Benelli TnT25: Italian and naked

Benelli Keeway Motorcycles introduces a new 250cc single.

benelli_4Fans of Italian motorcycle brand Benelli are having a happy start to 2016 as a fifth model has joined their range bikes sold in Malaysia. Following in the footsteps of the TnT300, TnT600, TnT899, the all-new TnT25 is a naked streetfighter machine, though this one is aimed at attracting entry-level customers and those upgrading from mopeds and ‘cubs’. Those customers will be happy to know they can ride the bike with their B2 licenses (for bikes up to 250cc), which wasn’t the case for the TnT300.

The engine is a 249cc liquid-cooled single producing 25.2hp at 9000rpm and 21.5Nm at 7500rpm housed in a steel trellis frame. Fuelling is done via EFI while suspension duties are handled by a 41mm USD fork and a single rear shock. A single 280mm petal disc brake is mounted at the front while the rear brake is a 240mm conventional disc.

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benelli_2Styling for the TnT25 closely follows the familiar looks of the TnT range of bikes. There’s a large single headlight and what looks to be a sporty yet accommodating seat. The fuel tank is a generous 17-litres and though the dry weight of 150kg seems a little on the portly side, it’s not going to make a massive amount of difference to the daily riding performance of the bike. Information from sources who have already tested the bike (it was launched in other countries back in 2014) state a claimed top speed of 145km/h, so it’s not going to feel like a slug on the highway.

Unfortunately for Benelli, their new bike is going up against a few very strong rivals. The Kawasaki Z250 SL, KTM Duke 250 and Naza N5 all share the same formula of a naked bike powered by a 250cc single and though the Benelli brand name has more heritage attached to it than all the others combined, its image in this part of the world isn’t as strong as brands from Japan, or European rivals like KTM and BMW.

So, to entice buyers a little more, the Benelli TnT25 will be listed at RM12,990 (excluding GST) with a 1-year/10,000km warranty. A further three months can be added to the latter when owners register their purchase on the company website, which is great way to data mine their owners and build a registry.benelli_5Will it be enough to sway more buyers Benelli’s way? Well, only time will tell but the company doesn’t expect the TnT25 to be a huge seller anyway due to the strong competition in the segment, so the targets set are reflective of this.

Available in green and red, the locally assembled TnT25 is expected to arrive at authorised dealers by the end of January 2016 so if you get your order in early, there’s a chance of turning up at this year’s CNY reunion dinner on a brand new Benelli.