Benelli TNT 600 GT First Ride Review

How does it ride?

We’ve some basic requirements when we do long distance touring, right? Like, the ability to ride for hours without fatigue, minimum fuel stops, and yes, not to forget, ease of riding. The Benelli TNT 600GT manages to tick a few of these. You can comfortably ride the bike for hours, and the fuel tank range complements it too. It has a capacity of 27 litres. But, the suspension setup could play spoilsport, not just for the rider, but for the pillion as well. It gets non adjustable USDs upfront and a side mounted monoshock with pre-load and rebound adjust for the rear. The travel is limited. Also, when set in full soft mode, the GT wallows. Turn up the pre-load, and the ride gets bumpy and jarring. No matter what one does, it’s always a compromise.

The engine – the 600cc inline-four cylinder – though is likeable. Fire-up the bike, and the sound of an inline-four will bring a grin to your face. This mill produces 84bhp at 11,5000rpm and 55Nm of peak torque at 10,500rpm. The gearbox is a six-speed unit and is slick to operate, if not exactly light. Open the throttle and the 243kg (kerb weight) motorcycle instantly shows that it means business. But, it lacks low-end torque typical of a tourer. In fact, the power delivery is so blunt on the 600GT till it hits 7,000rpm, it feels a little too docile.

Rev past that though and the surge in power and the sound is something you’ll love. Revving it higher up the band also ensures you don’t have to live with the low rev vibrations of the GT that can be felt via the footpegs, the tank and the handlebar. The engine doesn’t even feel stressed higher up the range making you want to ride it hard, all the time. And you can, because even though the GT doesn’t come with ABS, the brake feel, bite and progression from the floating dual rotors upfront and the radial mounted calipers, is good. The tyres work well too.

In terms of ergonomics, the GT is sportier than a tourer needs to be with its rearset footpegs and a hard seat. It’s also not the easiest bike to stand up and ride, if that’s your thing. The Benelli TNT 600GT could do with better wind protection as well. When a bike is capable of cruising easily at three digits speeds and has upright handlebars, it must provide some protection against windblast. The tiny windscreen on the GT is useless in this regard.

Anything else I should know?

The TNT 600GT has pretty basic instrumentation, and one that looks dated. It gets a clock, a single trip meter and a tacho and odo. But, there’s no gear indication, and no trip readings to help you along on a long ride like distance to empty. That apart, the quality levels are good, the paint finish (matte green on our bike) is excellent, and the bike comes with an option for panniers. The latter are expensive but at least you can pick them up off the shelve knowing they will work. The 600GT also gets an adjustable brake lever, projector head lamps, LED tail lamps, hazards, and a removable single piece seat with some storage.

Why should I buy one?

For three things – sound, fuel tank capacity and the price. Thanks to its inline-four motor, the sound of the bike is something people will fall for. I did too! Secondly, being a tourer, the fuel tank capacity of 27-litres on the TNT 600GT gives you peace of mind, especially when you do long distance. Problem with big bikes are its tank range and the 600GT solves that. To put things in perspective, I reached Goa from Pune in one tank full. Sounds relaxing right? And yes, the final aspect – the price. At such a price point, it’s kind of affordable and won’t burn a big hole in your pocket.

Where does it fit in?

Currently, there aren’t many middleweight touring motorcycles in the country. But, the Benelli TNT 600GT has the Kawasaki Versys 650 as its closest competitor. In terms of pricing, the Kawasaki Versys 650 costs almost a lakh more, but then the Versys gets anti-lock braking system (ABS) and more modern hardware.

Photography by Sanchit Arora