Benelli TNT 899S

At a first glance you immediately know that this is no Japanese machine and doesn’t even intend to get close to that image considered by many simple and uninspiring. What the two Benelli models try doing is individualizing themselves in the world of stylish, aggressive and powerful three-cylinder powered machines. Relying on their fuel-injected 899cc liquid-cooled, three-cylinder, four-stroke, twelve-valves, DOHC engines and on the versatile chassis to conquer the aimed market segment, both the normal and the “s” versions of the Benelli Tornado Naked Tre 899 will have to fight the finesse, heritage and immediate attraction that come with the name Triumph.

This takes us to the bike’s strongest and most challenging competitor. It is quite difficult to set the Tornado against either the Speed Triple 1050 or the Street Triple 675 because Benelli’s 899 cc position it just between the two as an option for potential customers who search for a middle way.

But it is well worth taking in consideration the fact that the Triumph Street Triple, a naked motorcycle powered by the famous 675cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line three-cylinder engine being fed through a multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection develops an incredible 107 bhp compared with Benelli’s 114 bhp. I reckon that the extra displacement doesn’t pay off in the case of the subjects of today’s review, but their efforts couldn’t have been unappreciated as the results are quite remarkable.

Clearly setting it apart from the recently-appeared competitor are the British bike’s compactness, style and proved road abilities, while the Tornados would have to prove that through the test drive opinions and the number of salves.

Until getting a feel of the bike, we can just admire its personality and aggressive character exposed through its radical design. We never underestimated the Italian’s talent when it comes to taking a white sheet of paper and turning it into an entire generation of bikes, but this is one demonstration of power. In fact two, I could say as there are clear design differences between the Tornados Naked Tre 899 and the Tornado Naked Tre 899S. The first is a roadster featuring an angry looking headlight, wide and yet small side fairings painted in the colors of the gas tank. Their purpose is to uncover to our eyes the source of entertaining, I mean the three-cylinder engine and the exhaust’s way under the seat.

Having a massive 17 Litres gas tank, the Tornado clearly indicates the fact that it was built for sport-touring, only that it misses a wind-protective front fairing and windshield which is a thing pretty much expected from Italian bikes as nakedness is the key to their entire success.

The seat looks well accommodating and at 780 mm above ground, it is perfect for the average sized rider and if you were expecting for it to have a suddenly ending rear end, well it has it and it doesn’t. There is enough room for the passenger’s but there, but it looks like the rear end of a fully-faired previous-generation Japanese bike.

Wheels on both models feature 17” in diameter and the difference between the simple and the s model is the fact that this last comes painted in an aggressive orange paint scheme it is more compact and implicit better handling.
 

I would be a jerk to say that for a shotgun builder, Benelli has really pulled it through with the Tornado models so that is why I simply prefer saying that if accompanied by a well planned marketing strategy, we could witness the incredible growth of this company partly due to the bikes we’ve took a look over today.