DSK Benelli 600 GT Test Drive Score Sheet

Like most hardcore motorcycle enthusiasts, all of us bike guys at autoX dreamt of owning superbikes when we were young – but, as we grew older, we started to appreciate naked variants. When the world was waking up to the idea of adventure motorcycling, we also moved on. The adventure tourer or sports tourer is perhaps our favourite category of bikes, and when we saw the Benelli TNT 600 GT we couldn’t help but stare at it for the longest time.

Its design does seem a little peculiar, and while some of us weren’t too impressed, the overall verdict was that the bike looked good – exceptionally unique in its own way. One look at the motorcycle and you know it was made to serve you in more ways than one. While it is essentially the same bike as the TNT600i, it has a completely different design. The half fairing gives a nice touring look, the projector headlamp and a wide comfortable seat gives you enough confidence to just jump on it and leave for anywhere that you fancy. And to make sure that you don’t need to make too many stops, the bike has a massive 27-litre fuel tank. The overall class and build quality is much better than the 600i.

The riding position is spot on for comfortable touring. Stretch your arms a little to reach out to the handlebar, and you’re rewarded with the comfort this category is known for. The engine also seems a lot more refined than the 600i, but the power delivery doesn’t have the same punch. Although, the power delivery is rewarding all through the rpm range till the very end, which is around 11,000rpm, it isn’t as menacing as the naked version. Twist the throttle a little too hard and it pushes you back, but doesn’t quite knock you out.

Despite being a bit heavy – weighing 243kgs – the bike is extremely easy to manage. It’s agile enough to be thrown around corners and its suspension setup, although soft, keeps the bike nicely planted. The Benelli 600 GT emerged as the ninth fastest bike at the BIC, which is pretty commendable considering the Triumph Tiger 800 took longer to finish a lap around the circuit.

We believe that this is indeed the best bike from the DSK Benelli stable. The engine is very smooth and a lot more refined than the other bikes. It’s also the most comfortable bike in the Beneli portfolio, and its overall quality is very good. The bike performs as well as it looks, and that’s probably why we liked it so much!

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