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Sophisticated Twister
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Benelli Tornado Tre
Michael Schulte
01/01/2006
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Photography by Kevin Wing
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In 1911, the widow “Mama” Theresa Benelli gambled the
family assets on the Benelli Garage, a modest Pesaro workshop that she hoped
would marshal the talents of her six sons repairing automobiles, motorcycles and
quaintly enough, firearms. Through the 1920s, the Bros. Benelli were famous for
building and racing motorcycles. By the 30s, Benelli had ascended to the Italian
Pentarchia (the big five of the bike industry) along with Garelli, Moto Guzzi,
Gilera and Bianchi. The Benelli name remained in the forefront of the industry
until the deluge of cheap and reliable Japanese motorcycles eviscerated the
market for much of the European manufacturing base in the ‘60s. This shift in
the trade winds finally forced a production halt and many thought Benelli had
shuffled off its mortal single coil.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: AGV TiTech
Suit: MotoGP Compression
Gloves: Joe
Rocket
Boots: Sidi Vertigo Corsa. (Click image to enlarge)
Enter Andrea Merloni, who, having roused
the company from its ashes when he purchased the once mighty marque in 1995,
launched the audacious Tornado Tre 900 project in 2002. The Tornado continues
Benelli’s tradition of idiosyncratic design. From the pointed taper of the
nose, through the under-saddle-mounted radiator, to the signature cooling ducts
in the tail, this is a bike that will not get lost in a thicket of Ducatis.
Ninety-five years after her maternal encouragement had launched the family
factory, there is little doubt that Mama Benelli would flush with pride seeing
the family name emblazoned on the fairing of the latest incarnation of the
Tornado Tre line.
 You’ll want to take your time getting into the saddle to
appreciate the Tornado’s jaw-loosening aesthetics and lacquer-smooth paintwork.
Approaching the bike, the Tornado scores a direct hit on the hypothalamus.
The striking bodywork that is sculpted around the mixed-design frame brings to
mind a purposeful sprinter, loaded into the starting blocks. Weighing in at 436
lb, the Tornado feels surprisingly light and compact, and owing to its lanky
profile feels more like being atop a tall 600. Flick the switchblade ignition
key and the clocks and lights run through their check cycle and zero out. All
warning and information lights are thoughtfully placed above the instrument
cluster and well within the rider’s peripheral vision. (Click image to enlarge)
 Lean forward into
riding position and you’ll find it surprisingly comfortable over a lengthy haul,
with a single exception: The rear edge of the gas tank protrudes slightly into
your abdomen. It’s a small matter, and perhaps a triumph of style over function.
Truth is, you’d sooner sign up for a Pilates class than alter that sensuous
sweep of the tank’s design. (Click image to enlarge)
Out on the road, the marriage of power and
sophistication become instantly apparent. The throaty note of the 898cc,
3-cylinder parallel engine will grab ears and turn heads. A lightweight flywheel
gives engine revs an expressively quick rise and fall. With an 11:1 compression
ratio, the Tornado is more than inclined toward racing. Wind it up, run through
the gears and you will immediately notice two things: A silky gear change that
selects beautifully and a slipper clutch that limits back-torque on downshifts.
The slipper clutch is a nice touch that allows the rear wheel time to catch up
to the engine revs and eliminates rear-wheel chatter. The feel takes some
getting used to, but once you overcome the instinct to gradually release the
clutch, and just shift gears and dump the lever, you’ll be downshifting through
corners like Peter Goddard. Well, almost like Peter Goddard. You may notice
other riders creeping up on you, hypnotized by the spinning dual extractor fans
that make the Tornado look as though it’s about to leap into hyperspace. Twist
the throttle and confirm their suspicions. (Click images to enlarge)
The Benelli’s engine management
system contributes to the notion of the Tornado as elegant beast. There is
virtually no hesitancy or surging from the fuel injector, just a smooth and
seamless flow. The Tornado produces plenty of low end torque and the revs climb
relatively slowly and purposefully to make 136 hp at the 11,500 rpm redline.
Probably because of it’s three-cylinder throatiness and lower rev-ceiling the
machine actually appears to be more like a very fast 600, but in actuality the
motor’s power is deceiving and a quick glance at the speedometer will testify to
the fact that you’re traveling very much faster than you thought. When it’s time
to return to earth, four-piston Brembos (while not the vogue radial mount)
display considerable feel and their usual excellent stopping power.
Unleash
the Tornado on the track and you’ll notice that the firm 43mm Paioli forks,
Extreme Tech shock and steering damper require only minor stiffening to squeeze
optimal speed in the corners. Handling is pleasantly neutral with no “falling”
into corners: pick a line and hold it. Hard acceleration out of the corners
reveals slight understeer, but this could be adjusted out and is a
quibble.
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