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1000
ABS LAUN
CH
TAMES THE
BENELLI
BN600R!
07/1
07/14
14
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2WHEELS 42 COVER_CMYK.indd 1
7/05/14 3:07 PM
ROAD TEST
BENELLI BN600R
N
O
S
S
E
L
....
D
E
N
LEAR
,
petitive price lings.
m
o
c
ly
g
in
z
a
e sib
n am
e in at such aignificantly more expensiv
m
o
c
s
a
h
0
0
Benelli’s BN6 and looks to match its s
with the style , pics by ?? and Benelli.
eve Martin
Words by St
010
2W
010-016 BENELLI.indd 010
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011
2W
010-016 BENELLI.indd 011
12/05/14 4:04 PM
ROAD TEST
BENELLI BN600R
called Pesaro
ack in 1911 in a town
Adriatic
lian
Ita
on the beautiful
rs opened
the
bro
li
nel
Be
coast, the
p.
rksho It was just
a small mechanical wo
t the six brothers
bu
t
a repair shop at firs
nkers. It was 1921
turned out to be big thi
de their first bike
before they finally ma
98. In the last
era
egg
called the MotoL
water has passed
hundred years, a lot of
Italian marque
the
under the bridge for
e failure along
som
and
s
ces
with some suc
ence back
urg
res
the way. Benelli made
and the
0
90
do
rna
in 2001 with the To
competed
and
rld
wo
the
on
k
company too
ship
ion
mp
cha
in the world superbike
int until
po
t
tha
m
Fro
s.
ces
with limited suc
make
to
g
lin
strugg
recently, Benelli were
ly
bab
pro
s
wa
ed
ends meet. Going nak
rs thought
the
bro
li
nel
Be
the
the last thing
ce of their
would be the saving gra
times with the
n
der
company but in mo
and now with
es
bik
ed
nak
of
TNT range
that Benelli are
ms
the BN600 range, it see
tury.
cen
r
the
ano
here to stay for
de a nu mb er
ma
has
e
rqu
ma
n
lia
Th e Ita
tio ns ov er
ura
fig
con
of dif fer ent eng ine
B
t I learnt about
The first interesting fac
satile the
ver
w
ho
t
jus
s
the BN600 wa
the Australian
bike is. It comes on to
s; the R and the
del
market with two mo
is equipped
del
mo
R
um
I. The premi
front forks and a
with Marzocchi 50mm
shock absorber,
r
rea
high quality Sachs
kes up front.
plus a set of Brembo bra
high quality
y
The I model is still a ver
li made brakes
nel
Be
s
lize
machine but uti
are three colour
and suspension. There
h red, black and
wit
th
combinations of bo
ause then we
bec
all
t
no
t’s
tha
white, but
del
mo s of these
have the learner Lams
r models from one
fou
ht
rig
versions. That’s
ent enough to appeal
bike and all just differ
buyers.
of
to a broad spectrum
e wa s the 60 0R
rid
to
se
cho
Th e bik e I
ali ty and fin ish
wit h 60 Kw on tap . Qu
fro m the all oy
ss
cla
of thi s BN is firs t
de fin ish sea t.
sue
the
to
gh
bar s thr ou
o as yo u wo uld
Pa int and fin ish is als
sta llio n, per fec t.
n
lia
Ita
exp ect fro m an
Be nel li wit h a fro nt
Th e fra me is typ ica l
to a rea r alu mi nu m
ste el tre llis ma ted up
tic ula r ben efi t
cas tin g. Th ere is no par
E
IV
G
O
T
R
E
H
T
E
G
O
T
D
E
K
THE R WOR
ND
A
G
IN
L
E
E
F
T
N
E
ID
F
N
O
C
A
ME
Y
L
N
O
T
A
H
T
G
IN
L
E
E
F
A
’S
THAT
S
A
H
E
N
O
E
M
O
S
N
E
H
W
S
COME
S
D
R
A
Y
D
R
A
H
F
O
T
O
L
A
DONE
E.
G
A
K
C
A
P
E
H
T
G
IN
P
O
L
E
V
E
D
in thi s fas hio n
for ma kin g the fra me
n
mo
com
st
mo
li con cep t
the
i a tra de ma rk Be nel
its
it his tor y wit h trip les
bu
b t it is
eff ort
the
of
st
ben efi ts
t
mo
th
bes
Wi
the
in rec ent tim es.
tha t do es giv e yo u
N
las t dec ade ,
s. Th e BN
gie
the
olo
for
hn
le
tec
trip
th
the
bo
o
pu t int
fro m mi xin g
the
c
w
ec
ho
ort
Sp
see
to
ler
d
tze
Me
I wa s rea lly int ere ste
com es sta nd ard wit h
fro nt
sta cke d up to the
the usu al 12 0/7 0/1 7
h
wit
fou r-c yli nd er BN 60 0
es
tyr
to try
eas y to ma ke an
t
got
I
no
r.
It’s
rea
n.
7
itio
5/1
pet
0/5
com
and a 18
fro m the get -go ,
th we t and dry
eng ine and get it rig ht
the se Me tze ler s in bo
t
tha
is
t
fac
e
Th
le.
iab
py wit h the
rel
it
hap
s
ke
wa
ma
let alo ne
con dit ion s and
ly a new des ign ,
ack I rec eiv ed,
ual
db
act
t
fee
no
is
and
l
ine
fee
eng
of
the
am ou nt
the bac k
on
had
e
Me lbo urn e
of
hav
y
le
dd
tor
it’s on e the fac
esp eci all y in the mi
rs and the
yea
ng. Th e
of
rni
er
mo
mb
ay
nu
a
urd
Sat
for
bu rne r
on a gre asy
e
cop
to
ed
ign
ll and
des
we
lly
s
ssi
bo nu s is it wa s ini tia
tyr es ma tch ed the cha
t the cur ren t
tpu
wo uld
ou
u
yo
the
l
le
fee
ub
of
do
t
wit h alm ost
gav e me the sor
I, tha t me ans a
val ue.
its
and
u
ice
yo
tw
r
e
Fo
.
bik
a
has
m
mo del
exp ect fro
m the get -go !
sol id, rel iab le do nk fro
012
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010-016 BENELLI.indd 012
12/05/14 4:05 PM
013
2W
010-016 BENELLI.indd 013
12/05/14 4:05 PM
ROAD TEST
BENELLI BN600R
for an inl ine
bec aus e at tho se pri ces
e it had
bik
the
on
chi ne, som eth ing
sat
ma
t
er
firs
I
ind
Wh en
Ita lia n fou r cyl
h
wit
it
to
ty
ali
qu
a fee l of lux ury and
can ’t be rig ht.
s han gin g wh ere
Po we rsp ort s to
no che ap or tac ky bit
I hea ded off fro m FX
kp it is ver y
coc
e
Th
li had ma de
nel
be.
Be
n’t
w
uld
ho
t
sho
the y
try fig ure ou
,
edo
spe
l
ita
dig
ce wit ho ut
ck,
pri
clo
t
fun cti on al wit h a
thi s mo tor cyc le for tha
ho tak ing
tac
l
oo
sch
old
and
fue l gau ge
cut tin g cor ner s.
e lig hts are har d
e to ride and the
up the pri me spa ce. Th
The BN is an easy bik
can
rs
she
fla
ard
nd was how
haz
sta
of
der
wir ed and a set
first thing I could un
ht sw itc h blo ck.
rig
LAMS bike.
the
at
m
gre
fro
a
ed
be
uat
be act
this bike would
the
ut
abo
tly
the first
tan
for
p
Th e thi ng I lik ed ins
Taking off from the sho
use .
of
e
eas
enough
h
the
s
wit
wa
air
t
aff
ou
coc kp it lay
time was a simple
pri ses to try
to give an
sur
tor
den
mo
hid
and
no
tch
re
clu
we
Th ere
feel from the
to
ngs
thi
traffic.
get
the
to
to
w
in
t
and fig ure ou t ho
effortless transition ou
ve its
re.
abo
the
es
all
nch
t
pu
jus
s
tor
wa
wo rk, it
The little 600 mo
s
ort
rsp
que
we
tor
Po
of
ount
Wh en Ala n fro m FX
weight with a good am
,I
BN
Most
the
ve.
ut
cur
r
abo
we
me
po
g
sta rte d tel lin
down low and a flat
den in
a bik e wo rth
rid
e
on
g
hav
I
tin
s
get
red
s
nd
wa
I
hu
d
fig ure
inline four six
Ita lia n, inl ine fou r,
going until they
abo ut fift een gra nd ,
the past don’t really get
ich
wh
es
eti
nic
er
oth
which is great
the
s,
all
rev
Bre mb o and
really get up in the
can
u
yo
so
s,
thi
not really suitable
com e wit h a bik e lik e
for the race track but
ure s
fig
the
en
wh
se
pri
is certainly not
im agi ne my sur
for the road. The BN
90 for the
0,9
$1
and
I
ndard exhaust
sta
the
the
for
0
ed
of $9 99
like that. I lov
ch
cat
a
be
to
had
R we re sta ted . Th ere
e growl and to be
note too. It gives a nic
e,
ne,
s going to buy on
honest, I think if I wa
to
led
pel
com
l
fee
I probably wouldn’t
tem.
change the standard sys
the erg on om ics
n,
tow
gh
ou
thr
ing
Rid
I wa s qu ite
and
t
are we ll tho ugh t ou
ch to the
rea
e
nic
a
h
wit
le
com for tab
fic
the tra ffic
gh
rou
bar s and foo t peg s. Th
to
ded
nee
I
t
bu
d
goo
the mi rro rs we re
re
we
re
the
t
st tha
get use d to the m to tru
as
t
fec
per
re
we
no bli nd spo ts. Bra kes
h the Bre mb os and
yo u wo uld exp ect wit
n.. It’s
in my op ini on
wo rth the ext ra gra nd
t
bu
dry
the
in
kes
bra
on e thi ng tes tin g
n
en
wh
and tha t’s
in the we t is ano the r
he
ing beh ind the
son
rea
the
od
sto
der
I un
I stil l
,
on
cti
tra
s
les
lot
a
R mo del . Wi th
mo re im po rta ntl y
had goo d con tro l bu t
bra ke pac kag e
and
e
the sus pen sio n, tyr
to giv e me
er
eth
tog
d
rke
of the R wo
ly
nly
lin
fee g tha t on
a con fid ent fee lin g, a
of
lot
ot
a
ne
do
has
e
eon
com es wh en som
e.
kag
g the pac
har d yar ds dev elo pin
014
2W
010-016 BENELLI.indd 014
12/05/14 4:05 PM
IS
S
S
A
H
C
E
H
T
D
E
H
C
T
A
M
S
E
THE TYR
F
O
T
R
O
S
E
H
T
E
M
E
V
A
G
D
N
WELL A
A
M
O
R
F
T
C
E
P
X
E
D
L
U
O
W
U
FEEL YO
BIKE TWICE ITS VALUE.
ety fiv e ou t
I gav e the fue lin g nin
litt le bit of
a
t
jus
h
wit
red
of a hu nd
ott le at hig h
thr
sna tch on and off the
rs tha t I
bea
g
bu
my
of
rpm . It’s on e
lin
t fee g fro m
lik e an abs olu te per fec
lik e to pu sh
ays
alw
the thr ott le and I
nar ios to
sce
ed
ect
exp
un
a bik e int o
gue ssi ng
I’m
ts.
try and fin d we ak spo
up bu t if
it
k
pic
n’t
uld
mo st peo ple wo
eth ing
som
rk on
Be nel li nee ded to wo
ld
cou
y
the
a
are
tha t’s pro bab ly the
im pro ve on .
the hil ls I
As I hea ded ou t in to
g and
llin
fue
for got all abo ut the
on the
f
sel
my
ed
oy
enj
y
tho rou ghl
I had
d
un
gro
BN . I rod e the sam e
ple of
cou
a
R
30
11
rid den the TN T
the top
ugh
ho
alt
and
r
lie
ear
mo nth s
vid es
pro
nly
tai
of the ran ge TN T cer
b ttter in
s bet
mo re thr ill, the BN wa
fro nt for ks
a few key are as. Th e
ren ’t as we ll
we
e
on the big ger bik
BN and the
le
litt
the
as
d
con tro lle
re fee l to
mo
rea r bra ke had a lot
ens ive
exp
re
mo
ger
it tha n its big
d the
dle
han
BN
e
Th
r.
bro the
ble nat ure
cur ves we ll wit h a sta
ty
nas
any
get
and I did n’t
Cr uis ing
.
me
at
n
ow
thr
ses
sur pri
als o
s
wa
red
at a ste ady hu nd
k of
lac
s
e
bik
e
.Th
do
eas y to
thi ng in
d
goo
fai rin g is act ual ly a
nd red
hu
a
kes
ma
my mi nd as it
ugh
ho
alt
ugh
eno
t
fee l fas
mo re on
ob vio usl y the re’ s a lot
it.
d
nee
r
eve
tap if yo u
’t
The engine itself doesn
le
trip
the
of
give the vibration
015
2W
010-016 BENELLI.indd 015
12/05/14 4:05 PM
ROAD TEST
BENELLI BN600R
ND THAT AREA
I WAS STILL TRYING TO FI
RING
B
TO
T
S
O
C
T
U
C
D
A
H
LI
EL
WHERE BEN
UCH A
S
T
A
ET
K
R
A
M
E
TH
TO
N
O
THE BIKE
ULDN’T.
COMPETITIVE PRICE. I CO have more of an
Benelliss but it does
se bikes
feeell than most Japane
live fee
aliv
o find the
als
I
t.
pas
I’ve ridden in the
ealing and
app
lly
tica
the
aes
lf
motor itse
g nature
kin
loo
e
it adds to the aggressiv
d back
hea
to
d
rte
sta
I
of the beast. As
BN
the
h
e wit
to suburbia and my tim
ing
try
l
stil
s
wa
I
,
co ing to an end
was com
cut
had
li
nel
Be
ere
wh
a
are
to find that
on to the market at
cost to bring the bike
ce. I couldn’t.
such a competitive pri
cheap it’s Italian and
it’s
e,
bik
What a great
one for less than ten
although you can have
will fool your friends
it
,
Grand for the I model
s like a bike twice its
because it looks and act
consider the BN to add
price. I would certainly
fect bike to throw
per
the
to my stable as it’s
out on the weekend.
in the shed and bring it
to be getting tougher
As economic times seem
h good quality well
Companies that react wit
ones which make
priced bikes will be the
has some good
elli
it through. I think Ben
ing now which
pen
hap
s
icie
marketing pol
to the future…2W
should see them well in
016
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