Benelli TNT 600i ABS review, road test

Well, it’s nothing new. The TNT 600i with ABS looks no different, save that ABS sticker on the front fender. While the 600i isn’t what you might call 'beautiful' in the conventional sense, there’s no denying that the bike has plenty of presence. In our opinion, it’s the bikini fairing that’s a bit of a let-down and looks a bit un-Italian, but apart from that, everything else is quite striking. The big tank extensions along the large sculpted fuel tank are a distinct visual touch, but what grabs your attention is that chunky four-cylinder engine and the four shiny exhaust headers that protrude from it. And while the stocky cast alloy swingarm and side-mounted rear shock absorber are neat visual touches, the really impressive bit at the back end are the two triangular underseat exhausts. Even today, after a fair number of these bike have already hit our roads, the TNT 600i still remains a head turner, and during our test ride, the bike was quite literally mobbed by onlookers curious to know more.

There are, however, some small things that rob the Benelli of a bit of its premiumness. Get in the saddle and you’ll immediately notice that the switchgear and the instrument pod feel like they belong on a smaller motorcycle, reminding you of the oriental aspects of this Sino-Italian motorcycle. But these things are easy to forgive considering just how economical the entire package is. And while some of the design elements might seem a bit chintzy, there’s very little to fault with the way the bike is put together, with overall build quality levels looking like they’re at par with its Japanese competitors in this segment. It also gets and on/off switch for the anti-lock braking system. It’s quite interesting how DSK-Benelli have incorporated it at the bottom of the left mirror stalk, without changing any of the existing switchgear. Coming back to the saddle, it’s quite comfortable and while the 800mm seat height is not what you might call short, the bike’s slim waist should allow most riders’ feet to reach the ground comfortably. Still, it’s 231kg kerb weight is rather portly and pushing this bike around in a parking spot is quite the workout. Even on the move it shows its heaviness, but the upright posture and the nice, wide handlebars allow you to manoeuvre it fairly easily in slow speed conditions.