Benelli Tornado 500: The Italian Brand’s A2-Compliant Sportsbike
Benelli, the historic Italian motorcycle brand, has revived the Tornado name for its 2024 model lineup. Unlike the exotic 898cc triple superbike of the early 2000s, the new Tornado 500 is designed to be A2-compliant, featuring a parallel-twin engine to rival Honda’s CBR500R.
Key Features:
- Ownership Background: Benelli, originally known for its six-cylinder 750 ‘Sei’ in the 1970s, was acquired by the Chinese firm QJMotor in 2005, which is part of the Geely Holding Group. The brand has since produced stylish and competitive motorcycles with Italian design and Chinese manufacturing.
- Engine: The Tornado 500 is powered by a precisely 500cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, parallel-twin engine with four valves per cylinder. This engine, based on previous designs seen in models like the TRK 502 adventure bike, has been extensively reworked to meet Euro5+ standards. It delivers a claimed maximum power of 46.9bhp at 8500rpm and peak torque of 34ftlb at 6000rpm.
- Chassis: The motorcycle features a lightweight tubular steel trellis frame. Front suspension consists of fully adjustable 41mm forks from Marzocchi, while the rear suspension is handled by a preload and rebound-adjustable monoshock.
- Brakes: The Tornado 500 is equipped with a Brembo braking system, including twin 320mm discs and twin Brembo radially-mounted four-piston calipers at the front, operated by a radial master cylinder.
- Wheels: Both the front and rear wheels are 17-inch cast alloy, fitted with a 120/70 tire at the front and a 160/60 tire at the rear.
- Lighting: Striking LED riding lights complement the new bodywork, and the motorcycle features high and low beams.
- Instrumentation: The bike boasts a modern five-inch color TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity. Additional features include a tire pressure monitoring system and USB sockets as standard.
- Availability: Benelli plans to make the Tornado 500 available in the first few months of 2024. Pricing details and color options are yet to be confirmed.
The Benelli Tornado 500 emerges as a noteworthy addition to the A2-compliant sportsbike segment, blending Italian design flair with competitive specifications. As riders await its release, more details about the pricing and color variants are anticipated to be revealed in the coming months.
