Benelli TnT recall nightmare

Ahh, the joys of owning an Italian bike: the speed, the design, the individuality… and the way they suddenly start melting in unexpected places.

The bike in question is my Benelli TnT 1130 – a perfect bike for those as thin as a rake, it turns out, but less so for me. I noticed after my very first ride there was a smell of plastic burning. On closer inspection the bike shop noticed that the battery box had melted through on the exhaust. Since it is a nearly new bike the boys at Phantoms bike shop said no problem, we’ll get you a new box. Then I heard there was a recall on the battery box but they are only doing them on a repair need!

Further checks were carried out and it was noticed that my bike already had the new mod on it. So the melted box on my bike has had to have some work on it so I can get the bike back on the road. I turns out it was my weight that caused the seat to break which pushed the box down on the exhaust. So no overweight riders on Benellis please!

Phantom Motorcycles told me Benelli UK had not even told them about the recall and the date for the parts to arrive is about as precise as “some time this year”. Thank god for small bike dealers who care about there customers. The work carried out on my bike is at the cost of the bike shop and not Benelli.