Hi mates!!
Here is the review from the Aussie!!

Italian motorcycle maker Benelli has taken the wraps off the BN600, a new middleweight four-cylinder naked bike that will make its public debut at the 2012 Milan motorcycle show, EICMA.

Unlike many Benelli's that are powered by three-cylinder engines, the new BN600 makes use of a four-cylinder 600cc engine outputting 82hp (60kW) at 11,500rpm and 51Nm at 10,500rpm.
The liquid-cooled four-stroke engine is a fuel-injected unit with twin cams, 38mm throttle bodies, and is hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox via wet clutch. The bike's innards are held together by an upper steel trellis, lower aluminium plate frame, and the aesthetic is appealing.

The bike also appears to feature twin undertail exhausts and some plastic cladding below the fuel tank for visual flair.
When Chinese-based Qianjiang Group took over Italian motorcycle maker Benelli in 2005, it was expected the company would invest in design and development and we'd see a number of fresh new Sino-Italian bikes on the market. This hasn't happened, but the new Benelli BN600 is a positive sign and represents a 'safe' option for the bike maker, as middleweight naked bikes are hugely popular in Europe, Benelli's primary market.

Suspension for the bike comprises 50mm upside-down forks and basic rear shock mounted to the right of the frame, while 320mm radial front brakes appear to be clamped by four-pot calipers.

The entry-level Benelli naked bike appears to be an 'affordable' model and is likely to be offered in Australia in late 2013.
The BN600 has a 16 litre fuel tank, 17-inch wheels and is offered in white, black and orange colours.

TOTALMOTORCYCLES.COM REVIEWS WITH THE TECH SPEC!

2013 Benelli BN600

Innate Talent...

Talent, ambition, sporting appeal. Here is the new Benelli 600cc: BN 600, the long awaited four-cylinder bike of the Pesaro-firm arrives to Italy with the aim to satisfy the wishes of the most demanding riders who also pay attention to price.

BN 600 is not the same old 600. The heart of the BN 600 is its innovative inline four-cylinder 4 stroke engine, liquid cooled, double overhead camshaft and 4 valves for each cylinder. The engine, with electronic injection and four ø 38 mm throttle bodies, delivers a power of 82 hp (60 kW) @ 11.500 rpm and max. torque of 52 Nm @ 10.500 rpm. Wet sump lubrication, wet clutch, 6 speeds gearbox and final chain drive. A successful recipe conceived and developed meticulously over the years to get a smooth and compact engine to entertain even the less skilled riders.

Rough edges, energetic and slender, BN 600 boasts essential, extremely aggressive features. The strong point of this new Benelli is the comfortable riding position, which makes handling easy and agile, allowing the racer to focus entirely on sheer enjoyment. The sound of BN 600 is unmistakably unique, genuine Benelli.

The naked frame is made of an upfront steel trestle and an aluminium structure at the rear suspension link, a guarantee of reliability under all circumstances. Suspension system is made of an upside-down front fork ø 50mm and a rear aluminium alloy swingarm with rear shock absorber in extension hydraulic and spring preload adjustment to tackle uneven pavements with total ease.

Top quality braking system with front ø 320 mm twin floating disk and radial callipers and rear ø 240 mm single disk with double piston calliper. Aluminium alloy 17’’ rims with 120/70 and 180/55 tyres, which ensure safety even in the most difficult situations, and 15L fuel tank.

BN 600 is presented in the colours white, black, orange and grey and will be available starting by mid-2013 at a really competitive price.

4 cylinders in line, 4-stroke, liquid cooled , 4 valves for cylinder double overhead camshaft
60 kW (82 cv) @ 11500 rpm MAX. TORQUE
52 Nm (5,3 kgm) @ 10500 rpm

