Taming the not-so-explosive Italian, with a nimble foot!

There is a small slice of the motorcycle market pie hanging up there, the super performance bike segment with the ₹5 lakh plus price tag, and it is getting fatter every year. Everyone wants a bit of it and some are even lining up specially ‘tailored for India’ motorcycles to grab their share of the pie. The newest pair of gloves in the segment belongs to a little known Italian company called Benelli, which has its roots in a shed during the great wars and at the racetrack in the years that followed. Now, it is an interesting combination of Chinese ownership and manufacture, and Italian design. Does that make it a winner?

The BN600, or the TNT 600 i as the guys at the DSK showroom prefer calling it, is a pretty straight forward looking motorcycle. In fact, it looks like a smaller capacity motorcycle. The bright red paint and the yellow monoshock attract more attention than anything else up front. But, that is at first glance and it is not till you’ve seen the rear half of the motorcycle with the two humongous triangular exhausts sticking out, high up and flanking the seat, that you finally loose control over your jaw. That surely gets everyone’s attention, even if they manage to miss the rest of motorcycle or don’t recognize the badge on the tank.

The instrument console doesn’t have the same amount of flash as the switchblade key and the neat foot pegs, but is easy to read with all the relevant information. Quality of plastics and fit and finish though isn’t quite as good as the competition in the segment.

Unlike most other motorcycles in the segment, which are twin cylinder motors, the Benelli has a high revving four-cylinder, 600cc engine. Peak power, 83PS, is delivered at 11,500rpm, while the rather modest peak torque of 52Nm also comes into force only at 10,500rpm. Consequently, there is barely any low-end grunt and the 600 feels like a much smaller capacity motorcycle. Build the revs up and shift as the tacho sails into the red line and you are rewarded with a distinctly ‘shrieky’ exhaust and a burst of power right at the top of the rev range, although the amount of vibration that sets in as you do this can be quite bothersome. The six-speed gearbox, however, is effortlessly smooth and makes shifting a joy even if it is to keep the bike in its powerband. If you like aural experiences, the TNT 600 i ranks right up there and the fact that it is so easy to ride makes it a perfect motorcycle to upgrade to for people moving up the displacement chain. Ride quality is pretty smooth thanks to the twin fork front shocks and monoshock at the rear while the Pirelli tyres ensure there is always enough grip at hand. There is no ABS option and the brakes on the test motorcycle, despite the dual disc set up at the front isn’t very sharp. This fact is further exaggerated by the fact that the 600 i’s in-line four motor provide minimal engine braking. The bike’s frame is a dual set up of a steel trestle at the front and aluminium members at the rear.

For a little known company, the Indian market may prove to be a challenging one for Benelli. Sales and service support will remain to be seen. On the basis of a short ride around Pune, the TNT 600 i sure looks promising, especially with that incredible exhaust note. There sure are some shortcomings, but DSK promises that quality will see an upswing with the assembled in India motorcycles. The linear power and the smooth gearbox makes this an ideal bike for people upgrading from smaller capacity motorcycles. However, the prices that DSK-Benelli decide to announce will also have a huge bearing on its prospects. It will be best kept as close to ₹5 lakh as is possible. Fingers crossed for now.

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