BENELLI TNT 899 (2008 - on) Review

The Benelli TNT super naked has been with us now, almost unchanged since 2004. Early 1130cc models were snarling, brutal, wheelie-prone monsters with a savage-sounding wail from its three into one underseat exhaust.

• Related: 2020-on Benelli TNT 125 review

But these very early models could be temperamental things, but since Benelli was bought by the Chinese Qiangiang Group (they produce over 1.2-million two-wheelers a year over there), money has been poured into making the Benelli TNT more refined and reliable. The Benelli 899S is powered by a reworked version of the old Benelli Tornado superbike engine and is arguably the best TNT to come out of the factory gates in Pesaro, Italy. It’s smooth, refined, fast, fun and excellent value for money too. Benelli also do an 899T, which has a slightly lower spec and non-adjustable suspension for £200 less.

Gifted test rider Gianluca Galasso and ex-factory Bimota rider is in charge of the development at Benelli nowadays and his mark is all over the TNT 899S. No longer are TNTs set up like a plank of wood, the suspension on this one is beautifully plush. The Benelli TNT 899S rides the bumps beautifully, but when you turn up the wick through the bends it stays nice and composed. Around town, the roomy, upright riding position is comfy and the wide bars give you lots of control. Non-radial brakes are up to the job, but the high all-up weight of the bike stops the Benelli from scoring a perfect five.

Although the same basic architecture remains, the old 899cc in-line three cylinder Benelli Tornado engine gets new internals to make the Benelli TNT 899S more tractable, less fierce and simple to live with. It boasts a new cylinder head, pistons, cams and revised ignition mapping and unlike Benellis of old, all the on/off jerkiness has gone when you’re feathering the throttle at low revs. This makes the Benelli TNT 899S lovely to ride around town and much more predictable through the bends too. Acceleration isn’t up there with the Triumph Speed Triples and KTM Super Dukes of the world as it only has 118bhp and is quite heavy (it weighs 199kg), but there’s still plenty of performance to be had and a screaming exhaust note to savour at high revs. This brilliant new motor makes the Benelli TNT 899S seem like a completely new model, despite its familiar clothes.

If Benellis had have been made like this in the first place we reckon they would be a lot more successful. The Benelli TNT 899S is well built and refined beyond recognition compared to the original TNT. For piece of mind, there’s now a full-blown UK importer in place (www.motogb.co.uk) to take care of spares and servicing.

£7649 buys you a lot of Italian-built style, attitude and exclusivity and now, excellent build-quality and, we hope reliability too. If you’re in the market for a super naked that’s different, but easy to live with, the Benelli TNT 899S won’t disappoint. It’s just a shame that Benelli left it this long to give us what we wanted. We hope it’s not too late. Find a Benelli TNT 899 for sale.

You get a lot of nice toys with the Benelli 899S, like fully adjustable suspension, Brembo calipers, carbon fibre infil panels and front mudguard. The swooping tubular steel trellis frame with its cast aluminium swingarm pivot still looks great after all these years and the tubular steel swingarm, complete with its eccentric adjusters are a work of art too. Compare and buy products for the Beneli TNT 899S in the MCN Shop.