Author Topic: *NEW* Benelli's...  (Read 1170 times)

Offline JJ

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 19634
  • Life is meant to ENJOY...not "endure."
  • Location: Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
*NEW* Benelli's...
« on: June 23, 2021, 07:39:38 AM »
Seen at a local dealership in Cottonwood, AZ yesterday.  Yes, they are made in China.  Quality / fit / finish look good!

* 500cc twin, liquid cooled, Dual Sport - about $6500
* 500cc twin, liquid cooled, Street bike - The Leoncino ("Little Lion") - about $6100
* 135cc TT mini-motorcycle - Like the "Grom" - $3900 out the door













Life Member: MGNOC L-772, AMA, HOG
'98 V10 Centauro GT
Village of Oak Creek, AZ

Offline blackcat

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 8854
  • Location: USA
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2021, 07:50:13 AM »
They went from this to the above. Pretty disappointing IMO.

1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Offline JJ

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 19634
  • Life is meant to ENJOY...not "endure."
  • Location: Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2021, 07:57:15 AM »
They went from this to the above. Pretty disappointing IMO.



Yes, that 900cc triple Tornado was quite the sport bike! :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :wink:
Life Member: MGNOC L-772, AMA, HOG
'98 V10 Centauro GT
Village of Oak Creek, AZ

Offline SIR REAL ED

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 2249
  • uh.... it's personal....
  • Location: Forest, VA
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2021, 08:00:23 AM »
Seen at a local dealership in Cottonwood, AZ yesterday.  Yes, they are made in China.  Quality / fit / finish look good!

* 500cc twin, liquid cooled, Dual Sport - about $6500
* 500cc twin, liquid cooled, Street bike - The Leoncino ("Little Lion") - about $6100
* 135cc TT mini-motorcycle - Like the "Grom" - $3900 out the door















"Dual Sport?"  Not so much in my opinion.  Street bike looks better.

Yesterday I saw an Aprilia 660 in the flesh.  Fancy body work, but so much body work I could not even tell how many cylinders the engine had.  too complex for me.

The DR 650 in the above picture still looks good to me.  Looks like Suzuki is painting the engine a brighter shade of silver than the previous gray tone.
"If reading shite on the internet will trigger your head exploding, please wrap your head in Gorilla tape before logging on.  Thanks!!!"

2019 Beta EVO 250
1999 Suzuki DR 650 w/790cc kit
1994, 2001, & 2002 MZ Skorpions
1992 YAMAHA TDM850

Wildguzzi.com

Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2021, 08:00:23 AM »

Offline Tkelly

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1030
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2021, 08:26:39 AM »
There was a really large guy riding one at the Stelvio rally in NC with knobbies.He had no trouble keeping up with the leader on every surface.Really cool looking too.

Offline kballowe

  • - Kevin the Great -
  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 2781
  • Location: Villa Ridge, Missouri
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2021, 08:36:31 AM »
Made in China, but not sure exactly where.

Saw a few of them on the showroom floor at a dealer in mid-Missouri.

Haven't seen one out on the road (yet)

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 14141
  • Happily stuck in the past.
    • Antietam Classic Cycle
  • Location: Rohrersville, Maryland
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2021, 09:19:41 AM »
They went from this to the above. Pretty disappointing IMO.



 :thumb:

It's happening with Morini too - now Chinese owned. For now, the Lambertini designed (big) v-twins are still being produced, but "coming soon" are models with what looks like a clone of the Kawasaki 650 (Versys) engine. I'm not sure where they'll actually be built though.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2021, 04:10:11 PM by Antietam Classic Cycle »
Charlie

Offline kingoffleece

  • SplitWeight(tm) seat covers
  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 4014
  • Rated 5 STARS Motorcycle Consumer News
  • Location: Valley of the Sun
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2021, 11:26:31 AM »
Every time I see a bike built like this now, and after the ease of service on a Guzzi, I think of all the time and such needed to service valves and such.  Kind of think I'm done with all that.
SplitWeight(tm) seat covers. A King of Fleece LLC product.

