Benelli TnT Cafe 1130 Racer (2006)

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Benelli TnT Cafe 1130 Racer Motorcycle Review and Specifications.

 

With all the classic style bikes being released it was only a matter of time before someone decided to produce a Cafe Racer with a distinctly modern flavour. Benelli motorcycles have been building motorcycles since 1921 and if you visit their Australian website you will be introduced to the brand with this bold, proud statement "Benelli motorcycles, inspired by café-racer/streetfighter bikes - for all of those people who love a thrilling ride and like to make different choices, who share one dream and love motorcycles more than anything". If that hasn't stirred up a little bit of excitement in your pants you may want to check that your heart is still beating. The companies actual beginning came about when a widowed mother invested her families equity in to their garage business in an effort to keep her 6 sons employed. The company started off producing their own parts and servicing cars and motorbikes. Eventually they began producing their own 98cc engine and years later went on to manufactuer their own motorcycles. One son even managed to take out 4 Italian championships riding their machine and European popularity rapidly grew. At the end of the 60's Benelli motorcycles was starting to feel the same pinch many UK manufacturers were with the influx of bikes from Japan. Sales dropped due to their single cylinder designs losing popularity to the new overhead cam, electric starter bikes from the east and the companies future looked grim. After several changes of ownership and attempts to resecure a share of the motorcycle market Benelli bikes made an impact on the 2 wheel market with their Tornado 900 (released in 1995) and the companies future now seems to be set in stone.

The TNT Cafe Racer 1130 isn't your average Cafe Racer. There's pretty much no classic styling and if it wasn't for the big sticker proclaiming "Cafe Racer" on the side fairings you wouldn't even consider it to be one. So what is it about this bike that made them give it that name? Well style wise you'll find a set of low clip on handle bars with Cafe signature style bar end mirrors. The frame has been highlighted with a deep metallic wine red and the gold body panels create brilliant visual highlights....maybe a bit too bold for your typical Cafe Racer but this ain't no typical bike. Beyond these points you're not going to find much more in the way of classic Cafe styling. The bikes ride is totally customisable with fully adjustable front forks and rear shocks and even has an electric foot peg control system (just in case one of your legs is longer than the other). The rims are made of forged aluminium alloy and the body features several carbon fibre components to reduce the bikes overall weight (199kg). Breaking is optimised by a high performance Brembo system to slow you down when the 101kw, 4 stroke, 3 cylinder, 1130cc engine starts to get the better of your rational side and the little "windscreen" on the front supplies you with enormous amounts of "aerodynamic protection".

The Benelli TNT Cafe Racer 1130 doesn't sound much like your hybrid Cafe Racer but it has a unique feature hidden up it's sleeve which will allow you to get that cheesy I'm going fast now grin we all ocassionally desire. This is done by placing a little button on the dash that when pressed allows you to switch between free power and controlled power. The free power setting gives you access to the engines torque meaning when you feel like it's time to have some fun it's just the push of a button away while the controlled power setting is best for when you have a passenger who might not be as thrilled by your up on one manouvers or knee grating cornering as you are...oh and that setting saves you fuel too.

So all up sure the Benelli TNT Cafe Racer 1130 has some classic Cafe styling but it's no Ducati Sport 1000. The Benelli is a bike based more on the spirit of the Cafe Racer and has been designed to give you the ride experience that the rockers in the 50's toiled to acheive as well as still functioning as a fully efficient everyday commuter. It may not be everyones kettle of fish but it definately has it's place in the modern Cafe Racer market.

General information

Model: Benelli TnT Cafe Racer
Year: 2006
Category: Naked bike
Rating: 75.1 out of 100.

Engine and transmission
Displacement: 1130.00 ccm (68.95 cubic inches)
Engine type: In-line three
Stroke: 4
Power: 135.44 HP (98.9 kW)) @ 9250 RPM
Torque: 117.00 Nm (11.9 kgf-m or 86.3 ft.lbs) @ 6750 RPM
Compression: 11.5:1
Bore x stroke: 88.0 x 62.0 mm (3.5 x 2.4 inches)
Fuel system: Injection. Electronic injection with 1 injector per cylinder
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel control: DOHC
Ignition: Single coil inductive discharge electronic ignition
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet clutch

Physical measures
Dry weight: 196.0 kg (432.1 pounds)
Seat height: 780 mm (30.7 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Wheelbase: 1,419 mm (55.9 inches)

Chassis and dimensions
Frame type: Mixed solution. Front: ASD steel tube trellis, fastened with screws to boxed rear section, aluminium alloy castings Subframe: aluminium die-case Adjustable foot-rest
Front suspension: Marzocchi ´upside down´ fork diameter 50 mm, adjustable in compression and extension with spring pre-load
Rear suspension: ASD steel tube trellis swingarm with Extreme Technology single shock absorber with adjustable extension and spring pre-load
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-17
Rear tyre dimensions: 190/50-17
Front brakes: Double disc
Front brakes diameter: 320 mm (12.6 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 240 mm (9.4 inches)

Speed and acceleration
Power/weight ratio: 0.6910 HP/kg