Benelli 1130 TRE-K AMAZONAS 2015 — Specifications

Starting from São Paulo with 1130 cm3 of a three-cylinder engine that rumbles beneath the tank and 14,000 km of Brazilian jungle ahead of you—that’s the kind of project that separates the motorcyclists who talk about it from those who do it. The Benelli TRE-K Amazonas takes its name from this very real adventure, undertaken by a rider who crossed Brazil in thirteen stages on a TRE-K modified to handle the red tracks and ford rivers. The production series that followed does not claim to reproduce this feat, but it captures its echo.

Mechanically, we remain on the standard TRE-K, this three-cylinder engine from Pesaro that develops 126 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and a torque of 111.8 Nm available from 5,000 rpm. These figures place the Benelli in a distinctly sportier register than its adventure-oriented rivals, such as a BMW F 800 GS or a Triumph Tiger 800, which prioritize versatility over brute power. Here, the engine pulls hard, linearly, with a triple sound that has its unconditional followers. The six-speed gearbox follows without complaint, and the announced top speed of 200 km/h feels quite believable. In 2012, Benelli revised the injection to gain flexibility at low openings and limit consumption, which makes the machine more manageable in everyday use without affecting its character.

What distinguishes the Amazonas from the classic TRE-K lies in a few well-chosen details. Spoked wheels replace cast wheels, shod with knobby tires that better accept degraded surfaces. Handguards protect the levers in tight passages. Petal brake discs, 320 mm at the front with four-piston calipers and 255 mm at the rear, add an aggressive visual touch while maintaining good resistance to overheating. These are not profound transformations, but they are consistent with the desired image. The 48 mm inverted fork and the single rear shock absorber offer 175 and 180 mm of travel respectively, which remains honest for trail riding, even if purists of off-road prefer a KTM 1190 Adventure or a BMW R 1200 GS in this chapter.

The real subject is the weight. With 240 kg fully fueled, the Benelli carries a few extra kilos to venture truly off the beaten path. The 840 mm seat also doesn’t facilitate foot placement in technical passages, even if the suspensions revised in 2012 have helped to slightly reduce the ride height. This trail is made for winding roads, deserted national highways, mountain passes where the three-cylinder engine can express itself without constraint. On this terrain, it is convincing. The 22-liter tank offers serious range to swallow the kilometers without stopping too often, and the steel tube trellis frame with cast elements provides sufficient rigidity to manage the available power.

At 14,595 euros, the TRE-K Amazonas targets an audience of experienced motorcyclists, sensitive to the originality and mechanical character of a three-cylinder engine, rather than the universal practicality of large touring machines. It is not the most accomplished motorcycle in its category, nor the lightest, nor the most accessible off-road. But it possesses an identity that few of its competitors can claim, built around a communicative engine and a true story. For those seeking a motorcycle with personality rather than a simple means of transportation, the argument holds water.