Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 700: Big sister of the 550 with a comfort package

• Engine: 698 cc parallel twin with 73.4 hp (54 kW) and 67 Nm
• Quickshifter, cruise control, heated seat and grips plus tyre pressure monitoring as standard
• Market launch in the second half of 2027, an A2 version with 35 kW is planned

One year after the Tornado Naked Twin 550, Benelli is following up in the naked bike segment. At EICMA 2026 in Milan, the brand from Pesaro showed the Tornado Naked Twin 700, which sits above the 550 and now forms the top of the naked bike range. Visually, the two models are close to each other. Under the tank, however, there is a larger engine, a wider tyre rolls at the rear, and the list of standard equipment is considerably longer. The 700 is aimed at riders who want more power than the 550 offers without moving straight to a much bigger or more demanding motorcycle.

What sets the Tornado Naked Twin 700 apart from the Naked Twin 550?

The 700 has a larger engine with 698 instead of 554 cc, its own aluminium swingarm, its own silencer and a 180/55 rear tyre instead of a 160/60. When it comes to design, however, Benelli deliberately stays close to the smaller sister model.

The new swingarm is a double-sided aluminium unit and carries a 5.50-inch-wide rear rim. This also gives the 700 a visibly wider rear end than the 550. The tank shape, headlight and tail section, on the other hand, are largely carried over. Anyone who sees both models side by side will recognise the larger variant mainly by its swingarm, exhaust and rear wheel.

What engine powers the Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 700?

The frame houses the liquid-cooled 698 cc parallel twin that Benelli already uses in the TRK 702 and TRK 702 X. For the naked bike, the manufacturer has reworked the intake and exhaust.

According to Benelli, the engine produces 73.4 hp (54 kW) at 8,000 rpm and reaches 67 Nm (around 49 lb-ft) at 6,000 rpm. Bore and stroke measure 83 by 64.5 millimetres. Two overhead camshafts operate four valves per cylinder. The crankshaft has a 180-degree crankpin offset, meaning the two pistons move in opposite directions. This layout shapes the typical character of the engine, which it also shows in the TRK models.

The throttle works via ride-by-wire, meaning electronically instead of via a cable. The throttle bodies have a diameter of 42 millimetres, and the engine management comes from Bosch. Three riding modes called Normal, Rain and Sport change the throttle response. Power goes through six gears. A quickshifter allows clutchless upshifts and downshifts. The anti-hopping clutch prevents the rear wheel from chattering during hard downshifts and at the same time reduces the effort needed at the lever. Benelli quotes standard fuel consumption of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres.

Will there be an A2 version of the Tornado Naked Twin 700?

Yes, Benelli is planning a 48 hp (35 kW) variant for A2 licence holders. This means the Tornado Naked Twin is now available to riders with a staged licence in two displacement classes.

Suspension and brakes from Marzocchi and Brembo

The backbone is a steel trellis frame, to which the new aluminium swingarm is attached at the rear. Up front works a Marzocchi upside-down fork with 41 millimetre stanchions and 120 millimetres of travel. Preload, compression and rebound can be adjusted. The rear shock, also from Marzocchi, is adjustable for preload and rebound and offers 130 millimetres of wheel travel.

The braking system comes from Brembo. At the front, radially mounted four-piston calipers grip two floating discs with a diameter of 320 millimetres. At the rear, a 260 millimetre disc with a twin-piston floating caliper slows the bike down. Both aluminium wheels are 17 inches, with tyres measuring 120/70 at the front and 180/55 at the rear.

According to the manufacturer, the Tornado Naked Twin 700 weighs 195 kg (around 430 lbs) ready to ride. The wheelbase is 1,440 millimetres and the seat height is 805 millimetres. The tank holds 15.5 litres.

What standard equipment does the Tornado Naked Twin 700 have?

Ex works, it comes with a quickshifter, cruise control, switchable traction control and switchable ABS, three riding modes, heated seat and grips, tyre pressure sensors and a USB-C port. Such a package is rather rare on middle-weight naked bikes and is otherwise found more often on touring motorcycles.

The cockpit features a 5-inch colour TFT. It connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This enables navigation with a map view or arrow display as well as control of calls and music.

Design with T-shaped daytime running light

The look is defined by the muscular tank and a short, compact tail. Up front sit two central LED projectors, framed by the T-shaped daytime running light. The light signature refers to the name Tornado. The front indicators are integrated into the slim hand guards. At the rear, the indicators also act as brake and tail lights. As a result, the tail does without a separate rear light and looks clean.

When will the Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 700 arrive and how much will it cost?

The Tornado Naked Twin 700 is due to arrive at European Benelli dealers in the second half of 2027. Benelli has not yet announced a price.

The 700 is therefore one of the new motorcycles for 2027 that celebrated their premiere at EICMA 2026. In Milan, Benelli also showed the Tornado Naked 125 with 15 hp for the A1 licence and the TRK 602 X, which will take over the role of the TRK 502 in 2027. With the 125, the 550 and the 700, the Tornado Naked family now covers three licence classes. How the 700 stacks up against the competition will ultimately depend heavily on the price, which is still open.

Frequently Asked Questions