10 Classic Benelli Motorcycles That Are Italian Jewels

Summary

• In 1919, the first Benelli motorcycle, the 75, was born, marking the beginning of a legendary brand in motorcycle history.
• The 1973 Benelli Sei 750 was the world’s first six-cylinder bike, a rare gem designed for speed and smooth performance.
• The Benelli TNT 1130, introduced in 2004, is considered one of the best naked motorcycles, with explosive power and unique design.

In 1911, a single woman, Teresa Boni Benelli, in Pesaro, Italy, conceptualized the Benelli brand. She was a widow who wanted to put food on the table for the family, and the Italian brand we know today was born. During its early years, the Benelli Garage repaired bicycles and motorcycles, but soon enough, the company honed its mechanical prowess to produce motorcycles. 1919 marked the beginning of the Benelli Motorcycle brand.

Today, Benelli is one of the oldest and historically significant companies, and over the century, it has produced some excellent motorcycles that have stood the test of time. Things are not so good for Benelli right now; from an Italian exotica, the company has been acquired by Chinese giant QJ Motor Group. While you may not be a fan of modern Benellis, let’s take a look at some of the most iconic motorcycles it has ever produced.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Benelli, and other authoritative sources, including Motorcycle News, Mecum Auctions, Classic Driver, Motorbike Catalog, and Motorcycle Specs. The motorcycles are ranked based on their production years.

10 1919 Benelli 75 And 1921 Benelli Velomotore A

Power Output: NA

The bike shown in the image is the Benelli Velomotore Tipo B, a successor to the original 98cc Velomotore A.

It’s 1919 and the Benelli brothers had started working on their prototype motorcycle — essentially a two-stroke engine strapped to a bicycle frame. But it wasn’t until two years later that this motorcycle met their expectations, marking the beginning of a new era for the brand. The first Benelli was born: the 75. Not much information is available on this bike, but the first motorcycle produced by one of the oldest brands in motorcycling history has got to be special, isn’t it? In 1921, Benelli introduced its first true motorcycle, the Velomotore A, which featured a Benelli-developed 98cc engine.

Benelli 75 Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Benelli)

9 1937 Benelli 250 TN

Power Output: NA

Before 1936, Benelli saw great success with its 175cc models, and the next best step for the company was to develop a more powerful quarter-liter bike. The result was the Benelli 250 TN, short for Turismo Normale. What a success this bike was! Even the Royal Army acquired the M37 military version of the bike for relays and escorts.

The bike featured a steel frame with a parallelogram suspension and a rear swingarm with shock absorbers. The single-cylinder engine was mated to a three-speed gearbox, and the braking power came from drum brakes. Meanwhile, its M37 version was revised for rough terrain, thanks to a magneto ignition and a lever gearbox on the right side of the tank.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Benelli)

8 1940 Benelli 500 VLMs

Power Output: 12 HP @ 4,750 RPM

Apart from the M37, the 500 VLM or M40 is another military-spec motorcycle from Benelli. Based on the 500 VLC, this motorcycle was produced by the company after the outbreak of the second World War. The bike shared many components with the M37 but featured an up-sized single-cylinder engine, which made it even better in some conditions.

While the M37 was used for escorts, the M40 was used by motorized combat troops during the war. Yes, there may not be anything particularly groundbreaking about this motorcycle, but it’s an important part of World War history. And any history nerd would be glad to come across this gorgeous machine.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Benelli)

7 1951 Benelli 125 Leoncino

Power Output: 6 HP

Leoncino stands for a lion cub, and that’s exactly what the 125 Leoncino was. It was originally designed as a simple and lightweight motorcycle to aid the brand’s post-war recovery. But it quickly gained a lot of traction in the market for being a fun, fast motorcycle to ride. Some folks even used it in various competitions in Italy during the time.

