Benelli TRK 502 First Look Review

Benelli TRK 502 First Look Review

The Leoncino might have been the star at the Benelli pavilion at the 2015 EICMA Show, but the motorcycle which we are eagerly looking forward to is the TRK 502. Complete with a slew of rugged styling elements and reasonably powerful engine, the TRK 502 seems like the perfect adventure motorcycle for the Indian roads.

The Benelli TRK 502 aims to combine the go-anywhere capabilities of an adventure motorcycle along with the usability of a middleweight. The beaky front fairing integrates a twin headlamp setup and has been aerodynamically shaped to improve wind flow around the bike. The raised handlebar, neutral set footpegs and the sculpted fuel tank offer a tall and comfortable riding position, ideal for an adventure touring motorcycle.

The TRK 502 comes armed with a host of bells and whistles which you would expect to see on an adventure touring motorcycle. The hand guards, rear tyre hugger, tall suspension travel and the minimalistic bodywork give the Benelli TRK 502 a rugged look. Apart from these, the blacked-out spoke wheels, knobby tyres and the raised exhaust pipe also hint at the TRK 502’s off-road capabilities.

The semi-fairing and the adjustable windshield offer good protection against the wind. The fuel tank can gulp down 20 litres of fuel, which should give the TRK 502 a respectable real world range of over 450 kilometres. The 815mm seat height makes it easily accessible even for short riders, though at 210 kilogram (unladen), the TRK 502 might not be the lightest touring motorcycle around.

Like the rest of the Benelli range, the TRK 502 is built around a steel trestle frame. At its heart is a brand new 499cc parallel twin liquid-cooled engine, which develops 47bhp and peak torque of 45Nm. While these numbers might not seem very impressive for a 500cc motorcycle, they should be more than enough given the TRK 502’s character and purpose. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission.

The Benelli TRK 502’s front wheel rides on 50mm adjustable USD forks, while at the rear, the swingarm is linked to an adjustable monoshock. Braking hardware consists of dual 320mm disc brakes with two-piston callipers and a 260mm rear disc brake with a two-piston calliper. ABS is offered as standard.

The Benelli TRK 502’s 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels come equipped with knobby Pirelli Angel 110/80 and 150/70 profile tyres. Globally, Benelli also offers the TRK 502 in a road-going version with 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels, though it is not yet confirmed whether this version will be sold here. The optional accessories list includes hard detachable saddlebags and a separate luggage rack in the rear.

The Benelli TRK 502 will kick off a completely new segment in the Indian market, and we can expect it to be unrivalled for quite some time (unless Honda decides to launch the CB 500X). At least on paper, the TRK 502 seems like the ideal upgrade for touring enthusiasts planning to move into big bike territory. It is expected to go on sale around September 2016, with a price tag of around Rs 6 lakh.