Road test of BenelliTornado 1130 2006 A tornado powered by TnT

it was introduced some 7 years ago - an eternity in the world of sports cars. And yet, its plasticity and elegance have not aged a day. Enough to charm many a lover of beautiful machines. On the Italian circuit of Santa Monica, the sun has been beating down for several hours while I'm bubbling away in my combarde. Impatiently awaiting a test ride on the big Italian-Chinese sports bike (Benelli was bought out by QIANJIANG some time ago), I watch for the arrival of one of the rareone of the rare 1130 Tornado scheduled for press testing (Ah, Italian folklore - with Aurélien from MR and Michaël from MJ, we were surprised by the very... typical organization).
Finally, the machine arrives at the stand. A technician checks the machine, the previous rider having reported a few minor problems (the Benellis are victims of a few electrical problems, due to their m..... batteries). 3 minutes later, I climb on the beast, which is quite tall on legs, to test this very beautiful bike for... "Excuse me. Only five turns for the test".
I can't believe it. Like my colleagues in the press, we're only allowed 5 turns to test the machine.That's 2 to learn the circuit, 2 to understand the bike, and 1 to try and push it a bit. And the groundhog puts the chocolate in the foil... ?!?

well, we'll have to insist on sex and cut down on the preludes. The bike and tires are hot, I can't wait any longer, let's go for it.
Quickly at ease on the Benelli, I make the most of the first lap to get my bearings and see that the Italian doesn't need any special instructions. After just a few corners, the rider feels confident, puts his knee down without a second thought and starts to play. All he needs is a little help to get into the bend, then the available torque rounds out the throttle response. I'd like to spend a little more time tasting the 3-legged's deep-rooted charm... But turns are worth their weight in gold here.
There's no time for purring, we're going to have to step on the gas. And as soon as you turn up the heat, the Tornado reveals its limits in the face of right-hand gusts. Although very torquey, the big 3-cylinder engine lacks liveliness when revving up. And once you're approaching the red zone, be careful not to be taken by surprise by the breaker, which intervenes a little sharply and earlier than you'd expect.
At mid-range and with the throttle in the corner, it pushes hard and pulls copiously, but without really delivering any sensations to the rider. It's hard to gauge speed, and we're surprised by the speed displayed on the speedometer. Despite its fine pretensions, the bike doesn't deliver all the spirit of a big Japanese hypersport. Rather like a big twin, the Benelli seems to enjoy being ridden in the fat of the torque; taking care to be wary of certain bends approached in second gear. The 3-cylinder's mkgs, combined with a track renowned for its random grip, didn't fail to gratify me with a pretty comma at the exit of a curve, despite having negotiated it without having opened up like a pig. Further down the track, a little extra agility would be welcome when negotiating certain sections of the Misano circuit.

could agility give the big Tornado a bit more oomph? Alas, the 1130 isn't particularly light, and its weight makes itself felt when the going gets tough. On the attack in pif-pafs and tight bends, the bike demands to be ridden with conviction. you can feel it: 20 kg more than a Japanese bike. And the machine systematically widens trajectories. Swinging into corners and tracking requires a certain amount of effort.
Now, fun's over. I'm going to hold off on braking for a while to see how this big 50 mm fork copes. 240 km/h then trapper braking. Power responds copiously at the front... while the rear sweeps the track generously. Ah, the rebel! Heavy braking is punished by some nice rear-end drift. The sensations are there, but when it comes to efficiency and lap times, not so much. As a result, you'll have to apply yourself to braking, be extra careful when downshifting, and push hard to recover the machine when you enter the corners optimistically. That's sport! Maybe not the kind of sport you'd expect from a 163hp. The Tornado will certainly fare better on the road, where its 3-cylinder engine will certainly be more impressive than on the track.

the Tornado doesn't have the same resources as the missiles that excite Superbikes. It is first and foremost a road-going sportsbike that will accept a few trips to the track, but not in competition (unless it has undergone solid preparation). It remains an expression of Italian haute couture, with its superb curves and atypical surprises. The rear-view mirrors are very stylish but useless; the neutral position is catastrophic to find; the kickstand, well, we're being polite. Of course, all this still needs fine-tuning, because judging a hypersport in 5 laps...

M.B - manufacturer's photos