of six 22mm Dell 'Orto's. The stock six into two exhaust had rusted through, so I replaced it with a new old stock six into six system which was destined for a 750 Sei, to avoid the silencers hanging too low, the pipes had to be cut and rewelded at a different angle to compensate for the upright cylinder block on the 900 compared with the slanted forward block on the 750.
To avoid my knees hitting the outer carb air cleaners, I installed modified Paulo Tarozzi rear set foot controls which were originally meant for a Moto Guzzi Le Mans II. I changed the duplex drive chain to a 630 simplex chain, I had new sprockets specially machined to fit the chain. I also installed Tomaselli clip-on bars and QA throttle, the stock Lego block switchgear was replaced with modern Domino items.
The 900 Sei is basically a reliable machine apart from the multi-plate dry clutch slipping when accelerating hard, I cured that by adding an extra plain and friction plate, the clutch can also be noisy, but it is a dry clutch after all. The 900 Sei was in production between 1979 and 1989, only 1878 units were produced in that ten year run.
Thank your for sharing that and thanks for your extra insight! Love hearing these stories directly from the mouths of actual owners!
@@raremotorcycles Thank you for your reply, my Benelli is certainly a keeper. How about doing a video about the Laverda 1000 and 1200 triples? I owned a 1979 Laverda 1200 before I bought my Benelli. When the Laverda "Jota" was released in 1976, it was the fastest production motorcycle in the World. The Jota had a top speed of about 140mph.
Never understood why Benelli never made the same mods you did to the 900. Getting rid of the outrageous looking 6 exhausts was a weird decision.
Agreed@@alanhynd7886
Sound clips of the bikes would be nice
So the engine started out as a 500-4. Meanwhile a young Allen Millyard was taking notes.
Had a CBX loved it .
Awesome! What year!?
No bike before or since has sounded better.
You just gained another subscriber. The only thing missing is the sound of these bikes ;)
Noted! Thanks for subscribing! Hope to see you around for more videos!
There was a debate at the time about this concept. The Benelli is basically a Honda 500 copy with two extra cylinders; however, the Honda 500 drew a lot of inspiration from the 1968 Benelli GP 500/4; however, the Benelli GP bike was based upon (Continue as necessary...)
And 5 minutes 42s in, my bikes, so cool!
true the engine was based on the Honda 500-4 but according to an in depth article i read in a motorcycle magazine it was not as close a copy as people think
Love those motorcycle ❤️🥵🇮🇹
In the early 80s my family went to France via train from italy.My uncle had the 900Sei he took me for a ride at night i was around 14 years old at the time ill never forget i had the fear of god in me .The bike sounded amazing.
Around 4:10, you say the Sei used identical carbs to the CB500, with one extra. My '72 CB500/Four came from the factory with 4 carbs. I like that the Sei cut the number in half, but are they really identical?
You have great taste in motorcycles! What do you ride yourself?
Nothing (yet), I have always been more of a car guy but recently started getting more into motorcycles and learning more about them.
Just subscribed! Excited to see what's to come and sorry but Kawasaki ninja 900 1985-1996 top gun bike
I'd love to see stuff about harley's homologation specails from the pre-AMF flat-trackers, through the V-Rod Destroyer.
wonder if the 900 influenced the style of hans muth katana design
That’s my bike you used, 4 minutes 15 in
Bennelli only had 3 carbs, the Honda had 4 carbs, so bennelli took one away, they didn’t add one
Back then these things were designed to go straight. They handled like a drunk elephant on three legs. Glad those times are well and trully behind us.
Even back then Italian bikes handled well. My 1977 Guzzi LeMans handles very well and I'm guessing that the Benelli Sei did too.
I road tested a 750 Sei back in the 80’s and it handled way better than any japanese at that time. No comparison.
👏
Thanks for following over to this channel!
I noticed you didn't mention the Italian electrics🤔😄.
Shhhh hahaha
I remember the adverts in MCN at the time you could supposedly balance a 50pence coin on the engine at tickover and it wouldn't fall over.It was a great looking bike but too expensive compared to Japanese bikes.
Exactly the case, those 6 exhausts really do it for me!
I saw more than once the glass of water test (put it on the tank); hardly any motion at all. Super smooth.
5:18 - "The Benelli 750 Sei could top out at around 115 MPH, as compared to the Honda's top speed of just about 100 MPH."
Meanwhile, my lightly used, $500, Kawasaki Mach III 500 with chrome J&R Power Pipes would be blowing past them in a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke on the way to its top speed of 130 MPH. 😎
No way no 130mph
@@captainaxle438 Everybody from the era knows that an H1 500 goes 115 MPH indicated when bone stock, and 130 MPH indicated with pipes. And I did it on many occasions on several different H1's. And if you want to argue "indicated" vs "actual" speed, nobody had GPS in the 1970's, including Benelli, so it's a moot point.
Everybody from that era know that Kawasaki had the most optimistic speedometers on market.
@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 correct, it was so bad the government-mandated 85 mph speedometers for the purpose of increased accuracy
@@ralphcantrell3214 I doubt that rattletrap could even Hold Steady at 130 mph without a death wobble
The Sei might've been a very good motorcycle, but Benelli had a pitiful dealer lineup so it had no chance.
HONDA CBX look a like
They did draw a LOT of inspo from them
The Benelli Sei came out about 4 years before the CBX.
Can you please do the 1985 or 86 Kawasaki ninja 900 the one that kinda started it all for the street missles. My dad had one growing up and I've got the fondest memories of going way to fast 😆
"started it all for street missiles........" 😂😂😂 Vincent Black Shadow, Laverda Jota, Ducati SS900 to name a few. The Europeans were doing it when the only things that was coming from Nippon were mopeds.
How many liquid cooled 4 cylinders were ripping those days? We're those bikes faster? Also no so with all due respect go be salty somewhere else
20 seconds into this video and I'm out of here.
Harley and Indian? Hmm.
No Ducati or Yamaha?
Nup.
Well I can’t name every manufacturer that makes good bikes because the video would be too long…
@@raremotorcycles oh hahaha.
Harley and Indian deserve a mention as producers of high power motorcycles before Ducati or Yamaha?
Yeah nah.
Just how many Motogp or World Superbike Championships have those two manufacturers put together actually won?
Yep. None.
Eww, gross! That double square instrument cluster. It’s revolting! 🤮