Middleweight naked bikes have to get the balance right: exciting enough for a back road, but comfortable and well-equipped enough for the ride home. Benelli’s new Tornado Naked Twin 700 looks like it wants to do both. It uses a 698cc parallel twin rated at 54 kW (about 72 horsepower) and 67 Nm (49.4 lb-ft) of torque, and adds a bidirectional quickshifter, cruise control and Marzocchi suspension. That is a much more complete pitch than simply giving the bike a bigger engine.
The equipment list is where this Benelli starts to stand out. You get a five-inch color TFT with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, navigation, call and music controls, plus a USB-C port. There are three riding modes, switchable traction control and ABS, tire-pressure monitoring, heated grips and a heated seat. The quickshifter works in both directions, and an assist-and-slipper clutch is part of the package. Cruise control is a particularly welcome extra on a bike that is supposed to do more than blast around town. Of course, a spec sheet can tell us what is fitted; it can’t tell us how well the suspension is set up or how smoothly the electronics work on the road.
The 698cc Twin: Familiar Engine, New Package
The 698cc parallel twin comes from the same engine family used in Benelli’s TRK 702, but it is worth sticking to the figures published for this motorcycle rather than borrowing numbers from the adventure bike. EICMA lists the Tornado Naked Twin 700 at 54 kW, or about 72 U.S. horsepower, and 67 Nm (49.4 lb-ft) of torque. The engine uses a 180-degree crankpin offset. Benelli also says an A2-restricted version producing 35 kW (about 47 hp) will be offered in markets where that license class applies. Displacement and peak output tell us something, but we’ll need a ride to know how the throttle response and power delivery feel.
The size and weight should make it approachable without making it a small bike. The fuel tank holds 15.5 liters (about 4.1 U.S. gallons), seat height is 805 mm (31.7 inches), and Benelli lists running-order weight at 195 kg (about 430 pounds). That last figure is not a dry weight, so it gives a more realistic idea of what you will be handling in a parking lot or at a stop. The 31.7-inch seat is worth checking in person, especially if you are shorter or prefer to get both feet firmly down.
What You Need to Know
Benelli’s November 5 announcement identifies the Tornado Naked Twin 700 as the new flagship of its Tornado Naked family. EICMA says it should reach Benelli’s dealer network in the second half of 2027. There is still no confirmed U.S. price or U.S. availability date, so American buyers should treat this as a preview, not a bike they can order today.
Why It’s Cool
The interesting thing here is how much everyday equipment Benelli has packed into a middleweight naked bike. Cruise control, heated grips and a heated seat make longer rides more inviting, while the quickshifter and Marzocchi suspension give it some sporting credibility. If the real-world setup is as good as the spec sheet suggests, this could be a useful all-rounder. We haven’t ridden it, though, so comfort, handling and engine character still need to be judged on the road.
Sources: Benelli EICMA announcement; EICMA Tornado Naked Twin 700 specifications; Benelli TRK 702 engine-family press kit.