Benelli Motorcycle Reviews

Benelli boss Andrea Merloni describes the Tornado as his 'crazy project'. After four years in development this bike will either make or break his company.

Benelli describes its Tre-K 899 as an entry-level sports-tourer, and by the Italian firm’s standards that’s exactly what it is. Along with the 899 TNT, the Tre-K has the smallest engine and lowest price in Benelli’s range of triples. And, like its big brother, the 1130 Tre-K, the new 899 is a relaxed alternative to the naked TNT.

It’s a strange but cool looking beast. Angular, fussy, oddball, interesting. The long travel suspension, bark-buster hand guards, alloy bash plate and nineteen-inch front wheel might hint at off road potential but, trust me, nothing would be further from your mind than hurling this bad boy up a green lane.

The RS gets better the harder you ride it. It’s fairly horrible as a commuter, due to the heavy clutch and its inability to find neutral. But great fun on the track and it’s also fairly decent on the motorway

The Tornado is a very good bike that can hold its own against other Italian exotica both in looks and performance

In a country where speed cameras will soon outnumber road users, the days of 186mph supersports bikes may be numbered. Naked sit-up-and-beg bikes could be the future and this one may lead the way...