Benelli 1130 TRE-K 2010 — Specifications

Three cylinders, 1130 cc, a tubular frame resembling an industrial sculpture and the face of an alien from a B-series film. Benelli does nothing like everyone else, and the TRE-K is no exception to the rule. When Pesaro decided to graft its TnT triple cylinder onto a raised trail architecture, no one really knew which box to put the result in. Neither supermotard, nor road trail, nor roadster. A unique object, claimed as such.

On the roads winding around Misano Adriatico, the machine quickly finds its place. The 205 kg dry weight evaporates from the first corners, the 810 mm seat is not as intimidating as announced, and the upright position suits this type of build well. What immediately strikes you is the visual quality of some parts: the sculpted tank, the steel trellis frame, the tubular swingarm. Benelli knows how to make beautiful components. The problem is that other parts seem to have been assembled in a hurry. The side plastics vibrate, the screen trembles, the front mudguard agitates with every sharp acceleration. For a machine displayed at this price level, this lack of assembly rigor is irritating. Italian elegance has its limits when attention to detail is missing.

But the engine, it erases a good portion of these grievances. The three-cylinder develops 125 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 111.8 Nm of torque at 6750 rpm, and it does so with a generosity that even surprises TnT enthusiasts. From low revs, the power is there, dense and immediate. You open the throttle with respect, because the bike demands attention. The sound is brutal, organic, it climbs in the revs with a rare conviction. The dashboard offers two injection maps, the difference between the two modes is perceptible but modest. It doesn't matter, the engine takes care to convince on its own. Only notable downside: a few stumbles on throttle closure betray an injection that would benefit from a finer adjustment.

The original tires, mixed-profile Dunlop D270s, are the weak link in the whole. A few light rear slides on Italian roads are enough to understand that 125 horsepower deserve a top-of-the-line sport rubber. The braking, two 320 mm discs at the front with four-piston calipers, stops the machine effectively but lacks progressiveness. The rear, a 240 mm disc, quickly locks the wheel. Nothing dangerous, but a little more dosage would be welcome. In terms of practicality, the TRE-K reveals the classic drawbacks of Italian character bikes: difficult neutral to find, ergonomically hazardous center stand, non-existent under-seat storage, decorative mirrors. You are on a sensations bike, not a daily tool.

Yamaha TDM, Honda Varadero, KTM Adventure, forget these references. The TRE-K does not play in this category. It is aimed at the rider who wants the sharp temperament of a muscular roadster, wrapped in a trail bodywork to give himself a clear conscience when leaving a city. Not for the long journey, not for the track, but to twist national roads with conviction. At 9990 euros in a promotional 2010 version, or a significant discount on the original price, the offer deserves attention. The engine alone is worth the detour. Change the tires upon delivery, learn to live with the small imperfections of the frame, and you will have in your hands one of the most communicative machines of its generation.