Less Is More, Times Three
LESS IS MORE, TIMES THREE
ROUNDUP
SOMETIMES SMALLER IS better, as just might be the case with Benelli's new three-cylinder engine. After abandoning the original Formula One-inspired but overly aggressive 899cc powerplant a few years ago in favor of the torquey 1130 that powers most of the Pesaro, Italy-based company's range, a new version of the midsize Triple is back in the lineup in the TnT 899.
Reworking the cylinder head was a key to obtaining very compact combustion chambers and raising compression to 12.5:1. A new airbox, taller velocity stacks on the 53mm throttle bodies and new cam timing help achieve a nice bal ance of torque and power. Benelli claims 120 horsepower at 9500 rpm with 65 ft.-lb. of torque at 7600 rpm.
Two versions of the bike are offered, the 899 "T" and "S," differentiated by their respective suspension compo nents, the latter getting fully adjustable Marzocchi damp ers front and rear. Riding during the 899's Italian press introduction showed that power delivery is smooth and flexible between 4000 and 10,000 rpm, with all the torque necessary to fero ciously accelerate out of tight hairpins going up a lovely mountain road that separates Rimini from Pesaro, above the Adriatic Sea.
Aggressive, unique styling makes the bike stand out from the crowd. A very competent chassis with well-chosen components is nice, but the 899cc Triple is the real star of the show. Available late this fall in the U.S. as 2009 models, the T and S are priced at $12,599 and $13,299, respectively.
Bruno dePrato