Offline Guzzistajohn

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 12374
  • Location: Missouri Ozarks
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2021, 11:41:05 AM »
The "dual sport" has one major league "beak" on that bad boy. If beaks are your thing, that one is a DEAL!
ебать Россию!   Not anti social-pro solitude

Offline ozarquebus

  • Grand Canyon Pack Rat
  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 985
  • Riding since 1979
  • Location: Iron Gates, MO
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2021, 05:40:00 PM »
I have been looking at this little twin:

TNT302s it would be like racing, just to keep up. and wind it up to 1.1 lakh rpm to pull away.



John

V1000 G5 (ex-cop impersonator)
 Convert Hangar Queen

Offline JJ

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 19634
  • Life is meant to ENJOY...not "endure."
  • Location: Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2021, 05:45:06 PM »
I have been looking at this little twin:

TNT302s it would be like racing, just to keep up. and wind it up to 1.1 lakh rpm to pull away.





I suspect that the green bike...along with little TT135's...are probably a BLAST to ride!!! :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :smiley:



Life Member: MGNOC L-772, AMA, HOG
'98 V10 Centauro GT
Village of Oak Creek, AZ

Online bigbikerrick

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 5847
  • 73 Eldo, 98 V 11 ,12 Ural Gear Up, 76 Convert,
  • Location: Southeastern corner of Arizona, right next to "Old Mexico, and New Mexico"
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2021, 06:56:07 PM »
Thats a weird-ass  little lion on the front fender of the red one. Why take a fairly stylish , clean looking bike,and put that little "turd" on the front fender?  :grin:
Rick.
"You meet the most interesting people on a Guzzi"

Offline SLDMRossi

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1970
  • Location: East Haddam, CT
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2021, 09:45:58 PM »
As I've said before, my $3,750 2017 TNT 300 ownership experience has been nothing but positive.

Steven Rossi

Offline AH Fan

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 873
  • small stable of Italian stuff
  • Location: B.C Canada
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2021, 11:09:05 PM »
Well for me I choose not to make a contribution to our land fills.   :rolleyes:

Ciao

Offline Turin

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 5146
    • crap and stuff
  • Location: Chandler, Arizona
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2021, 11:33:42 PM »
Last I heard, Benelli were still being built in Italy, under Chinese ownership. It's a global economy, and I'm glad QJ rescued them. I'm not glad they don't offer a halo bike or 1130 cc triple anymore.

I got to test ride a Tornado tre 900 ( didn't love it ) as well as the TNT 1130 (awesome).
1997 Daytona RS
1991 Rennsport California III
1991 LeMans 1000
1987 LeMans SE Dave's Cycle Racer
1984 LeMans III
1985 Sidlow Guzzi
1974 850-T Sport
1969 A-series Ambassador
1996 Triumph Daytona 1200
1996 Triumph Daytona 900
1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 Balocco SE 3.0

Offline Tusayan

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 1788
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #15 on: June 24, 2021, 09:31:25 AM »
The Chinese maintain a business office in Italy so they can claim that Benelli is Italian. Otherwise I think it’s nonsense, unlike e.g. SWM which is also Chinese owned but is (was?) assembled from a mixture of Chinese and locally produced parts in the old Cagiva/Husqvarna plant in Italy.

A BMW dealer friend bought a couple of new 600 TNT Benellis at auction and is selling them on his used bike lot for $3500 or offer.  I think that typifies the state of the marque at this point.

I joked with a friend that he could buy one of the Benellis for $3K and make it his 21st century Cagiva Gran Canyon… we both bought those new for $6K back in the day and rode them until parts issues came to the fore.  He still has two of them if I remember correctly, both needing unavailable odds and ends. Obviously a higher quality bike than the Chinese built Benellis but the end result will be the same for both.

Re Guzzis I bought a new chipped Guzzi ignition key the other day… made by a company in India per the bag in which it was packaged.  Piaggio, like BMW, also does a lot of sourcing in low cost labor countries.

