Benelli unveils 150cc bike TNT 15 in Indonesia

Benelli has unveiled the 150cc TNT 15 in a trade fair in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 150cc naked bike is powered by an air-cooled single-cylinder 148cc engine, mated to a five-speed gearbox. Benelli hasn’t revealed power and torque figures of the engine yet, but the two-valve engine has a compression ratio of 9.2:1 and is plonked on a normal tubular chassis.

In terms of looks, the TNT 15 sports a muscular, sculpted fuel tank with styling clearly taking inspiration from bigger Benellis. The headlamp is reminiscent of the TNT 300 and the TNT 15 also gets tank extension panels, colour coordinated belly pan, split seats and a stubby side-mounted exhaust.

Suspension consists of telescopic front forks and a monoshock rear, and braking duties are handled by a single disc at the front with a rear drum. Benelli will launch the TNT 15 alongwith the TNT 25 later this year in Indonesia.

In India, DSK Benelli will be looking at manufacturing the smaller capacity Benellis here before launching them to bring a cost advantage to the market. Bringing them in as CKDs, as is the case with the rest of the DSK Benelli range, will involve a high sticker price, much higher than the competition already manufacturing and selling 150cc bikes for years.  

Recently, DSK Motowheels chairman Shirish Kulkarni told ZigWheels that his company will be eventually looking at producing mass market motorcycles in India and that talks are already underway with both Benelli and Hyosung to increase localisation of bikes, currently being brought in as CKDs and assembled in India. If at all the TNT 15 is launched in India, it will go against already established 150cc bikes like the Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ FI V2.0 and the Honda Unicorn CB 160.