BENELLI TRK702X

With a distinctive look that is rather refreshing when sat alongside its competitors, the W Benelli is clearly the left-field choice when it comes to midrange adventure bikes.

- Dave Manning

Once astride the 836mm high seat - which, while having the lowest measurement, doesn't actually feel the lowest thanks to its breadth - it appears to have a rather odd riding position that, after about half-anhour in the seat had me wondering if I'd be crying out for mercy within another 30 minutes, yet two hours later all was still fine. The reach to the bars is a little long, and the footpegs are surprisingly close to the seat, giving an almost race rep leg tuck, albeit with the pegs a little further forward than race bike rearsets.

Naturally, this will suit some people more than others, but for my 5' 10.5" and 32" inside leg frame, it seemed a little at sorts. The somewhat strange ergonomics are especially noticeable when swapping over to the Suzuki or Honda when, instantly, the riding position feels more comfortable. A quick check showed that the Benelli footpegs are a good two inches higher off the ground that the other two, and if you had short enough legs to make the peg/seat distance comfortable, then you'd not be able to reach the floor. However, after a day of about six hours' riding (plus an hour sitting eating soup, and a couple of hours standing around during the static photographs), it was still comfortable, so it's only really worth mentioning because it's different, and not because it actually brings any discomfort. You'll know if it suits your own dimensions better by actually trying one out for size.