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MSRP Price: See dealer for pricing
DISPLACEMENT 600 c.c. 
BORE x STROKE 65 x 45,2 mm 
COMPRESSION RATIO 11,5:1 
RATED OUTPUT 60 kW (82 cv) @ 11500 rpm 
MAX. TORQUE 52 Nm (5,3 kgm) @ 10500 rpm 
LUBRICATION Wet sump 
FUEL SUPPLY Electronic fuel injection with four throttle bodies ø38 mm 
EXHAUST SYSTEM With two catalytic converters and four oxygen sensors 
CERTIFICATION Euro 3 
CLUTCH Wet clutch 
GEARBOX 6 speeds 
PRIMARY DRIVE 44/82 
GEAR RATIO 1° – 13/37
2° - 19/37
3° - 18/28
4° - 24/32
5° - 21/25
6° - 24/26 
FINAL DRIVE Chain drive, ratio 14:46 
SPARK PLUG NGK CR9E 
STARTING ELECTRIC 
FRONT SUSPENSION Ø50 mm upside-down forks 
FRONT SUSPENSION STROKE 120 mm 
REAR SUSPENSION Rear swing arm in aluminum alloy, rear shock absorber with extension hydraulic and spring preload adjustment 
REAR SUSPENSION STROKE 123 mm 
FRONT BRAKE Double floating disk ø320 mm with radial calipers 
REAR BRAKE Single disc ø240 mm with double piston caliper 
FRONT RIM TYPE Aluminum alloy 
FRONT RIM DIMENSIONS E 17” x 3.50” DOT-D 
REAR RIM TYPE Aluminum alloy 
REAR RIM DIMENSION E 17” x 5.50” DOT-D 
FRONT TYRE 120/70-ZR17 58W 
REAR TYRE 180/55-ZR17 73W 
DIMENSIONS
WIDHT EXCLUDING MIRRORS 800 mm 
HEIGHT EXCLUDING MIRRORS 1180 mm 
PILOT SEAT HEIGHT 800 mm 
PASSENGER SEAT HEIGHT 940 mm 
WHEELBASE 1430 mm 
GROUND CLEARANCE** 180 mm 
TRAIL N.D. 
STEERING PIPE ANGLE N.D. 
UNLADEN WEIGHT** 208 kg 
ROAD READY WEIGHT** 220 kg 
PERMITTED TOTAL WEIGHT 370 kg 
USABLE TANK VOLUME 15 lt 
RESERVE 4 lt

2013 Benelli BN600 Features and Benefits

ENGINE

RATED OUTPUT

Benelli revealed its new generation BN 600cc, a four cylinder motorcycle designed for speed enthusiasts. This model features an innovative liquid cooled, inline four-cylinder 4 stroke engine with double overhead camshaft and 4 valves for each cylinder.

The engine also features electronic injection and four 38 mm throttle bodies, delivering a power of 82 hp (60 kW) @ 11.500 rpm and 52 Nm of torque @ 10.500 rpm. Other technical highlights include wet sump lubrication, wet clutch, 6 speeds gearbox and final chain drive.

Apart from its sporty engine, the bike is also offered with a tasty design language and top notch ergonomics. All components are mounted on a solid frame with an upfront steel trestle and an aluminium structure at the rear suspension link. The ride quality is assured by a front upside-down front fork 50mm and a rear aluminium alloy swingarm with rear shock absorber.

Talent, ambition, sporting appeal. Here is the new Benelli 600cc: BN 600, the long awaited four-cylinder bike of the Pesaro-firm arrives to Italy with the aim to satisfy the wishes of the most demanding riders who also pay attention to price.

The heart of the BN 600 is its innovative inline four-cylinder 4 stroke engine, liquid cooled, double overhead camshaft and 4 valves for each cylinder. Rough edges, energetic and slender, BN 600 boasts essential, extremely aggressive features. The strong point of this new Benelli is the comfortable riding position, which makes handling easy and agile, allowing the racer to focus entirely on sheer enjoyment. The sound of BN 600 is unmistakably unique, genuine Benelli.

The naked frame is made of an upfront steel trestle and an aluminium structure at the rear suspension link, a guarantee of reliability under all circumstances. Suspension system is made of an upside-down front fork 50mm and a rear aluminium alloy swingarm with rear shock absorber in extension hydraulic and spring preload adjustment to tackle uneven pavements with total ease.

Top quality braking system with front 320 mm twin floating disc and radial callipers and rear 240 mm single disc with double piston calliper. Aluminium alloy rims with 120/70 and 180/55 tyres, which ensure safety even in the most difficult situations, and 15L fuel tank.

