Benelli Tre-K 1130K Amazonas 2009 — Specifications

What to do when you possess an engine as temperamental as the 1130 cm3 engine of the Benelli Tre-K, this three-cylinder that is both rough and generous? One could be content with building a nervous road bike, but the Italian factory chose a more off-road path. The Tre-K 1130 Amazonas is the 2009 version that claims to sniff out dirt roads, with a look of an adventurer and a sporty temperament disguised. With 123 horsepower and nearly 112 Nm of torque, we are far from a gentle trail bike. It is a motorcycle that weighs its 240 kilograms fully fueled, with a seat height of 84 cm that imposes a certain reach, and a 22-liter tank that promises autonomy. But is it really a machine for the jungle?

Let's look at it more closely. The steel trellis frame, the 48 mm inverted fork and the single shock absorber offer correct suspension travel, 175 mm at the front and 180 mm at the rear. The brakes, with two 320 mm discs at the front, are designed for asphalt. Spoked rims and 110/80-19 and 150/70-17 tires give it a capable look, but these are aesthetic concessions more than real transformations. The Amazonas is a Tre-K dressed for a role, with hand guards, petal discs and color accents. Under the disguise, the mechanics remain identical: the same 4-valve per cylinder engine, the same six-speed gearbox, the same chain transmission. For 13,360 euros at the time, you were buying mainly a story, that of a rider who had traveled 14,000 km in South America on a modified Tre-K base.

Compared to a BMW R 1200 GS of the time or even a Ducati Multistrada 1200, the Amazonas looks like a UFO. It has neither the agility of a true trail bike nor the comfort of a grand touring road bike. Its weight and center of gravity make it less easy in off-road conditions than a dedicated machine. On the other hand, on the road, its temperamental engine and lively chassis can provide raw sensations, provided you accept its demanding side. It hits 200 km/h without a flicker, but requires strength and commitment in tight corners.

So, who is the rider of this Benelli Tre-K 1130 Amazonas? Certainly not the beginner, nor the touring rider seeking ease. It is rather the enthusiast of atypical mechanics, the one who wants a motorcycle with a strong identity, capable of shining on the asphalt while displaying an adventurous style. It is a motorcycle with character, with the defects of its qualities: heavy, demanding in terms of effort, but with a personality that is sorely lacking in many sanitized trails. It will not conquer the Amazon, but it can still thrill those seeking something other than clinical perfection.