Benelli TNT 899

This was one radical addition… and we still say that to this day. Benelli is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers and so, they know how to make a good one. But they are also Italian, good is almost always insufficient. And so… the TNT. One of the most aggressive front fascias to this day, side-mounted radiators, bright red twin-tube steel frame (with the swingarm finished in a similar fashion), and an underbelly exhaust. The TNT 899 looks otherworldly… in a good way.

898 cc | 118 Bhp | 88 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W50

Benelli has always been associated with making motorcycles that look futuristic. The Tornado 1130 is a good example. And since TNT means Tornado naked Tre… the TNT had to be worthy of the mantle. While there was nothing wrong with the TNT 899, it was simply left behind. While the competition moved ahead, the TNT found itself outdated… and more than that, stagnated.

But that did not stand in the way of the TNT 899 being a great motorcycle of its time and in its own right. The sweet 898cc inline 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12-valve engine made 119.3 bhp of power and 85.6 Nm of torque.

More than the healthy numbers, it was the song of the triple that caught our fancy… and that of the onlookers. And so, when we decided to go around India thanking the motorcyclists of India during the Thank You Ride, a Castrol POWER1 fed TNT 899 was with us to make sure that we had more people to thank the next time!

KTM RC 390

Orange is the new ‘Whack’… we wish we came up with that when the KTMs first arrived. Why? KTMs are orange, of course, and they simply whacked the competition out of their wits. After having a lot of fun with the 200 Duke, we felt that the xBhp Garage needed another crazed beast. While we had already seen what the Duke had to offer, we wanted to see what the RC was like to own. And in the spirit of upgradation, the 390 seemed apt.

373.2 cc | 43 Bhp | 35 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 CRUISE 15W50

The thing with KTM is that their motorcycles like to be the boss of you. And they will be unless you prove yourself worthy. It is kind of like Ash’s Charizard from Pokemon. Hard to leash but once you know your way around it, there are few that are better.

In true KTM spirit, the RC 390 made almost 43 bhp of power and weighed just 147 kg (dry). That’s nuts. The acceleration was brutal, the exhaust note polarizing and the performance (including the razor-sharp handling) was unlike anything in its class. It was a true KTM and frankly, that is all it wanted to be and nothing else. Not the easiest bike to ride over long distances but with the juicy performance and the engine being taken care of by Castrol POWER1, it coerced us to take it for a couple of runs to the bylanes of Uttarakhand.

Indian Chief Vintage

For this motorcycle, we’d like to say that if Ben-Hur was made today, this is what Judah would have ridden… and God knows it has more (much more) than enough horses. The Indian Chief Vintage is, in every sense of the word, a Chariot of Gods. Garnished with chrome and leather all over, it looks the part and with the Thunderstroke 111 V-twin, it goes like one as well.

1,811cc | 161 Nm

While a motorcycle like this does not need specs to dwell on, it still boasts of some incredible numbers. The 1,811cc V-twin, with 161 Nm of torque, is enough to propel this 379 kg (wet) behemoth to insane speeds. And while it can do that without any hiccups, that is not what it is meant to do.

It is a cruiser and a darn good one at that. No matter how long the ride is, the comfort that the Chief Vintage offers is unparalleled. The grunty V-twin thrums along comfortably even at triple-digit speeds and it can do that all day. Despite all the heft and the power, the Chief Vintage is a deceptively easy machine to ride.

For all that and more, the Indian Chief Vintage deserved not only to be a part of the xBhp Garage but an integral part of some of our most iconic rides such as The O2 Ride and the Roadtrip United.

Bajaj Dominar 400

The Bajaj Dominar 400 can be referred to as, in the simplest of terms, a brave move on Bajaj’s part. With some dispute, which is unavoidable, it can also be referred to as a motorcycle that defined a segment; sports touring. Ever since the first iteration came out, we were impressed with it. We actually took one to Spiti and that too in winter to see if the Dominar actually had the pedigree. And it did. But alongside all of that, it was also one of the most underrated motorcycles in the Indian market.

373.3 cc | 39.5 Bhp* | 35 Nm* | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W50

A testament to Bajaj’s faith in the Dominar platform was the 2019 iteration which smoothened out the few rough edges of the original Dominar and it impressed us even more. So much so that we decided to take not one, but three for a roadtrip of more than 15,000 km through 11 countries spanning across over 90 days; the #xBhpDominarGreatAsianOdyssey! And yet again, the result was the same. We were more than impressed with this indigenous sports-tourer and more than that, we were proud of this world-class motorcycle which was made by an Indian manufacturer.

The Bajaj Dominar 400 has everything one can ask for; 40 Ps of power, 35 Nm of torque, great straight-line characteristics and surprisingly good mannerisms when the going gets twisty. If Thanos had to choose a motorcycle to depict his perfect balance, we think he’d have gone with a Dominar as well.

*Specs for the 2019 Bajaj Dominar 400

Suzuki GSX-S1000

Suzuki is mostly known for the Hayabusa and the legendary GSX-R series motorcycles. The K5 powered GSXRs were one of the best superbikes of their time and there is no one in this world who has ridden a GSX-R750 and is not a fan. And perhaps that is why, their streetfighters were always flying under the radar. That is… until this GSX-S1000 arrived. Aggressive looks, silken engine, roaring exhaust and trademark Suzuki mannerisms… It is one of the most accessible streetfighters in the world.

999 cc | 144 Bhp | 106 Nm | Recommended engine oil > Castrol POWER1 RACING 10W40

That is a very strong statement but it is backed by good reason. It is powered by the legendary K5 engine from the GSX-R1000, the aggression portrayed by the front fascia is worthy of a streetfighter, and yet, one of the easiest motorcycles to ride hard. 144 bhp may not be the best out there but it is one of the lightest streetfighters out there. And then there’s Suzuki’s experience in making motorcycles (and MotoGP!), it handles like a dream.

After having enjoyed two streetfighters we knew which one was going to be the next the first time we laid eyes on the GSX-S1000. And after spending a whole lot of time with the motorcycle, we got to know how good a motorcycle Suzuki had made. Fantastic on the highways, a hoot around the town and with a little touch-up, a fun tool on the track. And that is why this is the motorcycle that became the centrepiece of xBhp’s Comic Racer Project.