Benelli TNT 1130 Cafe Racer 2011 — Specifications

When Benelli decides to play the style card without sacrificing the mechanics, the result is the TNT 1130 in its most seductive variant. The Benelli TNT 1130 Cafe Racer occupies a precise territory within the Italian lineup: it sits between the Sport version and the Titanium, but claims its own visual and dynamic identity, built for those who want to be seen as much as they want to ride fast.

The difference starts in your hands. Clip-on handlebars replace the standard bar, lowering the riding position and pushing the rider forward into a decidedly aggressive stance. Three kilograms less on the scales too, which is no small thing on a machine that tips the scales at 215 kg fully fuelled. The front ASD steel trellis frame, complemented by an aluminium alloy rear subframe, forms a disassemblable structure that eases maintenance while maintaining serious rigidity. The forged aluminium Marchesini wheels contribute to reducing unsprung mass, and you feel it in the transitions between corners.

On the equipment front, Benelli spared no effort in dressing this model. Reworked front mudguard, single-seat carbon fibre tail unit, raised screen for a minimum of protection at high speed, eccentric-adjustable footpegs, upside-down fork with anti-friction treated tubes, and an improved rear shock absorber. The package comes together coherently, faithful to café racer aesthetic codes, without tipping into lounge-room retro styling or over-decoration. On a used Benelli TNT 1130 Cafe Racer, check the condition of these specific parts carefully as they are expensive to replace.

The engine, meanwhile, hasn't changed one iota. The 1131 cc inline three-cylinder delivers 137 hp at 9,500 rpm and 110 Nm at 7,750 rpm, with a short 62 mm bore that gives it a distinctly high-revving character. The 11.9:1 compression ratio has no tolerance for low-grade fuel. Benelli simply added a Termignoni exhaust, ensuring the soundtrack matches the visual spectacle. Compared to a Triumph Speed Triple 1050 or a Ducati Streetfighter of the same era, the three-cylinder boasts a distinctive sound — less brutal than the Bolognese transverse twin, more meaty than a Japanese four-cylinder. The six-speed gearbox manages the distribution of those 137 hp to the rear wheel via chain drive, with a claimed top speed of 240 km/h that few riders will ever verify on public roads.

That 14,490 euro price tag in 2011 clearly targeted a mature, experienced buyer, as sensitive to design as to outright performance. Not a beginner's motorcycle: the low 780 mm seat height reassures on initial acquaintance, but those 137 hp demand respect. The 17-litre tank provides reasonable range for spirited use without the constant constraint of fuel stops. The TNT 1130 Cafe Racer remains an atypical proposition on the used market today, carried by the relative scarcity of the brand in France and by an aesthetic that hasn't aged a day.