Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli entered India with Pune-based DSK Group in 2014. After a successful start, the partnership ran into hot water when DSK Group went into financial troubles last year. Though the future of Benelli in India was hanging for some days, Adishwar Auto Ride India (AARI), a new company under Mahavir Group stepped in and rescued the brand in India in August.
Benelli India is now getting back to normalcy after dark days and it has re-launched three models as part of the revival. The models in question are the TNT 300 naked, the 302R faired motorcycle and the popular TNT 600i four-cylinder naked. Benelli has priced the TNT 300 at Rs 3.50 lakh, 302R at Rs 3.70 lakh, and the TNT 600i at Rs 6.20 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).
Benelli TNT 300, 302R, TNT 600i
The TNT 300 is the most affordable Benelli model and it is powered by a 300cc, twin-cylinder engine that develops 37bhp at 11,500rpm and 26.5Nm of peak torque at 10,000rpm. The naked bike comes packed with USD front forks and a monoshock unit at the rear. Braking comes from disc brakes on both ends in addition to dual-channel ABS.
Benelli 302R, on the other hand, is the fully-faired version based on the TNT 300 and uses the same engine and cycle parts. However, the mill belts out 38bhp at 11,500 rpm in 302R while torque remains the same.
The TNT 600i was Benelli's popular model when it was tied up with DSK group and it is expected to remain best seller again. The naked streetfighter is powered by an in-line four-cylinder 600cc engine that develops 85bhp and 54.6 Nm of peak torque.
Next up, Benelli TRK 502 and TRK 502X
In the first quarter of 2019, Benelli will step into the burgeoning middleweight touring motorcycle segment with the TRK 502 and TRK 502X. Both TRK 502 variants are powered by 499.6cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that churns out 47bhp and 45Nm, mated to a six-speed transmission. The TRK 502 a road-biased variant while the TRK 502X comes with off-road biased character.
The TRK 502 is expected to be priced between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 5.5 lakh, while the TRK 502X should demand a premium by Rs 50,000 over the 502.
