Benda has unveiled the 2027 Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC, adding a third V4 motor size to a cruiser lineup that already includes the Dark Flag 500 Commander and the Dark Flag 950. Its all-new 599cc V4 is paired with an electronic clutch and a rear air suspension that lowers the bike when it’s shut off. Benda plans a European launch in 2027 and hasn’t announced a price. We’re not sure if Benda importer Keeway America will bring it to the US. The Frisco, Texas-based distributor sells four Benda models here, all cruisers, topped by the $10,899 LFC 700.

1. This is not a bored-out Dark Flag 500 engine. The crankcases, cylinders, and cylinder heads are new, and the liquid-cooled, 16-valve V4 goes from the 500’s slightly undersquare 53.5 x 55.2mm bore and stroke to a clearly oversquare 63.0 x 48.0mm.

2. Peak power is 70 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, while torque tops out at 41 lb-ft at 8000 rpm. The European-spec 500 Commander makes 47 horsepower and 31 lb-ft, so the 600 gets about half again as much power from about a fifth more displacement. Both peaks come high in the rev range, so this V4 will likely want to be revved. The throttle is ride-by-wire, and a 6-speed transmission and belt final drive complete the powertrain.

3. The EC in the name stands for Electronic Clutch. Benda Electronic Clutch Mk III lets the rider pull away, shift, and stop without touching the clutch lever. Gear selection stays with the rider’s left foot, and the lever remains on the handlebar for anyone who wants manual control. Like Honda’s E-Clutch, the system uses an electromechanical actuator to work a conventional clutch. The Dark Flag 600 is the first Benda V4 with an electronic clutch, and the Mk III system also appears on the Rock 707 V-twin.

4. An all-new twin-spar frame carries the V4. Compared with the 500 Commander’s frame, it’s 7.7 pounds lighter and has 40% more torsional rigidity. The swingarm is steel. Curb weight is 560 pounds. That’s 13 pounds less than the 500 Commander despite the larger engine, and 27 pounds more than the Dark Flag 950, which does without air suspension and an electronic clutch. The wheelbase is 62.5 inches, and the fuel tank holds 4.2 gallons.

5. The new layout moves the intake to the center of the bike. A large-volume central intake replaces the 500 Commander’s side-mounted airbox, and Benda puts the gain in intake efficiency at 30%. The packaging is also intended to clear the way for the rider’s legs. Benda says it narrows the bike by more than 1.5 inches, and the footpegs are about half-an-inch back on the frame compared to the Commander, but we can’t determine if the distance to the seat is different.

6. Second-generation dual-chamber air suspension handles the rear. It levels the bike automatically on startup and lowers it on shutdown, giving a seat-height range of 26.8 to 28.7 inches. The low parked stance is intended to ease mounting, dismounting, and repeated stop-starts. The 500 Commander has a single-chamber system with a narrower range. A conventional fork with gaiters is up front.

7. The Dark Flag 600 rolls on 16-inch wheels at both ends. Unexpectedly, block-pattern CST CM-SC11 scooter tires are mounted: 130/90 front and 180/65 rear. There are discs on both sides of the front wheel and one at the rear, and ABS and traction control are standard.

8. Two screens handle the instrumentation. The main TFT display is round and mounted at the handlebar, while a secondary screen integrated into the tank shows coolant temperature and fuel level. One-touch cruise control is standard, and there are USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

9. Four fang-shaped daytime running lights frame the central LED projector headlight. Other styling details include the stitched Orion seat, a one-piece, thick-wall acrylic tank badge, and chrome-accented switchgear shaped like a game controller. Stacked exhaust outlets exit symmetrically on both sides. The expected colors are Cast Green, Mecha Black, and Stella Grey.

10. Benda’s own Rock 707 V-twin is the Dark Flag 600’s toughest comparison. The Rock has the same Mk III clutch and dual-chamber air suspension, and its 692cc V-twin makes 72 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 50 lb-ft at 6500 rpm. The 707 also weighs 42 pounds less, at 518 pounds. The Dark Flag 600’s calling card is its V4 configuration. Unfortunately, neither bike is on Keeway America’s US list. If both eventually land here, a buyer will need to decide whether four cylinders are worth giving up 9 lb-ft of torque and carrying the extra weight.

11. The bike is already on sale in China as the Black Flag 600. It comes there in two versions: the Ultra EC and a Pro with the same engine, a conventional clutch, regular shocks, and a fixed seat height. Benda has announced only the Ultra EC for Europe, along with a 47-horsepower version for A2 license holders.

2027 Benda Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC Specifications

ENGINE

• Type: V4
• Displacement: 599cc
• Bore x stroke: 63.0 x 48.0mm
• Maximum power: 70 hp @ 10,500 rpm
• Maximum torque: 41 lb-ft @ 8000 rpm
• Valvetrain: 4 valves per cylinder
• Compression ratio: 12.2:1
• Fueling: Ride-by-wire EFI
• Transmission: 6-speed
• Clutch: Benda Electronic Clutch Mk III
• Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS

• Frame: Twin-spar w/ steel swingarm
• Front suspension: Conventional fork
• Rear suspension: Second-generation dual-chamber air suspension w/ automatic leveling and lowering
• Tires: CST CM-SC11
• Front tire: 130/90-16
• Rear tire: 180/65-16
• Front brakes: Discs
• Rear brake: Disc
• ABS: Standard

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

• Wheelbase: 62.5 inches
• Seat height: 26.8 – 28.7 inches (automatically adjusted by air suspension)
• Fuel capacity: 4.2 gallons
• Curb weight: 560 pounds
• Colors: Cast Green; Mecha Black; Stella Grey

2027 Benda Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC Price: €TBA MSRP

2027 Benda Dark Flag 600 Ultra EC Photo Gallery