Nothing Cheap About It

Fancy an Italian? How about a Chinese? Either way, give one of these a go and get stuck in.

- Alan Cathcart

Just one year ago Benelli launched the TRK502 – its first ABS-equipped, Euro 4 compliant 500cc parallel-twin model that’s made at Wenling, 500km south of Shanghai.

To say that the TRK502 was a sales hit would be putting it mildly. It’s been a global sell-out, with Benelli delivering 7000 examples in Europe in the past 12 months, and 15,000 versions all over the world – including in Australia, Asia and South America, but not (yet) the USA.

Well-equipped and evidently well-engineered, the Chinese-built adventure tourer is a huge amount of motorcycle for the money, costing just €5990 in Italy. Compare that to the €6590 price of its only real multi-purpose marketplace rival, the smaller-capacity 471cc Honda CB500X twin built in Thailand and you can see why the TRK is ticking so many boxes.

Now the original tarmac-focused version has been joined by the TRK502X, a more ruggedly-equipped true dual-purpose model launched at the EICMA Milan Show last November.

The first shipments of which have now arrived in Europe, where they’re available in white, black and red and are predictably already sold out at the same killer price as the original model – and after riding the new model, it's clear to see why.

Initial pickup on the TRK502X is even better from low down than on the original model, not only because of the remapped fuelling, but also because Benelli has geared the X-model down by adding two extra teeth on the rear sprocket for a 14/44 overall ratio, instead of 14/42.

That’s with the same kerb weight of 235kg (213kg dry) with a full 20-litre fuel tank (which Benelli claims delivers a 500km range) on both models, with a slightly more rearwards 49/51% distribution on the X-bike. The weights are unchanged even with the heavier exhaust because Benelli no longer delivers the bike ready fitted with mounting frames for the optional GIVI luggage, as on the TRK502.