As Benelli prepares to launch its motorcycles in India, we decided to test out the Chinese-owned Italian firm's scantily-clad middleweight street fighter, the TNT 600i. It's a menacing-looking motorcycle. We love the angular headlight and mirrors, the aggressive tank extensions, those glorious quad pipes, and the exposed side-mounted monoshock.
The tail section, with those tapered grab rails and the small LED tail-lamp that sits pretty between the twin underseat exhausts, looks compact and tidy. The wiring is tucked out of sight, and fit and finish is impeccable.
Thumb the starter button, and what follows is the splendiferous sound of the 600cc, in-line four exploding to life. The saddle is situated 80cm off the ground, so you won't split any seams as you swing a leg over the bike. The riding position isn't overly sporty, which means you don't have to stretch out to grab the flat handlebar. We've ridden nimbler motorcycles than the 208kg TNT 600i, but it isn't ponderous.
The suspension setup is tuned to provide a pliant ride. But, we'd have loved it if the brakes felt a little more responsive, especially when we cornered hard. The liquid-cooled engine pumps out over 80bhp at 11,500rpm and 52Nm at a relatively-high 10,500rpm. This means the TNT 600i feels a bit underpowered until the needle breaches 4,500rpm.
Once past that mark, the Benelli feels much healthier, and it powers forth with purpose all the way to the redline. The clutch is a tad heavy to operate, but the tall lower gears make low-speed riding a breeze.
The TNT 600i comes across as a wellbuilt machine. However, during our ride, the TNT 600i's horn gave up the ghost. But, the bikes are yet to be homologated, and issues like these are sure to be tackled. The TNT 600i, which will be brought into the country via the knocked-down route, is expected to be priced around Rs 7-8 lakh, which is properly steep.
For a moment, consider its chief rival, the Kawasaki ER6-n, which retails for about Rs 5 lakh, and you'll know why we think it may turn out to be a little too expensive, but it's still one thoroughly enjoyable bike.
TNT 600i
Engine: 4cyl, 600cc, petrol
Power: 80.8bhp
Torque: 52Nm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Fuel tank: 15 litres
Efficiency: 14kpl
Kerb weight: 208kg
Estimated price: Rs 7-8 lakh (on road, Mumbai).
The tail section, with those tapered grab rails and the small LED tail-lamp that sits pretty between the twin underseat exhausts, looks compact and tidy. The wiring is tucked out of sight, and fit and finish is impeccable.
Thumb the starter button, and what follows is the splendiferous sound of the 600cc, in-line four exploding to life. The saddle is situated 80cm off the ground, so you won't split any seams as you swing a leg over the bike. The riding position isn't overly sporty, which means you don't have to stretch out to grab the flat handlebar. We've ridden nimbler motorcycles than the 208kg TNT 600i, but it isn't ponderous.
The suspension setup is tuned to provide a pliant ride. But, we'd have loved it if the brakes felt a little more responsive, especially when we cornered hard. The liquid-cooled engine pumps out over 80bhp at 11,500rpm and 52Nm at a relatively-high 10,500rpm. This means the TNT 600i feels a bit underpowered until the needle breaches 4,500rpm.
Once past that mark, the Benelli feels much healthier, and it powers forth with purpose all the way to the redline. The clutch is a tad heavy to operate, but the tall lower gears make low-speed riding a breeze.
The TNT 600i comes across as a wellbuilt machine. However, during our ride, the TNT 600i's horn gave up the ghost. But, the bikes are yet to be homologated, and issues like these are sure to be tackled. The TNT 600i, which will be brought into the country via the knocked-down route, is expected to be priced around Rs 7-8 lakh, which is properly steep.
For a moment, consider its chief rival, the Kawasaki ER6-n, which retails for about Rs 5 lakh, and you'll know why we think it may turn out to be a little too expensive, but it's still one thoroughly enjoyable bike.
TNT 600i
Engine: 4cyl, 600cc, petrol
Power: 80.8bhp
Torque: 52Nm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Fuel tank: 15 litres
Efficiency: 14kpl
Kerb weight: 208kg
Estimated price: Rs 7-8 lakh (on road, Mumbai).
Comments
Post a Comment