1970s Benelli 650 Tornado sought [Archive]

dunedinite

16th April 2012, 18:56

I'm looking for one of these in any condition. I see there was one for sale on Trade Me back in October 2010 and wonder if anyone still has the link to that listing or know what happened to that bike or can put me onto another one for sale. I'll consider absolutely any condition as the alternative will be to bring one in from the U.S. There may even be a little "thank you" for the person who can put me onto a successful purchase. Cheers, Seth. :yes:

Grumph

16th April 2012, 19:45

Firstly - they're not nice - being polite, I'll merely describe them as awkward to work on...with a number of potentially expensive faults.

Secondly - follow up any Invercargill contacts you have as there's a Benelli fanatic who does the Burt Munro every year and usually brings along a few Benellis to show off. I believe he's an Invercargill local.

As the motors get older/worse the running gear becomes more attractive to specials builders and racers...38mm Cerianis or Marzocchis and the big drum brakes....a lot have been broken up.

dunedinite

16th April 2012, 20:35

Hi Grumph, thats for the feedback. I was brought up on Fiats... need I say more :mellow:

I only know one guy in Invercargill so will give him a call but in the meantime does anyone know of any others?

Cheers
Seth

Road kill

18th April 2012, 19:25

Can't help,,but had one during the early 80's.
Spent lots of time working on it "happily".
Bought new workshop manual in from company,,,written in Italian:facepalm:,,,stupid $%# spent lots of time getting it translated by Italian guy at AK Uni.

Atlas

12th December 2012, 12:03

274610

needs some fettling and too rare to be broken up. Quietly impressed. Need to source a new taillight.
I do have the full workshop manual in both English and Italian.
A recent acquisition, came from Ashburton...

Voltaire

13th December 2012, 05:47

looks nice, I imagine being Italian it shares a lot of parts with other Italian bikes in the electrics department. You could try some of the Guzzi and Ducati sites.
I think a lot of the problems with bikes of the past was poor electrics.... I run a 'hand grenade' Norton Combat and it runs really well with electronic ignition, better electrics and sleeved Amals. Usually starts in 2 or 3 kicks.
I don't know anything about Benellis but as the owner of a couple of BMW's, a Ducati and a Norton I can work out most problems.....might be able to assist with ideas.
I'm only in Auckland and any excuse to do SH 16 on a Sunday morning....:rolleyes:

Did I not recently see on on TM ?

Woodman

13th December 2012, 06:01

I bump int a guy occaisionally here in Richmond thats got a Tornado. He's had it for bloody years. Pretty sure he won't part with it, but he may have some contacts.

If you want I can PM his contact details. Worth a go.

Paul in NZ

13th December 2012, 06:43

looks nice, I imagine being Italian it shares a lot of parts with other Italian bikes in the electrics department. You could try some of the Guzzi and Ducati sites.?

My guzzi has exclusively BOSCH electrics....

Yeah - we looked at the Tornados when they were new. Like the parsons egg - good in parts but frankly a Guzzi and an ancient triumph is enough bother for any one man... Back then the benelli just seemed an expensive way to not go very fast...

Atlas

13th December 2012, 06:59

My guzzi has exclusively BOSCH electrics....

Yeah - we looked at the Tornados when they were new. Like the parsons egg - good in parts but frankly a Guzzi and an ancient triumph is enough bother for any one man... Back then the benelli just seemed an expensive way to not go very fast...

A mate has described it as a poor mans laverda! not quite sure he's right but I know what he means. Certainly a fairly rare beastie and I am partial to a 650 twin albeit preferably with a three rifle motif, but they never made those with 5 speeds and an electric leg in the day.
Certainly a solid wee motor, 4 bearing crank and pushrods, so within my knowledge base of old pommie rubbish.
On our shitty B roads, with drum brakes will be fast enough for me to have some entertainment.

Yes appears to be all bosch.

Voltaire

13th December 2012, 08:25

Paul in NZ

13th December 2012, 09:31

On my latest money pit ...the Monza I noticed that it had much the same electrics as a 70's BMW.... My Ducati had Bosch Ignition and Nippon Denso instruments.

Correct but with a taper fitment instead of a shaft.

Paul in NZ

13th December 2012, 09:34

A mate has described it as a poor mans laverda! not quite sure he's right but I know what he means. Certainly a fairly rare beastie and I am partial to a 650 twin albeit preferably with a three rifle motif, but they never made those with 5 speeds and an electric leg in the day.
Certainly a solid wee motor, 4 bearing crank and pushrods, so within my knowledge base of old pommie rubbish.
On our shitty B roads, with drum brakes will be fast enough for me to have some entertainment.

Yes appears to be all bosch.

Yup - the seemed to go OK but from memory they were let down by being horribly heavy so reliability aside your average 650 Triumph would slay one in the twisties despite the better spec of the Benelli... One came for a fang around the summit road with our regular group... I passed him (on my Atlas) going up Dyers Pass road and never saw him again. I think he was a bit discouraged....

