BENELLI TNT 300

The DSK Benelli TNT 300 is positioned in this entry-level performance bike segment. Priced below Rs 7 lakh, powered by a 300cc parallel-twin motor and armed with aggressive naked street looks, the TNT 300 is said to be one of the largest selling Benelli bikes in Nepal, so the company claims.

The so-called 'born-again bikers' who want to get back into motorcycling after a break, it's this class of motorcycles which holds appeal - not too expensive, decent and sporty looks, and entertaining performance. It's a segment which is looked at not purely for performance, but as a combination of good looks, decent performance, touring ability and an attractive price tag.

The Benelli TNT 300 has got the looks of a performance naked street - muscular tank, front bikini fairing, sleek tank extensions, part-digital, part-analogue instrument panel, LED tail lamp and exposed trellis frame all point to the DNA of a performance streetfighter. The cycle parts are impressive too - fat inverted fork, twin petal discs up front, nice looking alloy wheels and a unique side-mounted rear monoshock.

The TNT 300 is powered by a four-stroke, parallel twin, liquid-cooled, 300cc engine, which makes 38bhp power at 11,500rpm and 26.5Nm of peak torque at 10,000 rpm. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel by a six-speed constant mesh transmission.

The power and torque figures may look quite impressive on paper, but again, these kick in quite high up in the rev range. What this means is, the TNT 300 behaves like a well-sorted, relaxed tourer at low and mid-revs, which is where most riders will be at, in all practical situations - riding in traffic, or cruising along on an open road.

It sounds like a larger displacing superbike and as mentioned earlier, if you're the kind of rider who likes a sweet sounding machine, the TNT 300 will please you no end. Start it up from standstill and wring the throttle wide open through the gears and you will be suitably rewarded by a nice sounding intake whine, complemented by a deep exhaust note. It's the bike's strongest point - that sound!