BENELLI 650 Tornado S (1973-1974) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Benelli 650 Tornado was a naked two-wheeler parallel-twin motorcycle produced by Benelli in 1970. The bike was intended to compete with the British big twins that dominated the American market.

In 1973, the Italian motorcycle maker released the Benelli 650 Tornado S, which debuted in 1972 after Alejandro de Tomaso bought Benneli. It came in the same shape and form as the previous one without any modifications.

Like the previous one, the 1973 model had an electric starter, a rebalanced crankshaft, increased compression, revised gear ratios, and Veglia instruments. Several components were rubber-mounted to minimize the vibration effects, and weights were added to the handlebar ends.

The aesthetic department was complemented by features like a round headlight upfront, a chromed front fender, a dual seat, a two-into-two exhaust system with a muffler mounted on each side, side-mounted rear shocks, and 18-inch wire-spoke wheels.

For suspension, the motorcycle packed a Marzocchi telescopic fork handling the front suspension and twin side-mounted shock absorbers on the rear handling the rear-end suspension.

In the braking department, the bike packed a drum braking unit on the 18-inch front wheel and a small drum unit on the 18-inch rear wheel.

As for the power figures, the 1973 Benelli 650 Tornado S boasted 52 hp with a peak force at 7,200 rpm coming from a 642cc four-stroke air-cooled parallel-twin engine fed by two Dell'Orto carburetors.