- Three models with air suspension: the Dark Flag 500, the Rock 707, and the LFC 700 Pro
- Seat height adjustment of up to 70 mm at the push of a button
- Automatic ride-height leveling and lowering at standstill
Air suspension is nothing new in motorcycling. As early as 1907, British manufacturer Associated Springs Ltd brought a motorcycle called the ASL to market that used compressed air instead of steel or leaf springs as its suspension medium. More recently, systems like Showa’s SFF-Air TAC (Triple Air Chamber) forks revisited the principle, appearing in bikes including the Kawasaki KX450F and the Honda CRF250R. In fact, air plays a role in virtually every motorcycle fork, since the air pocket above the fork oil acts as a supplementary air spring. Chinese manufacturer Benda is now making use of this principle on a much larger scale, introducing factory-fitted rear air suspension on three cruiser models at once: the V4 Dark Flag 500, the V-twin Rock 707, and the inline-four LFC 700 Pro.
Technology from ELAI and Huawei as the Foundation
The air suspension comes from supplier ELAI, a subsidiary of Chinese spring and damper specialist Yu’an, which supplies numerous motorcycle and automotive manufacturers in China. The control technology was developed in collaboration with Huawei and is based on systems already used in air-suspended premium vehicles.
Unlike simple aftermarket solutions where the rider has to manually connect a pump, Benda uses a fully integrated, computer-controlled system. An electric pump automatically modulates the air volume in the shock absorber, enabling stepless adjustment of seat height and spring rate while riding.
The Dark Flag 500: Single-Chamber System as the Entry Level
The simplest system is found in the Dark Flag 500. The V4 cruiser uses two single-chamber air shocks working together with an electric pump, a pressure sensor, a control unit, and a height sensor. The system automatically compensates for load differences by increasing air pressure to bring the suspension to a preset height. More pressure also means a firmer spring rate.
Seat height can be varied between 670 mm at the lowest and 700 mm at the highest setting, a range of 30 mm. At standstill, the suspension automatically lowers to its lowest position and rises again when setting off. Comparable air suspension systems have been available in the aftermarket for years, particularly for Harley-Davidson models, but as factory-standard equipment, this technology remains unusual in motorcycling.
The Rock 707 and the LFC 700 Pro: Dual-Chamber Technology with Variable Spring Rates
Both the Rock 707 and the LFC 700 Pro feature a more advanced dual-chamber air suspension that enables different spring rates in addition to height adjustment. The principle: when both air chambers are connected, a larger air volume is available, resulting in a softer spring rate and greater comfort. When an electronically controlled valve closes the connection between the two chambers, the usable air volume decreases, the spring rate increases, and the suspension becomes firmer.
The Rock 707 uses two separate dual-chamber shock absorbers. Seat height can be adjusted over a 30 mm range between 690 mm and 720 mm, controlled from the handlebars. The automatic ride-height leveling compensates for rider weight, the spring rate adapts automatically while riding, and at standstill the suspension lowers to its lowest position.
The LFC 700 Pro as the Technological Flagship
The most technically sophisticated system is found in the LFC 700 Pro. It uses a single dual-chamber monoshock, with both air chambers housed in one unit. It offers the same functions as the Rock 707’s twin-shock setup — automatic ride-height leveling, lowering at standstill, and variable spring rate — but with a significantly larger adjustment range.
Seat height on the LFC 700 Pro can be varied by an impressive 70 mm, from 650 mm to 720 mm. Additionally, the system features electronically controlled, speed-dependent adaptive damping that automatically adjusts the suspension to suit the riding situation.
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