2013 Benelli BN600 - International Specifications/Technical Details

ENGINE

TYPE 4 cylinders in line, 4-stroke, liquid cooled , 4 valves for cylinder double overhead camshaft 

ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT

IGNITION DELPHI MT05 

CHASSIS

FRAME Decomposable frame, front steel trestle, rear aluminium alloy casting 

LENGHT 2160 mm 

FIRST RIDE OF BENELLI 600

First Ride: Benelli BN600 

The global debut of the Benelli BN600, manufactured in China by the historic Italian marque's owner Qianjiang (pronounced "Chin-jung," but called simply QJ by all its staff), has finally kicked off the long-awaited revival of Italy's oldest motorcycle company that celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011. But as the first-ever four-cylinder bike made in China, albeit designed and developed in Italy, it marks a significant landmark in the evolution of the Chinese motorcycle industry, and is certain to be the forerunner of an increasingly irresistible attack on Western markets by manufacturers from the People's Republic. 


Since purchasing Benelli in December 2005, QJ's ambitious plans to relaunch the brand had stalled in the face of uncertainty caused by the global economic downturn. But the ongoing slump in the Chinese home market, caused by the ban on any non-electric motorcycle being ridden in all but one of China's 167 largest cities, saw QJ's 5500 employees build "just" 800,000 motorcycles and scooters last year. This represents a significant drop from the 1.5 million units produced three years ago by its then 8000-strong workforce. And, like many of its Chinese rivals, it's caused QJ to pay increased attention to export sales - an area where many of them are struggling to compete against the single-cylinder products of Indian manufacturers, which are more closely focused on quality than their Chinese rivals, while still sharply priced.


The decision to develop the BN600 was one of the first made by its president Lin Hua Zhong, as part of his strategy to position QJ as a contender in the global marketplace by acquiring an existing Western two-wheeled brand. The plan was to then use its product development expertise to produce a technically and stylistically more sophisticated range of motorcycles to be manufactured in China. So, as Benelli's chief engineer Stefano Michelotti confirms, this meant that when the project kicked off in 2006, the BN600 was designed and initially developed in Italy in collaboration with QJ engineers - then transferred to China for final pre-production development. This meant that Benelli tester Gianluca Galasso covered countless test miles riding the prototype bike in the open on public roads, carefully disguised as a well-worn Honda Hornet that nobody would give a second look.


"To begin with, it was difficult to work with Chinese engineers, not only with the language difficulties, but also because we were each accustomed to pursuing different objectives in creating a new design," says Michelotti. "But little by little we understood each other's strengths, and now the collaboration is fantastic. It bodes well for the future, with other projects."

So in finally following Lin's strategy, QJ has now exploited the crucial advantage this has yielded it versus its Chinese rivals, in terms of the technical expertise needed to develop a four-cylinder motorcycle that allows it to compete directly on the world stage with Japanese and European products - but with a crucial edge on price. 


The BN600 is the first product QJ has built that's over 250cc in capacity, and the Italian company's female CEO Yan Haimei has confirmed this to be the first of several new models bearing the Benelli badge. All of them will be engineered jointly by QJ and Benelli technicians, then manufactured in China to reduce costs. This results in a prestige model for developing markets - including China itself, where 3000 examples of the BN600 have already been sold since its home market debut one year ago - before it's upgraded with European hardware in Benelli's Pesaro factory to meet the demands of customers in more mature markets, while remaining affordable.

THE NEW BENELLI TNT/BN 600 4 INLINE SUPERBIKES

THE NEW BENELLI TNT/BN 600 4 INLINE SUPERBIKES

From manufacturing shotguns to making race-winning motorcycles, the ingredients of the Benelli brand’s story are in many ways similar to the ones you find in the makings of a gripping soap opera. If anything, it is one that is truly Italian in nature. Today, a Chinese conglomerate called the Qianjiang Group (QJ Group) owns the brand, but Benelli bikes still retains that unique Italian flair, and this is proven with its latest offering, the Tornado 600 naked.

