[Guest]

I think the Tornado is a great looking bike (especially in green & silver!) and have been checking prices recently.

My biggest worry is that I keep hearing horror stories about unreliability and wondered how "true" these really were?

I currently have an Aprilia that starts first time, every time, and had never given me a single problem (other than a flat tyre) since I bought it. It's my 4th Aprilia and they ahve all been ultra reliable.

Don't want to buy a bike and then spend every sunny day wondering whether it will a) start or b) get me home OK!

Any advice greatfullly received.

 

[Guest]

Mines Reliable

I've had mine around 18 months now and I use it most dry days to go to work and It's never let me down yet.

I took it over to the continent for a week last year and toured around Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany & Holland and it never missed a beat.

I've had a few 'niggles' here and there (and I guess you could get these with any bike) but nothing that has spoilt my enjoyment and the pleasure of riding/owning one.

 

[Guest]

Hi molanstonewell

Having owned two mille's myself I know what you mean with reliability they go forever (It is an Austrian engine mind ) either ways both the benelli and aprilia use a sagem style dash unit which both have lots of features for a sports bike. The one niggle that everyone seems to get is the resetting clocks due to the battery charge or something (keeping this simple). You can get around it easy by running a 2nd lot of cables from the battery. It seems to stop the surge that resets the clocks and trip meter.

Generally speaking these bike a pretty reliable. Some people have had a right bad time from what I can see reading through some of these threads but alot of it was on the older late '02, '03 & some '04 Tre's I think - dont quote me though. The only weaknesses that really are worth knowing is the clutch basket. Mines just gone and there's a few others on here who have the same fate - some made wern't up to quality. After speaking to Red Dog and KJM in the UK it seems these are the only real mechanical faults and can normally be done under warrenty if its 2 years or less old (£300 otherwise). There have been a few big moments, some fella called saloe had major engine issues but if you check any forum you always here all the nitty gritty bits.

Honestly I think you'll love it. There not built like aprilias, but like laurancewhite said they pretty much never miss a beat as long as you keep them well maintaned and can deal with the silly niggles you'll be cool. Oh the niggles are;
neutral problem
resetting clocks
Some stutter/stall at tickover & going from 2nd to 1st but thats cureable easily with a latest map (should be FOC) and setting the air screws right

Give one a test ride, hey ya never know ya just might like it!

Dean

 

[Guest]

I am one of those who had problems, (new clutch, new engine, Virus!) but all is now very well indeed!

I went to a bike accessories shop open day in Dusseldorf yesterday and had people drooling over it all day and asking stupid questions like does it go underwater too!

Best bit was having all the scantily clad brolly dollies clambering all over it and rubbing voluptuous cleavages on the tank... the only two down sides were that they weren't doing it to me, and I forgot my bloody camera!

Mine is now going sweeter that a sweet thing in a chocolate factory and other than the change lever rubber starting to split (warranty) and it cutting out on me once going from 2nd to 1st (hasn't happened again) I am totally over the moon!

Andy

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys,

The one I've been looking at is a late '03, not many miles on it.

Any specific things I need to look out for and/or any questions I should ask the current owner?

 

[Guest]

If you go for a 03 modell ask if the clutch is replaced. As dean100yz wrote did I had some major problems. You can read my story at <a href="http://www.benellimotors.com" target="_new">www.benellimotors.com</a>

Since I got my new engine, my Tre is doing wonderfull. No major issues til now. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif" />

Go for it

 

[Guest]

I told some other fella this who was lookin at gettin an early model and its a good point i think. When buying after checking all the obvious ask them if they have all the paperwork regarding recalls etc. Nearly all of the 2003 Tre's had a recall for the neutral problem and the tilt switch. I think that was it but lots of history no matter what age/mileage is good. Mine had loads, lady owner all recalls done FSH and I paid £4300 back in Oct'05 and no kidding it was (i say was :b ) mint. You wont know if theres a fault lurking to be honest and like I said there pretty good especially once the niggles have been cured. When they start it up dont be alarmed at the noise they make either - its not Japanese and even though it runs a wet clutch its still quite a mechanically loud sounding bike. Oh as for the std can someone at benelli must have been sucking alot of .... to get it through noise emissions. A race can adds very little noise but does save a good few kilo

Goodluck

Dean