Verdict

Does the globalisation of bike production matter? With the Yamaha, Benelli and Royal Enfield as evidence, clearly not. Yamaha’s production and quality standards mean nothing on the Ténéré 700 suggests it’s not from Japan other than its very reasonable pricing. Being produced in China gives Benelli’s new 752S a convincing Italian image and high specification for a keen list price, without any of the tacky ‘fake’ air that preconceptions assume of Chinese bikes. And with the RE Interceptor, being made in India is actually a bonus – you get a bloody cheap price plus more authenticity than you can shake a cooling fin at. I suspect there’s a price point where place of origin becomes more of an issue. At £5499 the RE’S dynamic and charm actually mean where it’s made is irrelevant, and while the Benelli hasn’t the class of a Ducati Monster 797 its spec and £1500 lower asking let you overlook it. But what if these were ten or fifteen grand bikes from supposedly iconic firms? I get why people buying a Triumph like the idea that it’s made in the UK, that they’re buying into the brand’s heritage and standing – and aren’t happy about models built in Thailand, even if they’re designed in the UK and made to the same quality. So would a £12k Benelli from ‘the historic brand of Pesaro’ work if it was still produced in China? Probably not.

But that’s not what we’re dealing with here. In their respective parts of the market and at the prices asked, all three of these bikes perform pleasingly – and prove you should worry about where they’re made as much as you would for a mobile phone or dishwasher.

‘There’s a point where place of origin becomes an issue... Would a £12k Chinese Benelli still work? Probably not’