DSK Benelli TNT 25 launched in India at Rs 1.68 lakh

DSK Benelli has launched the new TNT 25 in India at Rs 1.68 lakh, ex-Delhi for the Standard variant, while the Premium variant costs Rs 1.75 lakh, ex-Delhi. This is the company's first single cylinder motorcycle in the country. It aims at making the Benelli brand accessible to a wider audience by positioning this bike at a lower price point than the other models in its portfolio.

The Benelli TNT 25 gets a 249cc liquid-cooled DOHC engine that produces 28.5PS at 9,800rpm and 21.61Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. The Benelli TNT 25 uses a six-speed Design-wise it is quite similar to its elder sibling, the TNT 300. Similar design cues are seen in the headlamp cluster, the bikini fairing and the fuel tank. The rear end of the TNT 25 is a little different with a new tail lamp and a conventional exhaust unit instead of the underbelly unit used in the Benelli TNT 300. Two colours will be available - white and red.

The TNT 25 gets a conventional, centrally placed monoshock instead of the offset kind found in the TNT 300. Wheelbase stands at 1400mm while ground clearance is 160mm. Up front, the bike gets inverted forks and a 280mm petal disc brake with a four-piston calliper. At the rear, the TNT 25 gets a 240mm disc with a double piston calliper. However, ABS will not be offered.

The motorcycle gets 17-inch wheels shod in 110 section and 150 section tyres in the front and rear. Benelli is offering the TNT 25 with MRF tyres on the Standard variant but if you want better rubber Rs 7,000 extra for the Premium will get you Metzeller M5 Sportecs, the same highly praised tyres from the KTM 390 Duke and RC390.

The TNT 25 will go up against the recently launched Mahindra Mojo and the segment leader, the KTM Duke 200. Price wise, the Standard Benelli TNT 25 is about Rs 30,000 more than the KTM 200 Duke and Rs 5,000 more than the Mahindra Mojo, which comes with excellent Pirelli Diablo Rosso II rubber as standard. Customers will be able to buy decals, crash bobbins and an adjustable clutch level (an adjustable brake lever is standard) as accessories.

Benelli has been going all out to establish itself in the Indian market. It has been steadily ramping up production and the Chinese owned Italian manufacturer aims to make its way into the affordable performance bike market.