Atlas

13th December 2012, 10:03

Yup - the seemed to go OK but from memory they were let down by being horribly heavy so reliability aside your average 650 Triumph would slay one in the twisties despite the better spec of the Benelli... One came for a fang around the summit road with our regular group... I passed him (on my Atlas) going up Dyers Pass road and never saw him again. I think he was a bit discouraged....

Sounds like rider ability...they are typical Italian, two big dustbin lids on a very short stroke. Would need to be pedalled along and use the gears; but period and more recent reviews suggest they should be quite capable on keeping up with anything from the period and provide the rider with smiles. Have yet to ride this one but I see no reason it couldnt hold its own with the throttle applied accordingly.

Motu

13th December 2012, 11:11

Tall and heavy with a trail bike 1st gear...the one I used to ride had a Fontana front brake. That low 1st gear made around town hooning annoying.

Paul in NZ

13th December 2012, 12:35

To be fair all the stuff we were riding was well stripped down (Ok all the heavy stuff fell off) and the Tornado was stock so our bikes were probably 40 to 50kg lighter which was the big difference around the hills plus we did it every week..... sometimes twice if the weather was agreeable...

Voltaire

14th December 2012, 09:30

Sounds like rider ability...they are typical Italian, two big dustbin lids on a very short stroke. Would need to be pedalled along and use the gears; but period and more recent reviews suggest they should be quite capable on keeping up with anything from the period and provide the rider with smiles. Have yet to ride this one but I see no reason it couldnt hold its own with the throttle applied accordingly.

After riding my Commando last weekend I don't think I ever took it past 5000 rpm..... whereas back in the day I'm sure they were thrashed..... I'm sure your Benelli will be fine for riding around on.
Since building the track bike I don't feel the need for going fast on the road any more....hence no moderns in my shed now....unless you count my 1983 work R65 as modern...

Voltaire

5th April 2013, 09:16

Looks like the OP bought one and didn't like it....http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-576063086.htm

dunedinite

5th April 2013, 17:11

Yes I found one and bought it and absolutely love it to bits. I am selling it to help a family member out. Otherwise there would be no way in hell you would pries it from me.

Woodman

5th April 2013, 17:27

Looks like the OP bought one and didn't like it....http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-576063086.htm

Looks okay too. Yea naa, one Benelli is enough, even if it doesn't go yet.

Voltaire

5th April 2013, 20:41

Looks okay too. Yea naa, one Benelli is enough, even if it doesn't go yet.

you know you want to...:rolleyes:

Maillard nz

17th December 2013, 21:24

Atlas

18th December 2013, 07:48

Hi I have a 1974 650 benelli can you tell me where you got the workshop manual ?

Ah... it came with the bike and has probably been with it since the seventies by the brittleness of the pages. It is in a looseleaf folder, so pages can be removed and have put them into sleeves so they are removeable.
The manual and the bike have been taken over by my FIL as I'm buried in projects and he took a shine to it.
Being a factory manual it is what any tornado owner needs.
If you send me a PM I can put you in touch with my FIL, he wont part with it but may be willing to scan?
alternately get in touch with Detlef from Benelli in Germany, he has a great parts supply and may be able to help with a manual.

Tornado

6th April 2016, 10:02

Hi there, I also have a 650 Tornado which I have done a few mods too. Have you still got yours? Be good to have a chat about them if you have time. I've put a disc front end on mine. Cheers Glyn.

Atlas

6th April 2016, 10:29

Its still in the family and being used albeit not by me. It should be doing the Northland rally in May.
Makes a great noise and very slim, I've ridden with it a number of times and it certainly has a very italian cafe look on the move.

Drop me a pm
Tim

Black Knight

6th April 2016, 10:48

Northland Rally in May?-Can you please elaborate.

Atlas

6th April 2016, 13:50

Northland Rally in May?-Can you please elaborate.

The Northland VCC (which caters for bikes to Dec 1985 - 25 years) holds its annual motorcycle rally on Sat 14th May around the Whangarei district.
Its a really good ride and they allow entry of "guests" eg non members who belong to a comparable club or at the discretion of the organiser.
The contact for inquiries is nvccrally@gmail.com
So very suitable for the "classic" seventies Benelli or 'Onda in your case. A good days riding, typically ride up Friday arvo, ride Sat, dinner Sat night, home Sunday morning

I've done the run a couple of years now on my beesa single and this year will probably take my beesa triple.
If you have something suitable its a good weekend before we get fully into winter

oh and entries close on 2nd May

Tim

AllanB

6th April 2016, 15:58

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-1063200045.htm

Buy now $12 k .......

Nah.

Voltaire

7th April 2016, 14:58

We took our BMW r90's last year and it was a good weekend. Get to do some Kiwiana things like go to the RSA for dinner:banana:

I'm not riding at the moment as I require a new hip.:(

swarfie

7th April 2016, 15:37

We took our BMW r90's last year and it was a good weekend. Get to do some Kiwiana things like go to the RSA for dinner:banana:

I'm not riding at the moment as I require a new hip.:(

The war office and I will likely do it again. Was a good ride last year on the R90S but we'll probably do it on a Velo this time. Mooloo Meader this weekend which is the Waikato VCC equivalent and the Rubber Ducky in September is the Taranaki Branch rally. Bring your wets tho':lol: