Top 10 Fastest Benelli Motorcycles Ranked by Top Speed
TL;DR
- The Benelli TNT 1130 Cafe Racer is the fastest production Benelli, with a manufacturer-derived top speed of approximately 167 mph (269 km/h) from a 135 hp inline-triple.
- The Tornado 1130 superbike reaches similar territory — estimated 155-160 mph — making it the fastest faired Benelli ever built.
- Benelli does not publish official top speed figures for any current or past model, so all figures here are manufacturer-derived spec database entries, press test reports, or owner-confirmed readings.
- The modern 752S and Leoncino 800 cap out around 118-124 mph — capable but not class leaders.
- This list covers the full production range across both the pre-Qianjiang era (Italian-engineered) and the current Chinese-owned lineup.
Benelli has been building motorcycles in Pesaro, Italy since 1911. Chinese group Qianjiang (QJ) acquired the brand in 2005, and today the bikes are designed with Italian input but built in China. That history matters here: the fastest Benellis ever made came from the 2003-2017 era, when the Tornado and TNT 1130 platform produced genuine superbike power in a naked package.
One data point upfront: Benelli does not publish official top speed figures. Every number in this list comes from spec databases (autoevolution, Motoplanete), press road test reports, or owner-verified speed readings. No GPS-instrumented independent testing data exists for these models via sources like MotoStatz. Each entry labels its source.
Top 10 Fastest Benelli Motorcycles: Full Rankings
| Rank | Model | Years | Engine | Power | Est. Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TNT 1130 Cafe Racer | 2008-2012 | 1,130cc inline-triple | 135 hp | ~167 mph (manufacturer spec) |
| 2 | Tornado 1130 | 2003-2014 | 1,130cc inline-triple | 161-165 hp | ~155-160 mph (press estimate) |
| 3 | TNT 1130R | 2013-2014 | 1,130cc inline-triple | 158 hp | ~155 mph (spec database) |
| 4 | TNT 1130 Sport EVO | 2007-2010 | 1,130cc inline-triple | 131 hp | ~151 mph (spec database) |
| 5 | TNT 1130 Century Racer | 2010-2011 | 1,130cc inline-triple | 135 hp | ~149 mph (spec database) |
| 6 | TNT 899 Sport | 2010-2012 | 899cc inline-triple | 131 hp | ~146 mph (spec database) |
| 7 | TNT 600i | 2012-2018 | 599.6cc inline-four | 82 hp | ~137 mph (press/owner reports) |
| 8 | 752S | 2018-present | 754cc parallel-twin | 77 hp | ~124 mph (spec database) |
| 9 | Leoncino 800 | 2022-present | 754cc parallel-twin | 75 hp | ~118 mph (multiple sources) |
| 10 | 302R | 2017-2018 | 300cc parallel-twin | 38 hp | ~106 mph (press road test) |
1. Benelli TNT 1130 Cafe Racer (2008-2012) – ~167 mph
The TNT 1130 Cafe Racer is the fastest documented Benelli in the production lineup, with a top speed of approximately 167 mph (269 km/h) per spec data from autoevolution sourced from manufacturer figures. Its 1,130cc liquid-cooled inline-triple makes 135 hp at 9,500 rpm and 81 lb-ft of torque at 7,750 rpm. The Cafe Racer variant stripped the already-naked TNT further to a single seat and ten-spoke alloy wheels. Brembo brakes, a 50mm Marzocchi inverted fork, and an Ohlins rear provided the chassis. It’s an upright naked with superbike pace – no screen, no protection, no apologies.
Source: Autoevolution spec database, manufacturer-derived figures (2024)
2. Benelli Tornado 1130 (2003-2014) – ~155-160 mph
The Tornado 1130 is the faired superbike that started the 1130 platform. Its 1,130cc triple-cylinder makes 161-165 hp depending on the year, with press test figures putting the top speed in the 155-160 mph range. Motoplanete cites approximately 290 km/h (180 mph) for the 2008 model under track conditions – treat that as an upper-bound outlier given the power output. The Tornado placed its radiator under the tail for a 50/50 weight balance, used Brembo radial brakes and Marzocchi forks from the factory, and made a three-cylinder howl at 10,200 rpm that no inline-four could replicate.
Source: MCN road test archive; Autoevolution spec database; Motoplanete test database (2024)
3. Benelli TNT 1130R (2013-2014) – ~155 mph
The TNT 1130R is the highest-output naked in the TNT 1130 family at 158 hp, 10,200 rpm and 89 lb-ft at 8,400 rpm (autoevolution, 2024). That’s the most power Benelli ever put into the TNT frame. The Motoplanete database lists the European R 160 variant at 250 km/h (155 mph). The added power over the Cafe Racer doesn’t push meaningfully past that bike in top speed – at 155 mph on a naked streetfighter, the engine isn’t the limiting factor anymore. The air wall is.
Source: Autoevolution spec database; Motoplanete R 160 variant spec database (2024)
4. Benelli TNT 1130 Sport EVO (2007-2010) – ~151 mph
The Sport EVO produces 131 hp at 9,250 rpm and 86 lb-ft of torque. The autoevolution spec database lists it at 243 km/h (151 mph). It added an adjustable Marzocchi fork and Brembo radial brakes over the base TNT – a tighter handling package without changing the powertrain. MCN’s long-term archive noted the stock wind deflector worked adequately up to 130 mph, beyond which the wind blast on this upright naked becomes the real story.
Source: Autoevolution spec database (2024); MCN long-term archive
5. Benelli TNT 1130 Century Racer (2010-2011) – ~149 mph
The Century Racer marked Benelli’s centennial with a limited-production TNT 1130 using the same 135 hp engine as the Cafe Racer. Motoplanete lists it at 240 km/h (149 mph). Carbon fiber details, a numbered frame plate, and exclusive paint distinguished it from the standard 1130 – but mechanically it’s the same bike. The slightly lower published speed versus the Cafe Racer likely reflects different database methodology rather than any real-world difference. Surviving examples are collector machines.