The motorcycle was produced in 1970, despite Benelli facing various challenges. Featuring a 123cc two-stroke engine, it underwent many iterations over the years, with variants like the Normale, Faired, Lusso, and Sport models being the most popular ones. You could even buy specialized versions like Motovan or Rickshaws! It was a symbol of simplicity and practicality during its years of production.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Classic Driver and Motorbike Catalog)

6 1973 Benelli Sei 750

Power Output: 71 HP @ 8,500 RPM

The Benelli Sei 750 is a rare motorcycle but it’s so special because it’s an excellent example of the world’s first six-cylinder bike! This bike marked Benelli’s break from producing single-cylinder two-strokes and four-strokes for the road. It was the result of the legendary Alejandro DeTomaso, who bought the company in 1970.

Under its skin was the best of a Honda CB500 four-cylinder engine but with many major improvements, including shifting the alternator behind the engine to shorten its width. Carrozzeria Ghia then added final touches, giving the bike its angular design. The result was a motorcycle that was the smoothest and fastest European bike of its time.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

5 1970 Benelli 650 Tornado

Power Output: 52 HP @ 7,200 RPM

During the 70s, Benelli was expanding in all directions. So, to take on the British twins of the time, it brought out the 650 Tornado. Unfortunately, Benelli was a little too late to the party since consumers had moved to multi-cylinder Japanese motorcycles, especially the Honda CB750.

But that doesn’t mean the 650 Tornado was not a special motorcycle. In many ways, the bike was better than its British rivals, thanks to the various refinements it brought to the format. It was more reliable, fun to ride, and quick on its feet. Given its rarity, this has shot up in value nowadays, so unless you are in Italy, expect to pay a lot of money for this today.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

4 1976 Benelli Quattro 500

Power Output: 55 HP @ 9,400 RPM

Despite the radical shift in its motorcycle production in the 70s, Benelli was looking for its footing in the market, especially with its Japanese rivals. To revive itself, the company decided to copy a CB500 — literally. The CB500 was supposed to be an inspiration for the engineers, but the Quattro 500 turned out to be a CB500 dressed in Italian design. But who cares if Benelli did what it did; the Quattro 500 is still a gorgeous motorcycle. Think of it like sushi with some pasta sauce!

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

3 2003 Benelli Tornado Tre 900

Power Output: 113 HP

The Tornado Tre 900 isn’t a well-known motorcycle, but those who have ridden it sing its praises. It’s no surprise that it is often regarded as one of the finest fully-fired Italian motorcycles ever built! A special bike that looks intimidating but has an aura of grace around it.

Yes, the ergonomics are aggressive, and the suspension is painfully stiff for the road, but this is what makes it purebred. The inline-triple engine and the frame come together to offer an excellent riding experience. One of its notable features is the under-seat exhaust fans. Unfortunately, it’s not known to be reliable, and build quality is miles behind fellow Italian offerings.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle News)

2 2003 Benelli Tornado 1130

Power Output: 163 HP @ 10,500 RPM

If the Tre 900 wasn’t enough for you, you could get its bigger sibling, the Tornado 1130. It featured the same design as the 900 but the bigger engine and sophisticated suspension made it so much better to ride. It’s a motorcycle that every sports bike lover should experience once in their lifetime. Fortunately, it’s pretty cheap in the used market (but the maintenance is expensive).

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle News and Motorcycle Specs)

1 2004 Benelli TNT 1130

Power Output: 130 HP

For many, the Benelli TNT 1130 is the last of the true Benellis, since QJ Motorcycles acquired the company the following year. It is arguably one of the best incarnations of the naked motorcycle segment, thanks to its funky design, a capable chassis, and an explosive inline-triple engine. When it was released, it was one of the most ‘out there’ motorcycles you could buy, perfect for hooning around on country roads. Pulling wheelies on it was effortless, and only a few riders could ever exploit this bike’s full potential. Last but not least, this is also one of the best-sounding motorcycles ever built. Go, check it on YouTube!

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle News)