After 2010 EICMA showed off this Benelli TnT Century Racer special edition, we can only hope that 2011 will see a couple of other events or limited edition bikes to celebrate 100 years of Benelli. The three-cylinder naked Benelli TNT 1130 and 899 get a special ‘Century Racer’ kit with a new colour scheme honouring Renzo Pasolini (Italian rider known for his extreme racing style).

The kit includes Marzocchi forks, radial Brembo brakes with Braking wave discs, new ECU mapping and suspension upgrades with rear Sachs shock. The TnT gets a new café racer look with Alcantara seat, new rear tail, valve covers and other 1960’s touches. The rest of the Benelli range gets the same suspension mods with Marzocchi forks while the TreK 1130 even goes so far as to get a hydraulic clutch.

The Benelli TNT R160 gets the same Century Racer treatment including the remapping. There’s not much else that is new for the Benelli range which is disappointing seeing that they could have celebrated the 100th anniversary with something really special. There are some hardcore Benelli fans out there who will probably be celebrating next year, but in honour of times gone by and not the modern status of the brand which seems to have lost its way.

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This video from the guys at Motorcycle.com pits the Benelli TNT 1130 against the Ducati Streetfighter in a road test. After dyno testing, the bikes are said to be quite similar, though you may think it’s a bit unfair to go comparing the 2008 Benelli with the more modern, and technologically blessed, Streetfighter. The Benelli still holds its own though, and certainly seems to come off better if you want a daily ride (it’s said to be more agile), and won’t be taking advantage of the ultimate in sports performance. Check out the chatty video test for all the details.

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While we don’t have a full gallery of the Benelli TnT 899 Cafe Racer, unless it’s presented at the EICMA show, this one pic shows the sports bike testing around the alpine passes of Italy and France. It’s a smaller and sportier version of the Benelli 1130cc model, and the tests prove that Benelli is still going ahead with the project despite financial difficulties.

The 899 project is considered a more economical and intelligent choice than the larger 1130 model. While an exciting bike, its high power and torque means it’s not necessarily accessible to all riders. The only problem will be releasing another Benelli model to dealerships still holding leftover TnT 1130 bikes at discounted prices.

The Benelli TnT 899 model could prove to be even cheaper than the 1130 as dealers try to sell off the last models of the latter. The new Benelli should keep the same design as the previous model, with the main focus being the change in engine.

Continue reading: Benelli TnT 899 Cafe Racer spy shot

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