The main aim of the TNT 300 is to quench the thirst of a biker who has a limited budget. Now Benelli’s TNT family follows a very flashy and eye catching design, but in the case of the 300 it’s more of an old school naked bike. The 300cc liquid-cooled engine does manage to pack a decent punch. With an output of 37bhp, it picks up pace fairly quickly. The acceleration is very smooth, and certainly feels more refined than some of the other Benelli’s in this ensemble. In Sarath’s hands, it lapped the BIC in a 2:51.7 – which is very impressive.
The downside, in a sense, is that the exhaust note sounds so good that it makes you feel as though you’re riding faster than you actually are. The speedometer brings you down to reality – but, for its segment, the TNT is certainly quite a fast bike.
It does have some limitations though, and you get to experience this when you downshift and accelerate – the rev needle doesn’t climb as fast as you would like. This means that it’s quite measured when exiting tight corners, rather than explosive – which is what you’re looking for in a bike of this nature.
The TNT 300’s design is pretty striking, but it does come across as a small capacity bike that’s trying to look like a Ducati Monster. But the visible frame design is brilliant, as it brings out its sporty flavour and adds some typical Italian style. It comes with stylish 12-spoke alloy wheels and a smartly designed under-belly exhaust. But the TNT 300’s large fairing beside the tank looks a little tacky.
The riding position is more on the sporty side, with your feet placed behind the knees – which does allow you to control the bike better. The high handlebar allows the rider to place his hands comfortably without putting too much weight on the wrists. The seat too is very comfortable.
Overall, the Benelli TNT 300 is a decent bike – it looks good, but looking at it you expect slightly better performance than it offers. It is comfortable too, but not as refined as it ought to be – especially considering its price tag of Rs. 2.9 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Delhi).
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