Niche Italian motorcycle maker Benelli doesn't have a surfeit of models at the moment, but it does have something to celebrate - it's 100th birthday.
Commencing business in 1911, Benelli used the 2010 EICMA motorcycle show to take the covers off two special edition models that commemorate the company's 100th anniversary.
The 'Century Racer' is an upgraded version of the Tornado Naked Tre, or TnT, which is powered by a liquid-cooled 1130cc inline three-cylinder or 899cc engine with an updated ECU and revised fuel injection mapping. It also gets a 'desaturated' green colour scheme that pays homage to Renzo Pasolini -- who was Giacomo Agostini's arch-rival in 1960s Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and was very competitive on a Benelli.
The Italian-based motorcycle company - owned by the Chinese Qianjiang Group since 2005 - has also updated all 2011 TnT models, adding radial Brembo brakes with 320mm petal rotors, fully adjustable Marzocchi forks, and a new Sachs shock hooked up to the rear end. A suede seat is also added.
Other models on display at Benelli's EICMA exhibit included the Tre899K a "revamped version of the bigger sister 1130cc" which is now offered in new colours, and also "the final version of 2ue and the single cylinder four stroke BX series: BX449 Cross, BX 505 Enduro and 570 Motard. The BX models will be built beginning in the first half of 2011
Benelli motorcycle and scooters are brought into Australia by Motorsport Importers.
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