2016 Auto Expo: DSK-Benelli Tornado 302 to be showcased

Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli will showcase the Tornado 302 along with its complete range of motorcycles at the 2016 Auto Expo. The Tornado 302 is the first fully faired bike by the manufacturer after the Tornado 1130, which was almost a decade ago. Benelli has introduced the TNT 300 streetbike last year, which sparked the desire for a fully faired version of the 300cc mill.

The Benelli Tornado 302 is powered by a 300cc parallel twin-cylinder 4-stroke, liquid cooled engine which is capable of producing 36PS of power at 12,000rpm and 27Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a chain drive which comes from a 6-speed gearbox. The Tornado 302 tips the scale at 180kgs. On the mechanicals, the Tornado 302 is equipped with upside down forks upfront, and a monoshock mounted centrally on the rear swingarm. Providing stopping power for the Tornado 302, Benelli has equipped the motorcycle with 260mm dual petal discs at the front and a single 240mm petal disc at the rear.

The Benelli Tornado 302 has an all-new trellis frame which gives the bike a distinctive look for its segment. The sculpted fairing has various air slits on the sides to regulate smooth flow of air with efficient heat dissipation for the engine. The Tornado 302 features a split-seat arrangement which follows the nice chiselled fuel tank.

With the Tornado 302, Benelli will compete in the 300cc two-wheeler segment which includes the Kawasaki Ninja 300, Yamaha YZF-R3, and the KTM RC390. When launched, the Benelli Tornado 302 is expected to carry a sticker price of Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).