BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ BENELLI/TORNADO 900
Model report · 2005–2025

BENELLI TORNADO 900

899cc Petrol Class 2
#1855 of 5428 overall #9 of 24 BENELLIs #1123 of 2788 other bikes
87.2%
first-time pass rate
6.0%
failed outright
5,908
median miles at test
811
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-1.2pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2017

The TORNADO 900's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.3 points since 2007, 89.4% to 84.1%.

81%87%92%2007: 89.4% pass (47 tests)2008: 87.3% pass (63 tests)2009: 84.6% pass (78 tests)2010: 82.6% pass (86 tests)2011: 86.3% pass (80 tests)2012: 89.5% pass (76 tests)2013: 87.7% pass (81 tests)2014: 90.4% pass (73 tests)2015: 89.6% pass (67 tests)2016: 84.3% pass (70 tests)2017: 84.1% pass (63 tests)20072017

What fails on a TORNADO 900

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
30 36.1 0.7×
steering and suspension
16 19.3 0.5×
brakes
11 13.3 0.3×
reg plates and vin
10 12 1.5×
tyres and wheels
10 12 0.5×
drive system
6 7.2 0.5×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the TORNADO 900 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the TORNADO 900.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Tornado 900

More BENELLI models

other BENELLI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
BENELLI TORNADO NAKED T 125 75.4% pass · 3,237 tests
BENELLI TORNADO 90.2% pass · 2,411 tests
BENELLI BN 125 71.9% pass · 1,167 tests
BENELLI TNT 87.0% pass · 1,118 tests
BENELLI VELVET 71.1% pass · 1,049 tests
BENELLI BN 125 E5 73.4% pass · 932 tests

See all BENELLI models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2004 (89.9% pass). Weakest: 2006 (81.1%).

79%86%92%2003: 87.7% pass (203 tests)2004: 89.9% pass (188 tests)2005: 87.7% pass (171 tests)2006: 81.1% pass (74 tests)2007: 83.7% pass (98 tests)200320052007

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

BENELLI TORNADO 900 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the BENELLI TORNADO 900 reliable?

The BENELLI TORNADO 900 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.2% of its 811 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1855 of 5428 models.

What does a TORNADO 900 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed TORNADO 900 tests.

What is the best year of TORNADO 900 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (89.9%) and 2006 worst (81.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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