1979 Benelli 500 LS

1979 Benelli 500 LS sits in the middle of Benelli's four-cylinder range, a smaller-displacement companion to the brand's bigger sport bikes rather than a flagship in its own right. This is a compact, smooth-running machine built around a small-bore inline four, and that configuration is really the point: it revs with a kind of eagerness and mechanical refinement that Japanese twins and singles of the same era couldn't quite match, even if outright thrust isn't dramatic. Around town or on a weekend backroad, it feels more like a scaled-down grand tourer than a pocket rocket, with enough range from its tank to make day trips practical. The 1979 model carried over without significant mechanical changes from the prior year — buyers comparing it to a 1978 example should focus on mileage, service history, and condition rather than spec differences. Today the 1979 Benelli 500 LS attracts riders who already own more common Japanese or British classics and want something rarer to work on, plus collectors drawn to Italian four-cylinder engineering from a period when Benelli was still finding its footing. It rewards patience over convenience.