Before we get into the Tornado 600, here is a brief history of Benelli. One of Italy’s oldest motorcycle brand names, Benelli was founded in 1911 and produced its first motorcycle in 1919. After the death of her husband, owner and widow Teresa Benelli invested all her savings into the family business, putting all six of her sons to work in it at a very early age. A wise choice at the time, their hard work was about to produce some golden moments.

Teresa’s youngest son, Tonino, raced the bikes that his family built, riding a Benelli 175 to win the Italian Championships in 1927, 1928, 1930, and 1931. Solidifying its status as a true performance motorcycle maker, 250cc Benelli motorcycles went on to dominate its class at the infamous Isle of Man TT races in 1939, 1950, and 1969. The Benelli brand also triumphed in the 250cc MotoGP class, winning the championship titles in 1950 and 1969.

However, like many other two-wheeled brands, the Benelli fame and fortune have waned and waxed itself over time. During the 1970s and 1980s, Benelli positioned itself as a premium motorcycle brand; even making sophisticated models that had six-cylinder engine before reaching its modern day renaissance in 2003 with the Tornado Tre 900 supersports. After that, the brand remained somewhat dormant until the QJ Group acquired it back in 2005.

It is without a doubt that the business of making motorcycles is in fact a difficult one. A quick look through the business world’s ‘top 50’ list of brand names and you will find at least several car brands, but no motorcycle brands. These lists prove that making a line of tasty pastries, or even producing childcare products could rake in higher profits. However, our theory to why some still press on the business is simple: as long as there are passionate motorcycle enthusiasts owning, operating, or working at bike brands, then these outfits will continue its efforts at making a name for itself in a challenging and niche field.

Which brings us to the Tornado 600 we picked up not too long ago. The Benelli brand’s latest offering comes in the form of a naked bike, and it features a liquid-cooled 600cc in-line four. The engine is equipped with double overhead camshaft, an electronic fuel injection system with four 38mm throttle bodies, and four valves per cylinder. The mill also features a wet-sump lubrication, and is connected to a six-speed transmission primed with a wet clutch system.

It is not the most powerful in its class, developing only 82hp and 52Nm of torque. However, the engine makes up for this well enough with its sheer smoothness in its operation. It does require a lot of revs to hit its peak torque, and does feel more engaging at the higher RPM range. For us, it was simply another reason to just keep the throttle wide open at all times, making the Tornado 600 a little more interesting to say the least.

Minus the signature Benelli front headlamp cover design, one could easily mistaken the Tornado 600 for an Aprilia Shiver as they both look surprisingly similar. The Tornado 600 is exceptionally good looking, especially with this test bike’s red paintjob finish over the exposed steel trellis frame that sports an aluminium swing arm. Despite being under Chinese ownership, the amount of admiring eyes we got riding it around town proved to us that it still retains that Italian zest and charm with its looks.

At the front, the Tornado 600 utilises a pair of inverted 50mm telescopic forks, paired with a single shock absorber sitting offset in the rear with preload adjustability. While they compliantly do their job, the front forks could use some improvement as it felt very bland and average in our hands. The same can be said about its brakes as they had the tendency to judder quite often. The Tornado is equipped using a pair of 320mm twin floating discs with radial calipers at the front, whilst its rear is primed with a 240mm single disc with a dual piston caliper. Minor faults aside, we found that the Tornado 600’s chassis setup does perform well enough for both urban daily commutes, and the occasional out-of-town trips. Suffice to say, it does not disappoint.

For now, it is difficult to predict whether the Tornado 600 would aid Benelli with its plans of rising back to the top of the motorcycle game. We say this because firstly, the bike has not been launched in our market just yet, but the firm tells us that this will happen “very soon”. Secondly, the Tornado 600’s estimated starting price between RM32,000 to RM34,000 puts its squarely in the territory of the Kawasaki ER-6 and Yamaha XJ6 – the two top favourites in the highly competitive mid-level performance bikes category.

One thing is for certain though, unlike the aforementioned Japanese rivals, the Benelli brand has a strong history backing it up. Furthermore, we cannot think of any other Italian brand of the same performance category that bears an affordable price tag the Tornado 600 potentially would. Italian style and a unique heritage priced affordability? A promising prospect indeed.