Benelli has discontinued the TNT 899 and TNT R from their line-up. The reason being that, the in-line three cylinder motorcycles did not comply with the BS-IV emission norms.
The TNT 899 sports an in-line three 898cc motorcycle that produces 118bhp of power and 88 Nm of torque via a six-speed gearbox. On the other hand, the TNT R uses a 1,131cc triple that delivers 155.5bhp and 120Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission. The bikes carried a price tag of Rs 9.53 lakhs and Rs 11.86 lakhs respectively (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
Although the company says that the BS-IV versions of the bikes will be available in India by early next year, none of the international markets seem to have these bikes on sale. Both the bikes are out dated in terms of technology and even though the design is timeless, it calls for a change to keep up with its rivals. We expect these bikes to be replaced with the 750cc parallel-twin and the 900cc triple.
The 900cc triple is fitted to a new trellis frame that’s bolted to an aluminium section where it meets the swingarm. The fuel tank is derived from the existing 899 but overall, the design is new. The prototype also loses the underseat exhaust for a large end-can, thanks to Euro 4 emission norms. However, we can expect a better looking one on the production version.
The 750cc parallel-twin, rumoured to be named the 750GS is underpinned by a steel trellis chassis, similar to the ones used in the rest of the Benelli range. The bike would use a de-tuned version of the in-line three cylinder engine that powers the TNT 899. This engine is likely to produce around 90bhp and 65Nm of torque. When launched, the bike will compete against the Kawasaki Z650, internationally and the Ducati Monster 797 in India.
