One of the oldest European motorcycle factories, Benelli, is celebrating its centenary this year with the unveiling of two special edition models: the TnT 899 and TnT 1130 Century Racers.
The TnT 899 is powered by a compact three-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed gearbox, high-spec suspension components from Marzocchi and Sachs, and Brembo brakes with radial-mount calipers. It delivers a total of 120 HP at 9,500 rpm and 64 lb-ft of torque at 8000 rpm. The TnT 1130 carries the same engine and components, but is a bit more powerful, delivering 129 HP at 8500 rpm and 81 lb-ft of torque at 5250 rpm. This added power was achieved thanks to engine mapping, a fully adjustable spring preload, and hydraulic compression and rebound.
The Century Racers will feature a modern design with added luxuries such as Alcantara seats, a compact tail, and a special paint job inspired by Renzo Pasolini’s Benelli racebikes of the 1960s.
Italian company Benelli is yet to launch their 2ue 756 naked bike and conational Oberdan Bezzi has already imagined a flat-track ready version of the street-oriented bike and sees it competing in US flat track competitions. The Benelli 2 TechnoTracker would get the exact same engine as on the model still struggling towards production, meaning a 756cc parallel twin that is expected to deliver somewhere in between 90-100hp.
Engine performance aside, the aggressive design is most likely what determined Obiboi to get an early start with this one and his flat-track version looks ready to start its mud life, but Benelli would first have to sort things out with their own projects and then consider the design guru’s indeed cool racing concept bike. Never gonna happen? I say who knows…
Benelli launches yet another bomb with their R160 Café Racer wearing the “TNT” initials. While the “bomb” range is already famous for its performance, the new model represents the apogee for the naked line of products of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli as this is the most powerful TNT model bragging with as much as 155 horsepower developed by the 1130 inline triple engine.
This, together with the bike’s aggressive design characterized by stylish lines and carbon fiber parts, makes the new Benelli quite a competitor for the Ducati Streetfighter.
Rumors say the thing will start at $17,000, but there’s no official word on that yet.
Full story
Motorcycle design guru Oberdan Bezzi has recently come up with a racing motorcycle concept inspired from the MotoGP and yet destined to the motorcycle shows floors. The Jarno bike pays a tribute to Jarno Saarinen, a racer for Benelli in the 350 and 500 GP who won two races on the circuit of Pesaro Villa Fastiggi in the 1970s.
Like most concepts, it shows off its maker’s potential without putting anything into practice.
The latest evolution of TNT family is already at your dealer. Engine’s architecture is always the same but the capacity has been decreased to 899 cc radically upgrading the reliable three cylinders engine.
It keeps the older sister’s large torque. Perfect for everybody who is approaching Benelli’s World.
> Full story
