According to a media report, Benelli will be upgrading its TNT 600i to BSVI norms as the deadline on the strict emission standards closes in, which is set to be implemented from 1st April 2020. Many manufacturers have either discontinued their products citing the upgrade costs to the new stringent norms would make the products expensive and repel buyers, while others are looking for alternatives. But Benelli is likely to upgrade the engine to conform to the new norms. Launched in 2015 and with only one ABS upgrade in 2017 the bike has largely remained unchanged. The Benelli TNT 600i continues to be the most affordable inline-4-cylinder motorcycle powered by a 600cc engine at the price of INR 6.20 lakh ex-showroom.
The Benelli TNT 600i is powered by a 600cc, Inline-4-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, liquid-cooled, 16-valve engine with a pressure splash lubrication system that develops 85.07 BHP of power and 54.6 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed transmission. The Benelli TNT 600i is loved to its 4-cylinder exhaust symphony, and that is a huge selling point for the motorcycle. Apart from this, the bike does not really have any tricks up its sleeve, and is also quite heavy even compared to litre-class naked sportsbikes.
The frame is a Bassinet type steel trellis and rides on inverted telescopic forks on the front and a hydraulic monoshock on the rear. The brakes are twin hydraulically operated discs on the front and a single disc on the rear equipped with a dual-channel ABS. The bike gets 17-inch aluminium alloy wheel shod in Pirelli – 120/70 17 M/C 58 W front and Pirelli – 180/55 17 M/C 73 W tubeless tyres.
While BSVI upgrades are likely to bump up the bikes price and it is being speculated that the price hike will not be substantial and Benelli will remain affordable and within reach.