Best remembered for its racing fours and road-going sixes, the Benelli factory of Pesaro, Italy exhibited its first 650cc twin at the Milan Show in 1967, though production did not begin in earnest until 1971. Christened 'Tornado', the new model - it was hoped - would cash-in on the popularity of big parallel twins in the lucrative US market. With its 360-degree crankshaft and pushrod valve gear, Benelli motor copied its British rivals but followed Japanese practice by being of unitary construction, employing a horizontally-split crankcase and geared primary drive. Alternator electrics and a starter motor were introduced on the successor 650S. Production of the final version - the 650S2 - ceased in 1975. Engineered to a higher standard than their British counterparts, the Benelli twins were commensurately more expensive and relatively few made their way to these shores. The Tornado was also badged as a Motobi, Benelli's sister marque, as seen here. A machine for the parallel-twin connoisseur who dares to be different, this 650S Tornado currently displays a total of 12,158km (7,555 miles) on the odometer and is believed to be original and un-restored. The machine is offered with an original instruction manual. A wonderful opportunity to acquire one of these rare Italian thoroughbreds.