We can only imagine what search engines will do with the name of this Italian/Chinese motorcycle and we hope it won’t get you into search history trouble at work. Regardless, here we go with our first look at the 2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500. While we don’t have any word about this motorcycle being imported to America by Benelli, it is certainly a bike we would like to test. With that in mind, on to the Fast Facts.
- The 2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500 has striking styling. Although the sport bike is manufactured in China, it is designed in Pesaro, Italy. The Chinese engine has compromised the styling of Benellis in some instances. However, on the Tornado Naked Twin, that problem is solved, as the engine is nicely integrated and doesn’t look out of place. The arcing swingarm and fuel tank are compelling, as are the clean rear end and the compact muffler. The stacked LED headlights are futuristic. We even like the unusual color combination. Handguards are an interesting urban streetfighter touch, as they integrate the front turn signals.
- The Euro 5+ spec motor is what you’d expect for a 500-class upright sport bike. It’s a liquid-cooled DOHC configuration with four valves per cylinder. Bosch takes care of the fuel management. The transmission is nothing usual—a six-speed with a wet multiplate clutch with a slipper function.
- Per Benelli tradition, the 2025 Tornado Naked Twin 500 has a trellis frame. The asymmetrical swingarm is straight on the left/chain side and curved on the right/brake. We don’t know the rake or trail, though the wheelbase is a roomy 5 inches. As is often the case with Benelli, the Naked Twin is hefty. Its 430-pound curb weight is a staggering 64 pounds more than the Kawasaki Z500 ABS.
- The suspension is semi-adjustable. Benelli loves impossibly beefy 50mm inverted forks, and the Naked Twin 500 has a set. The fork and shock are adjustable for rebound damping, with the shock adding spring-preload fine-tuning.
- Benelli did not skimp on the rubber. The aluminum rims get a pair of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires, which impressed us in testing.
- Braking is heavy-duty on the 2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500. That’s a pair of massive 320mm discs in the front, and the Benelli-branded calipers are radially mounted. The rear disc is huge at 260mm, with a plain-wrap single-piston caliper. ABS is standard.
- The dash is a five-inch TFT unit, and it is controlled by Benelli’s organically shaped switchgear. As is becoming the norm, your phone can be paired via Bluetooth with the dash for various functions, including accepting phone calls.
- We don’t know if the 2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500 will be imported into the United States. Right now, the only naked bikes we get are the TNT 135 and the 302S, so you might want to tell your local dealer that you want to see the Naked Twin—okay, maybe you shouldn’t put it that way, and be careful when searching for an image on DuckDuckGo. Fortunately, we have plenty of photos for you.
2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500 Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Parallel twin
- Displacement: 500cc
- Bore x stroke: 69.0 x 66.8mm
- Maximum power: 48 horsepower @ 8500 rpm
- Maximum torque: 34 ft-lbs @ 6000 rpm
- Compression ratio: 11.5:1
- Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 vpc
- Fueling: EFI w/ 37mm throttle body
- ECU: Bosch MSE6.0
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Clutch: Wet multiplate
- Lubrication: Wet sump
- Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Steel trellis
- Front suspension; travel: Rebound-damping adjustable inverted 50mm fork; 4.9 inches
- Rear suspension: Spring-preload and rebound-damping adjustable piggyback-reservoir shock; 5.7 inches
- Wheels: Aluminum alloy
- Front wheel: 17 x 3.50
- Rear wheel: 17 x 4.50
- Tires: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
- Front tire: 120/70 x 17
- Rear tire: 160/60 x 17
- Front brake: 320mm discs w/ radially mounted 4-piston caliper
- Rear brake: 260mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
- ABS: Standard
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 55.5 inches
- Seat height: 31.3 inches
- Fuel tank capacity: 4.1 gallons
- Curb weight: 430 pounds
2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500 Price: $TBA MSRP
2025 Benelli Tornado Naked Twin 500 Photo Gallery
