The Benelli 650 Tornado is a 650 cc (40 cu in) parallel twin motorcycle produced by the Italian manufacturer Benelli from 1970 to 1975. The model was intended to compete with the British big twins in the lucrative American Market but by the time the model was introduced the market had changed following the launch of multi-cylinder bikes by the Japanese manufacturers, most notably the Honda CB750. The Tornado was also badge engineered as a Motobi, Benelli’s sister company. Around 3,000 Tornados were produced with half being sold in Italy.
Au début des années 1970, De Tomaso veut redonner à Benelli une production prestigieuse. En attendant des modèles plus modernes, la marque lance la Tornado, un bicylindre vertical « à l'anglaise » de belle facture — une machine qui, quelques années plus tôt, aurait pu s'imposer face aux anglaises vieillissantes. La Nuova Tornado S2 (1973) en est l'aboutissement : née un peu tard face aux multicylindres japonais, mais d'une élégance et d'une qualité indéniables.
Source : Benelli - moto classique refroidie air (intervalles type epoque)
