2001 Benelli Tornado 900

Sitting at the top of Benelli's revival efforts, the 2001 Benelli Tornado 900 marked the brand's return to serious sportbike territory after decades away from that stage. This is a triple-cylinder machine built to rev hard and reward a rider willing to work the gearbox and chase the top end rather than lug around on midrange torque. The distinctive underseat exhaust and radiator layout weren't just styling flourishes; they freed up mass centralization that changes how the bike turns in and holds a line through fast corners. Riding one demands attention and mechanical sympathy in equal measure, which is part of the appeal for people drawn to it in the first place. As for the model year itself, 2001 represents the development and pre-production phase of the Tornado 900 program, with test rider Peter Goddard brought in to push the project toward its 2002 production launch. Genuine 2001-built examples are rare and sit closer to prototype status than showroom stock. Collectors and Benelli specialists pursue these bikes specifically for that rarity, while riders after a usable sport machine are better served looking at the 2002-onward production run.