2011 Benelli TnT 1130 "Century Racer"

Founded in 1911, Benelli is celebrating its 100th year anniversary at EICMA this year with special “Century Racer” versions of its Tornado Naked Tre (TnT), the company’s naked three-cylinder street bike. The Benelli TnT 1130 “Century Racer” (a Benelli TnT 899 “Century Racer” is also being made available) features a desaturated green color scheme that honors Renzo Pasolini, and will be on display at the show in Milan. Along with the Century Racers, Benelli will have an exhibit that traces the company’s motorcycling history throughout its years. More details about the company’s 2011 model line after the jump.

For 2011 Benelli is also updating its TnT line with Marzoochi forks and radial Brembo brakes that will have 320mm Braking wave rotors (as seen on the 2010 Benelli TnT R160 last year). The Benelli TnT 1130 will get a Sachs shock for the rear, while both versions of the TnT will get a much needed ECU re-mapping. Knowing the issues Benelli has had with its fuel mapping in the past, it’s not clear if this map merely increases the bike’s performances, address problems with the earlier mapping, or both, but you can bet current TnT owners will want the upgrade as well.

The Cafe Racer version of the TnT gets some modest aesthetic changes for 2011, including a new seat and colored valve covers. Meanwhile the Tre K and the rest of the Benelli line receive the same suspension upgrades as found on the TnT, making 2011 a pretty dull year for Qianjiang’s Italian brand. As always we keep hoping for more from Benelli, but continue to be underwhelmed by the company, which is damn shame because Benelli makes some of the most beautiful bikes in the industry, only to mar them completely with a supremely lacking attention to detail.