Benda have confirmed full European specifications for the Dark Flag 950, their 948cc V4 cruiser, ahead of its public debut at EICMA on November 3. They also say it will hit dealers in Europe at the end of November 2026.
MCN first reported on the Dark Flag 950 back in September 2025 after it appeared as a concept at Eicma. It’s taken a year to reach this stage, and the bike has evolved during that time – most notably with a switch from conventional forks to upside-down, among other detail changes.
The 948cc, 16-valve V4 has a 67mm bore and 67.2mm stroke, with a 12.2:1 compression ratio. It produces a claimed 107.2bhp at 9000rpm and 62.7lb.ft of torque at 8000rpm.
The engine also includes idle shutdown technology, which Benda say cuts cylinders ‘during idle and light load’ but there’s no detail yet on exactly how this works or what the light load threshold is.
Power goes through a six-speed gearbox and belt final drive, with an anti-hopping clutch to help keep things stable on rapid downshifts. The engine meets Euro 5+ emissions standards .
A tubular steel frame and steel swingarm are suspended by the new upside-down forks at the front and twin shocks at the rear. The resultant 1590mm wheelbase and low 690mm seat height are typically cruiser-ish, as is the claimed kerb weight of 242kg. The fuel tank holds 16 litres.
Braking is handled by Brembo components throughout: dual 320mm front discs with four-piston radial calipers, and a 260mm single rear disc with a two-piston radial caliper. Tyres are 130/90-16 at the front and 180/65-16 at the rear.
Standard equipment includes cruise control and a 3.6in TFT dash, plus both USB-A and USB-C charging.
The Dark Flag 950 will be offered in five colours: Obsidian Black, Glimmering White, Burgundy Red, Mountain Silver and Prism Grey, though Benda say colour availability may vary by market.
“The Dark Flag 950 demonstrates our ambition to bring something different to the cruiser segment’” said Constantin Heinemann, Head of Marketing Europe at Benda Motor Europe GmbH.
“Its V4 engine delivers a unique combination of performance and refinement, while its design and technology offer a fresh interpretation of the traditional cruiser. It represents another important step in the development of our European motorcycle portfolio.”
No price has been confirmed for the Dark Flag 950. Benda already sell the Chinchilla 500 and NapoleonBob 500 cruisers in the UK, both priced from around £5190, alongside the four-cylinder LFC700 sports cruiser priced from £8999. The Dark Flag 950 is expected to sit above these as a new flagship model.
The Dark Flag 950 will be formally revealed at an EICMA press conference on Tuesday November 3.
Despite Ducati’s move to a V4 engine for their Diavel and XDiavel models, a V4 cruiser is still an unusual proposition. The V4 petrol engine seems to be viewed as a highwater mark for Chinese producers looking to move away from imitating old tech and announce their engineering skills to the world – just look at CFMoto’s SR-RR concept . Add to that a strong appetite from Chinese riders for cruisers and the Dark Flag makes a lot of sense. Whether that translates to European riders remains to be seen.
Ben Clarke began riding (legally) at 21-years-old when he passed his direct access one month before shipping his Yamaha XT660 R to Miami and embarking on a 13,500-mile tour of the USA and Central America. He's worked at MCN for the last six years, riding everything from super naked…