Source: Motoplanete spec database (2024)
6. Benelli TNT 899 Sport (2010-2012) – ~146 mph
The TNT 899 Sport is the most powerful 900cc naked Benelli ever produced: 131 hp at 9,000 rpm and 66 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm (autoevolution, 2024). The Moto-Data spec database lists it at 235 km/h (146 mph), putting it in Triumph Speed Triple 1050 and Ducati Monster 1100 territory for the era. The 899 Sport added Ohlins rear suspension and Brembo radial brakes to the standard 899 package. Its 198 kg wet weight is the limiting factor in outright pace; with lighter hardware this motor would run faster.
Source: Autoevolution spec database; Moto-Data spec database (2024)
7. Benelli TNT 600i (2012-2018) – ~137 mph
The TNT 600i is the only middleweight inline-four in the Benelli lineup: a 599.6cc DOHC motor making 82 hp at 11,500 rpm and 38 lb-ft at 10,500 rpm. Multiple press reports and owner readings place the top speed at approximately 220 km/h (137 mph), with real-world speeds typically landing 125-134 mph indicated before aerodynamics take over (Motorcycle.com, 2017). The 512 lb wet weight is unusually heavy for a 600cc bike and blunts straight-line pace. An inline-four at 600cc was genuinely rare in the US by 2017; the 600i filled a niche no one else was occupying.
Source: Motorcycle.com 2017 road test; owner reports via MCN (2017-2020)
8. Benelli 752S (2018-present) – ~124 mph
The 752S uses a 754cc parallel-twin making 77 hp at 8,500 rpm and 49 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm (autoevolution, 2024). The Motoplanete spec database lists it at 200 km/h (124 mph), and an MCN owner confirmed “an easily achieved 118 mph indicated, with more left” on private land (MCN, 2020) – consistent with the spec figure given typical speedometer optimism. The 752S is Benelli’s current flagship naked: 50mm USD forks, dual Brembo front calipers over 320mm rotors, single-sided swingarm. It competes against the Triumph Street Triple S and Yamaha MT-07 on price, not top speed.
Source: Motoplanete spec database; MCN owner review (2020)
9. Benelli Leoncino 800 (2022-present) – ~118 mph
The Leoncino 800 shares the 754cc parallel-twin from the 752S in a retro-scrambler package: 75 hp at 8,500 rpm, 49 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm, trellis frame, single-sided swingarm, dual-channel ABS, and three riding modes. Multiple sources including ZigWheels and Motoplanete list the top speed at approximately 190 km/h (118 mph). The Trail variant retails in the US via Benelli USA at $6,499. Speed is not the mission here – the Leoncino 800 is a capable all-rounder built for roads of varying quality, not drag strips.
Source: Motoplanete spec database; ZigWheels; Benelli USA pricing (2024); Pipeburn first ride (2022)
10. Benelli 302R (2017-2018) – ~106 mph
The 302R is Benelli’s small-displacement sport entry: a 300cc parallel-twin making 38 hp at 10,000-11,500 rpm and 20 lb-ft at 9,000 rpm (Motorcycle.com, 2017). A Motoplanete track test put the top speed at 170 km/h (106 mph); an iAmaBiker road test recorded 175 km/h on the speedo. Motorcycle.com flagged the 418 lb dry weight as unusual for a 300cc machine – heavier than most rivals – which dents straight-line pace. The 302R sold for approximately $3,999-$4,299 in the US and is no longer in active US production.
Source: Motorcycle.com 2017 road test; Motoplanete road test; iAmaBiker test (2017)
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fastest Benelli Motorcycles
What is the fastest Benelli motorcycle ever made?
The TNT 1130 Cafe Racer holds the highest published top speed figure at approximately 167 mph (269 km/h), based on manufacturer-derived spec data from autoevolution. The Tornado 1130 superbike produced more peak horsepower (161-165 hp) and likely reaches similar speeds in its faired form, but no clean GPS-verified test exists for either.
Are Benelli motorcycles fast compared to Japanese bikes?
The TNT 1130 was competitive with the Triumph Speed Triple and KTM 990 Super Duke in its era – within range of the premium European naked segment. The current 752S and Leoncino 800 trail the Yamaha MT-07 and Kawasaki Z650 slightly in power, but compete closely on price and specification.
Is the Benelli TNT 1130 still in production?
No. The TNT 1130 line ended around 2017-2018. No direct replacement exists in the current lineup. The 752S is Benelli’s largest-displacement naked today at 754cc – a much smaller parallel-twin versus the old 1,130cc triple.
What Benelli is best for highway riding in the US?
The 752S is the most capable current option for sustained US highway use. Its parallel-twin is smooth at 70-80 mph cruise, the upright position is comfortable, and the Brembo brakes and 50mm USD forks give real confidence at speed. A used TNT 1130 offers more performance but parts availability in North America is a concern.
How reliable is the Benelli TNT 899 for daily riding?
Mixed, depending heavily on maintenance history. Known failure points include the regulator-rectifier, which has a documented failure history, and throttle bodies that need periodic syncing every 6,000-8,000 miles. Parts sourcing in North America has historically been difficult. Buy one with documented dealer service history and budget an extra $500-700 for immediate preventive work, regardless of what the seller says.
Editorial note: All top speed figures in this article are manufacturer-derived spec database entries, press speedometer readings, or owner-reported indicated speeds. No GPS-verified independent instrumented data exists for any Benelli model in MotoStatz or equivalent databases. Figures should be treated as close estimates. Benelli does not publish official top speed specifications for any production model.
