 "Ninja & Benelli")
India has not been a friendly market for touring motorcycles in the past and that is one of the main reasons why we see so fewer touring options in the market today. That said, witnessing some potential amidst the growing breed of wanderers, Benelli introduced the locally assembled TNT 600 GT tourer in the country that is capable of munching miles tirelessly. However, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 has been satiating the same need for almost half of this decade now in the country and although not positioned as a tourer, the bike is capable of taking you around the world and back with no qualms. Hence, we decided to pit these two as the Italian aims at gaining the market that the Japanese have built over the years. Read on to find out who the winner is.
Styling - Having aged well over the years, the styling on the Benelli and Kawasaki is as different as chalk and cheese. The Benelli TNT 600 GT offers more street presence with its large dimensions making it more intimidating, whereas the Kawasaki Ninja 650 is the more humble option and is easy to the eye on a regular basis. The TNT 600 GT looks like a proper tourer sporting a large fuel tank, LED indicators and projector headlights that convey its touring intentions more effectively, all of which the Kwacker lacks. The Ninja 650 though treads between being a sports bike and a tourer and gets a much bigger fairing that appears proportionate. Both the bikes get an under-belly exhaust and an offset monoshock unit; while colour options on the Italian include black and white which is restricted to a single green tone on the Japanese machine.
Instrumentation & Switchgear - Both the bikes feature a digital display unit along with an analogue tachometer and get a clear instrumentation with the Kawasaki's unit being more easily readable. The Ninja also carries more information onboard including range and a second trip meter that the TNT 600 GT lacks and should have been added considering its touring attributes. Neither machines get a gear position indicator, but the hazard light switch is available. In terms of quality, the Ninja 650 boasts of better switchgear over the Benelli and also gets a shift light which is absent on the TNT 600 GT.
Ergonomics - The riding position is upright on both the tourers as the bikes come equipped with a handlebar and not clip-ons, despite the full-fairing. The upright riding position ensures that long hours on the saddle are hardly ever an issue while you also get the option of adjustable brake levers to enhance your riding position. However, the TNT 600 GT does come with better cushioned seats for the rider and pillion and also gets luggage mounts making it more touring friendly over the Ninja 650.
Performance - In terms of performance, both the offerings share a difference of two cylinders with the Kawasaki Ninja being powered by a twin-cylinder mill while the Benelli TNT uses an inline four-cylinder unit. Hence, the power output is higher on the Benelli that produces 86 PS against the Kawasaki's 72 PS but loses out on torque output producing 54.6 Nm against the Ninja's 64 Nm. Both the old school motors are terrific performers, but it is the Ninja's 650cc unit that has more punch across the rev band. The TNT 600 GT shows its skills in the top-end of the rev range while the Ninja offers a strong mid-range. The Benelli also misses out on low-end punch which is ample on the Ninja and makes it an easy to commute bike in city conditions. Gear shifting is smooth on either bikes with the Kwacker getting a slightly better clutch while the Benelli has a better sounding exhaust note. The Italian also wins by a large margin when it comes to touring distance with its massive 27-litre fuel tank, but it is the Ninja that's more frugal here returning 22 km/l (the TNT manages 20 km/l).
Riding Dynamics - Given the heavy stature, one can't expect either bikes to be great handlers. Nonetheless, the Ninja 650 does a good job here courtesy of its perimeter frame as against the steel trestle unit on the TNT 600 GT. The Benelli also gets Upside Down forks and sports a wider 180 section rear tyre (160 mm on the Ninja) weighing a hefty 243 kgs that does hinder the fun quotient, especially once the panniers are laden. In comparison, the Ninja 650 uses the Indian road friendly telescopic forks and has a weight of 211 kgs, emerging as a more nimble bike to ride. With the added weight though, the Benelli is more stable at high speeds and also gets better braking performance of the two. ABS is disappointingly not available on either bikes.
Verdict - The Benelli TNT 600 GT is the bike here to opt for if you are looking to tour all day long. That said, if your need is a bike that takes you for touring, allows you to commute in the city with ease and gives you impressive performance during those short bursts around the twisties, then head to the Kawasaki showroom as the Ninja 650 is the motorcycle to bet your money on. Sure, it may not be as large or intimidating as the Italian but certainly gets the job done while also going easy on your pocket. Sporting a Rs. 53,000/- lower price tag than the TNT 600 GT (costs Rs. 6.76 lakhs), the Kawasaki Ninja 650 is our pick in this shootout as the more bang for the buck sports motorcycle.
motorbeam.com
