If you have never hear the six-cylinder motorcycle in full tilt, you’re missing out. It’s like a mechanical symphony—or, if you’re Portuguese, a ‘sinfonia’. That’s the nickname Lisbon’s Unik Edition has given their latest project; a screaming six-cylinder Benelli Sei cafe racer.
The Benelli Sei may not be the most recognizable classic six-cylinder motorcycle (that honor goes to the Honda CBX), but it was the first six-cylinder production bike to hit the market. benelli launched the 750 Sei in the early ’70s, followed by the redesigned 900 Sei in 1979, boasting 80 hp and an angular body. Only 2,000 units of the Benelli 900 Sei were produced and they are not cheap.
Unik Edition founders Tiago Gonçalves and Luis Gonçalves (not brothers) kicked off the project with a 1979 Benelli 900 Sei, but very little of the original car remains. Tiago and Luis stripped the car’s frame and engine, and replaced or rebuilt everything else.
“The aim was to create an amazing piece with six exhausts but still easy to drive,” says Tiago.
To make sure they’re building on a good foundation, the builders have refreshed and tweaked the engine with certainty. They’ve serviced a number of six-cylinder Benellis and Hondas, so they know their way around these monstrous engines. Sei’s three Dell’Orto carbs (yes, three) breathe through new group filters.
It was when Tiago and Luis switched to the chassis that things really got interesting. First, they cut out the factory subframe and built a new one, then they trimmed the frame in some areas and reinforced it in others. All of this was childish compared to the swingarm swap Unik had in mind.
The plan was to combine the side swingarm from an early 2000s Ducati Monster S4R with a 1979 Benelli chassis. The first challenge was to redesign the rear end with a new shock mount, converting it from the setup. Classic double shock absorber to modern single shock absorber. The next job was to re-align everything from the swingarm shaft to the sprocket, to fit the 190-wide rear tire.
It’s a radical change, but it’s well done. Complemented by sporty upside-down forks and Kineo spokes, the rolling chassis is impeccable.
Next on the list is the elegant new bodywork inspired by Benelli Sei’s cafe racer. The Sei ships with a molded bodywork that covers a separate fuel tank. Unik threw most of it in the bin, saving a small piece of the lid.
The new monocoque body was designed using 3D software, then 3D printed molds were used to shape the final part from carbon fiber. It is adorned with a pleated seat and neatly integrated taillights.
Unik originally wanted to keep the original fuel cell underneath the new bodywork, but ended up building the new fuel and oil tanks out of aluminum instead. That allowed them to make space for the car’s battery under the bodywork, along with the compact Motogadget control box, around which the entire bike was wrapped.
The custom headlight housing is located at the front, equipped with LED lights. At the bottom, the new front fender adds a bit of flair to the classic superbike.
The rider looks down at the digital Motogadget speedometer, neatly molded into the headlight housing. The German electronics company also supplies switches, handles, keyless RFID ignition systems, turn signals and rearview mirrors. LSL handlebars, scooters are Domino’s.
At the rear, a neat license plate holder places the license plate behind the rear wheel without adding unnecessary length to the tail section. It is equipped with a Koso license plate light and a pair of tiny Motogadget LED turn signals.
Finishing things off is the foundation of any good six-cylinder custom build; exhaust pipe. The Unik Edition built a complete six-in-six system in stainless steel, with three stubborn mufflers stacked on either side.
With posture, style and sound all sorted, Tiago and Luis finished the Benelli in a classy blue and white paint job. Gold pinstripes add a touch of class, red accents highlight the Italian flag, and a checkered top is reminiscent of the old English coffee racers.
Fresher than the smell of grass after the rain, Unik’s Benelli longs to be driven. Just imagine unleashing that six-cylinder symphony on the sunny streets of Lisbon…
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