« Last Edit: June 24, 2021, 10:13:01 AM by Tusayan »

Offline SLDMRossi

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1970
  • Location: East Haddam, CT
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #16 on: June 24, 2021, 06:22:24 PM »
As the owner of a Tre-K and TNT 300 (and 28 other Italian motorcycles) I can confirm...the only thing wrong with a newer-Benelli is that they've been totally underserved in the U.S. market. SSR, the current California importer, hasn't done any advertising. Nor have there been any Road Tests, or even displays at Shows (when there were some). Since SSR specializes in Pit Bikes, Benelli sales have been pretty much relegated through their established network of scooter dealers...thus far.

Hot air "Landfill" commentators probably haven't even seen one, let along ridden one...so, please spare us of your inexperienced opinion. Though like a you-know-what, everyone has one and is entitled to one.

Steven Rossi
East Haddam, CT

Offline krglorioso

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1535
  • Location: Burnet County, TX
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #17 on: June 24, 2021, 06:40:46 PM »
Every time I see a bike built like this now, and after the ease of service on a Guzzi, I think of all the time and such needed to service valves and such.  Kind of think I'm done with all that.

Try to get the valve cover back on a Royal Enfield 650.  Had me shedding tears of rage and frustration, even after wrenching on bikes since 1953.  . 

Then, I looked over at the '04 Breva 750.   Ahhhhh.....

Ralph
Ralph
"You don't stop riding because you got old; you got old because you stopped riding".

2004 Moto Guzzi Breva 750
2017 Honda CB-500F
2021 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Offline bad Chad

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 9551
  • Location: Central Il
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #18 on: June 24, 2021, 09:19:35 PM »
Actually, I believe there is advertising, and new bike reviews in the latest couple issues of Rider.
2007 Breva 1100  Red Arrow (and faster than yours!)
2016 CSC 250TT Zongshen
2017 V9 Roamer

Online Muzz

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 7055
  • On the backside of the planet.
  • Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #19 on: June 25, 2021, 06:27:13 PM »
Every time I see a bike built like this now, and after the ease of service on a Guzzi, I think of all the time and such needed to service valves and such.  Kind of think I'm done with all that.

My sentiments exactly.  Every time I get ribbed by Ducati owners about my quaint pushrod engined Guzzi I ask them how long it takes them to set the valve clearances.  I have yet to find one that does their own.  The workshop bill for a service seems to start at around $1200NZ.  I tell them it takes me about 10 minutes while I drink my beer; they tend to settle down after that. :grin:
Muzz. Cristchurch, New Zealand
03 Breva

Life is just a bowl of Allbran
Ya wake up in the morning and it's there

Offline twowheeladdict

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 6149
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #20 on: June 25, 2021, 07:43:34 PM »
They sure are good at copying a look.  Fit and finish, plus reliability better be top notch at that price.

I remember when Chinese made bikes came here.  Disposable.
2022 Moto Guzzi V85TT Guardia D'onore
2018 V7 III Carbon Dark #0009 of 1921
2018 Road Glide Special
2021 Kawasaki KLX300SM
2017 Suzuki Van Van 200
2009 Harley Davidson Softail Custom

Offline bad Chad

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 9551
  • Location: Central Il
Re: *NEW* Benelli's...
« Reply #21 on: June 27, 2021, 06:31:45 PM »
They sure are good at copying a look.  Fit and finish, plus reliability better be top notch at that price.

I remember when Chinese made bikes came here.  Disposable.

Says the guy with a bike made in India!    just playing
2007 Breva 1100  Red Arrow (and faster than yours!)
2016 CSC 250TT Zongshen
2017 V9 Roamer

***Wildguzzi Official Logo High Quality 5 Color Window Decals Back In Stock***
Shipping in USA Only. Awesome quality. Back by popular demand. All proceeds go back into the forum.
http://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm
Advertise Here
 

20 Ounce Stainless Steel Double Insulated Tumbler
Buy a quality tumbler and support the forum at the same time!
Better than a YETI! BPA and Lead free.
Advertise Here