Bennche Spire 800 Review

Posted on May 8, 2015

While out in Texas for the 2011 Mud Nationals, I had the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of Bennche’s sport model, the Spire 800. The Spire is all about sport with power and size to match. The 800cc v-twin has 55HP and lots of low end torque that can easily spin the wheels in the dirt.

Besides the impressive power plant, the Spire 800 comes street-legal ready with windshield, mirrors, horn and blinkers. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work in California, but in states like Arizona, it is a huge plus to have all the necessary safety items already installed.

We had a fairly packed schedule trying to cover all the events at Mud Nationals, but I did get to run around in the dirt for a few hours. I was very impressed with the power-to-weight ratio of the Spire 800. It felt very sporty and fun to drive. It comes with four wheel independent suspension, dual vented hydraulic disc brakes, and tilt steering. The width of the Spire is a narrow 52″ and much like other stock UTVs, it would benefit with some aftermarket shocks and a long travel suspension, if you plan to get aggressive in the dunes or on the trails.

The Spire comes with a front and rear sway-bar, which gives the user the opportunity to dial it in for terrain and rider preference. I felt that the front sway-bar was a bit much for my liking, so I would probably remove it. But I do like to have the option to make that decision myself.

With an MSRP of $8,999, the Bennche is a great value and they have outfitted the Spire nicely with aluminum wheels and a winch right out of the box.

The Spire 800 has a width of 52″. With the addition of a long travel suspension and some aftermarket shocks, it would be quite an impressive duner.

Spire 800 comes street-legal ready with windshield, mirrors, horn and blinkers.

The Spire’s bed is built for light loads

Specifications:

Engine
Engine Type	V-Twin, 8 Valves
Displacement	800 cc
Bore & Stroke	91 x 61.5mm
Compression Ratio	9.5:1
Fuel System	EFI
Ignition	Electric
Transmission	Automatic L-H-N-R
Drive Train	Shaft Drive; On-Demand 2WD/4WD; Locking Differential
Cooling	Liquid
Horse Power	55 HP
Fuel Tank Capacity	7.6 gallons
Battery	12 volts 21 amp

Dimension

Overall Length	104.3 in.
Overall Width	52.4 in.
Overall Height	73.2 in.
Seat Height	16.7 in.
Ground Clearance	10.2 in.
Front Tire	25×8-12
Rear Tire	25×10-12
Wheelbase	76.2 in.
Dry Weight	1165 lbs
Bed Capacity	154 lbs
Towing Capacity	220 lbs