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S#Ffu €sft€*mft*# €bv€sft*r BenelIi TornadoTre ) An EruditeSuperbike. By Michael Schulte >>ln 1.91.1, Tornadot jaw-loosening aestheticsand the widow "Mama" Theresa Benelli lacquer-smooth paintwork. Approach- gambled the family assetson the ing the bike, the Tornado scores a Benelli Garage,a modest Pesarowork- direct hit on the hlpothalamus. The shop that she hoped would marshal striking bodywork that is sculpted the talents of her six sons repairing around the mixed-desigrr ftame brings automobiles, motorcycles and quaintly to mind a purposefi-rl sprinter, loaded enough, firearms. Through the 1920s, into the starting blocks.Weighing in at the Bros. Benelli were famous for 436 Lb, the Tornado feels surprisingly building and racing motorcycles. By light and compact,and owing to its the 30s, Benelli had ascendedto the lanJ<yprofile feels more like being atop Italian Pentarchia (the big five of the a tall 600. Flick the switchblade igni- bike industry) along with Garelli, tion key and the clocks and lights run Moto Guzzi, Gilera and Bianchi. The through their check cycle and zero Benelli name remained in the fore- out. All warning and information front of the industry until the deluge lights are thoughtfully placed above of cheap and reliable Japanesemotor- the instrument cluster and well within cycles eviscerated the market for much the rider's peripheral vision. of the European manufacturing basein Lean forward into riding position the '60s. This shift in the trade winds and you'll find it surprisingly comfort- finally forced a production halt and able over a lengthy haul, with a single many thought Benelli had shufled off exception: The rear edge of the gas its mortal single coil. tank protrudes slightly into your Enter.Andrea Merloni, who, having abdomen. It's a small matter, and per- roused the company from its ashes haps a triumph of style over function. when he purchased the once Truth is, you'd sooner sign up for a -ighty marque in l995,launched the auda- Pilates class than alter that sensuous cious Tornado Tie 900 ptqect tn 2002. sweep of the tankt design. The Tornado continues Benellit tradi- Out on the road, the marriage of tion of idiosyncratic design. From the power and sophistication become pointed taper of the nose, through the instantly apparent.The throary note under-saddle-mounted radiator, to the of the 898cc, 3-cylinder parallel signature cooJing ducts in the ail, this is engine will grab ears and turn heads. a bike that will not get lost in a thicket A lightweight flywheel gives engine of Ducatis. Ninety-five years after her revs an expressively quick rise and maternal encouragement had launched fall.With an 11:1 compressionratio, the family factory, there is litde doubt the Tornado is more than inclined that Mama Benelli would flush with toward racing. Wind it up, run pride seeing the family name embla- through the gears and you will zoned on the fairing of the latest incar- immediately notice two things: A nacion of theTornadoTLe line. silky gear change that selects beauti- You'll want to take your time get- fully and a slipper clutch that limits ting into the saddle to appreciate the back-torque on downshifts. The slip- 28 RoBBREPoRT MoroRcYcLtNG JANUARY / FEBRUARY 20O6 A Hardacceleration out of the Corners .t rerrealsa sliglitundersteer, but this is a qulDDte.1 1 per clutch is a nice touch that allows of 1ow end torque and the revs climb the rear wheel time to catch up to relatively slowly and purposefully to the engine revs and eliminatesrear- make 136 hp at the 11,500 rpm red- wheel chatter.The feel takes some line. Probably because of it's three- getting used to, but once you over- cylinder throatinessand lower rev-ceil- come the instinct to gradually release ing the machine actually appearsto be the clutch, and just shift gears and more like a very fast 600, but in actu- dump the lever, you'll be downshift- ality the motor's power is deceiving ing through cornerslike Peter God- and a quick glance at the speedometer dard.Well, almost like Peter Goddard. will testifi' to the fact that you're trav- You may notice other riders creeping The Benellit engine management eiing very much faster than you up on you, hypnotized by the spin- systemcontributes to the notion ofthe thought.-W'hen itt time to return to ning dual extractor fans that make Tornado as elegant beast.There is vir- earth, four-piston Brembos (while not the Tornado look as though itt about tually no hesitancy or surging from the the vogue radial mount) display con- to leap into hyperspace.Twist the fuel injector,just a smooth and seam- siderable feel and their usual excellent rhrottle and confirm their suspicions. lessflow. The Tornado produces plenty stopping power. = = 30 RoBB REPoRT MoToRcYcLING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 20O6 AJchemv The strikingbodywork that is sculptedaround the mixed designframe bringsto mind a purposefulsprinter. 'V/hile stiffening to squeeze optimal speed in the beautifully finished and the corners. Handling is pleasantly threateningly exotic Tornado Tre will neutral with no "falling" into corners: extract plenty of curb enl,ry',the bike pick a line and hold it. Hard accelera- more than lives up to its looks on the tion out of the corners reveals slight road. Exclusive componentry and understeeq but this could be adjusted superb engineering from a team led by out and is a quibble. the renowned Ricardo Rosa are Overall handling is superb. Riding responsiblefor the sinewy musculature at speed on a particular\ windy day that has seen the bike through three showed the bike to be preciseand reas- tours of duty inWorld Superbike com- suringly stable.What's a little headwind petition. when you're riding a Tornado? The The Benelli Tornado Tre is a only real caveat is that the machine dis- machine that is designedto win on the plays some sluggishnesstransitioning track. For the dedicated and casualrid- Unleash the Tornado on the track through che chicane and requires some er alike, every corner taken will feel and you'il notice that the firm 43mm elbow greaseto muscle through.This is like a victory lap. M Paioli forks, Extreme Tech shock and primarily due to the Tornadot height steering damper require only minor rather than any issue with weight. www.benelli.com = 32 RoBBREPoRT MoroRcYcLrNG IANUARY / FEBRUARY 20O6.