Design and Features
The Benelli BN600i is an all-new machine from the ground up, and it shows in its design. Although it is as edgy as anything Adrian Morton has designed for Benelli, like the Tornado Tre and the TNT (Tornado Naked Tre, read its full review here), the BN600i has a whole new design language.
After seeing the Transformers-looking TNT, the design of the BN600i might strike some as a bit too tame, especially from the front. The twin-bulb headlights, with twin pilot lamps and tiny air scoops underneath, bulge outwards in a manner reminiscent of the Suzuki Inazuma or even our very own Yamaha Libero. Large faux scoops adorn both sides of the engine, obscuring part of the decomposable steel trestle frame and the cylinder heads. The large fuel tank rises quite high up and then dives down, meeting the well padded (more on that later) rider’s seat. The pillion gets handy splits grab rails, something not found in most streetbikes in its class.
Unlike the TNT’s bright red trestle steel frame, the BN600 comes with a black frame, and matt grey sub frame. The yellow Sachs swingarm is mounted off to the left, lending a nice exotic touch to the Benelli’s angular bodywork. The styling is carried over to the rear with a smashing pair of triangular underseat exhausts nestled snugly under the pillion seat. One small niggle though, the BN’s side stand sticks out just beneath the rider’s foot pegs, making it hard to access with your heel.
Instrumentation on the BN600i is dominated by a large analogue tachometer, with a small LCD console reading out speeds in both kilometres and miles. There’s also twin tripmeters and a clock that can be accessed by two pushers on the right side of the digital console. The BN600i also comes with the most stylish switchblade-style keys we’ve ever seen on a motorcycle, although their recessed position between the ‘bars and the fuel tank night be a bother for some.
Curiously enough, fit and finish on the BN600i is better than on the bigger TNT 899, especially for the switchgear and plastic panels. The entire bike is solidly built and feels like it can take a pounding on even our roads, which haven’t entirely been the case with some Italian machines we have experienced in the past.
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Great review , but what’s up with no ABS or Slipper Clutch or did I miss something?
Good job guys and envy your luck… Will it be the cheapest four cylinder in India? Will it be priced below 6 lakh on road or under cut the CBR650F?