Benelli is back poking the middleweight naked segment with a familiar name and a fresh attitude. Say hello to the TNT 550, a new-age streetfighter that marks the brand’s return to the space it once dominated with attitude alone.
At its core is a 554cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin, shared with the Tornado 550 but tuned for street duty. Output stands at around 55 bhp with roughly 5.5 kgm of torque, which puts it squarely in the sweet spot for riders who want strong real-world performance without chasing redlines just to feel alive. This isn’t about headline numbers — it’s about usable punch.
The engine is housed in a steel trellis frame, very on-brand for Benelli, and paired with a grown-up suspension setup. Up front are 41 mm USD forks, adjustable for preload and rebound, while the rear monoshock offers similar tuning flexibility. Braking duties are handled by twin 320mm front discs with four-piston calipers, backed by a 260-mm rear disc — serious hardware for a naked street bike.
Benelli hasn’t ignored the tech arms race either. The TNT 550 gets a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, navigation support, traction control, ABS and two riding modes — Normal and Sport. And yes, the rider aids can be switched off, because some days you just want the bike to mind its own business.
Design-wise, the TNT 550 leans hard into sharp, muscular styling. The aggressive tank extensions, compact tail and distinctive LED lighting give it a purposeful stance — less café poseur, more backlane brawler. It looks like a bike that wants to be ridden hard, not parked neatly outside a coffee shop.
In a segment crowded with safe, sensible choices, the TNT 550 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it reminds you why naked bikes were exciting in the first place. And honestly, that might be enough. But will it come to India? Well, so far, we haven’t had any action from the brand in the last few years, and it seems that the streak will continue for the next few years. So, don’t expect this bad boy to show up on our streets.
