Tornado 550

Sculpted and aggressive lines, with elaborate and modern surfaces: the Tornado 550 is the flagship model in the Benelli supersports’ line up. A motorbike born from the ever-increasing demand for a product with sporty features, without scarifying versatility and comfort in everyday use. 

The Tornado 550 is the result of a joint project between R&D and the Centro Stile Benelli in Pesaro, which, on the technical basis of the naked TNT 500, has been able to interpret this platform in a sporty way. The line features design elements shared with the Tornado Naked Twin 500, accompanied by sculpted fairings characterized by a strong three-dimensionality, which give the Tornado 550 a unique character. The shapes are compact with volumes emphasized by sharp lines that start at the front, flowing through the fuel tank and towards the tail. The DRL lights draw a luminous shape inspired by the sharp fangs of a lion, the historical symbol of the Benelli brand: these elements are separate from the high and low beam modules. The rear lights, on the other hand, are integrated into the turn signals. 

The 554 cc engine is an evolution of the proven 500 cc that powers some of the brand’s best-sellers. The parallel twin-cylinder engine features a double overhead camshaft system, four valves per cylinder and bore and cubic capacity values respectively of 70.5 mm and 71 mm for a configuration very close to the ‘quadro’. The result is a smooth and responsive engine that well responds at both low and high rpms: maximum power of 45 kW (61 hp) at 8,250 rpm and peak of 54 Nm at 5,500 rpm. The new engine complies with Euro 5+ emissions regulations. 

The Tornado 550 features a tubular steel frame, an excellent compromise between weight and rigidity, which is well matched by the front end with a fully adjustable Ø 41 mm Marzocchi upside-down fork. At the rear, on the other hand, the swingarm is directly connected to a monoshock absorber with adjustable preload and rebound damping. The travel, in this case, is 125 mm. 

The 17” aluminium alloy wheels fit 120/70 and 160/60 tyres, with Brembo radial-mount front brakes and Ø 320mm discs; at the rear, the disc is 260mm with a single-piston floating caliper.

The instrumentation is a 5” TFT color display with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection to connect the smartphone and manage incoming calls and notifications. To charge the smartphone, in addition to the classic USB socket, there is also USB-C for faster charging.