Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1017116
VOL. 55 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 21, 2018 P111 2018 BENELLI TRK 502X ABS ENGINE TYPE: ........... Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 8-valve, DOHC, parallel twin DISPLACEMENT: .....................................500cc BORE X STROKE:........................69 x 66.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ............................. 11.5:1 RATED OUTPUT: .................... 35 kW (47.6 Cv) @ 8500 rpm MAX TORQUE: .......................45 Nm(4.6 kgm) @ 5000 rpm LUBRICATION: .................... Forced lubrication with wet sump FUEL SUPPLY: EFI with double throttle body, 37mm EXHAUST SYSTEM: ...................... 2-into-1, with catalytic converter and oxygen sensors CERTIFICATION: ......................................Euro 4 CLUTCH: .....................................Multidisc, wet TRANSMISSION: ................................. 6-speed FINAL DRIVE: ............................................ Chain IGNITION: ............................................. ECU-TLI SPARK PLUG: .................................. NGK CR8E STARTING: ............................................ Electric CHASSIS: ............... Trestle steel tubes, plates FRONT SUSPENSION: ..................USD, 50mm, telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION: ...............Swingarm, with central shock absorber, spring preload, hydraulic rebound and compression setting adjustable FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ........................ 145mm REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ...........................172mm FRONT BRAKE: ......... Dual disc, 320mm, with floating 2-piston caliper, ABS REAR BRAKE: .................Single disc, 260mm, with single piston floating caliper, ABS FRONT RIM: .....................19 x 3.00 in. DOT-D REAR RIM: .........................17 x 4.25 in. DOT-D FRONT TIRE: ............110/80-R19 in. M/C 59V REAR TIRE: ............. 150/70-R17 in. M/C 69V SEAT HEIGHT: .......33.5 in. (31.5 in. optional) WHEELBASE: .........................................59.3 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: ............................ 8.7 in. WEIGHT (WET): .....................................518 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY: ...................................5.3 gal. S P E C I F I C A T I O N S lights. The well-designed dash for this price level has an analog tacho and digital speedo, plus water temp, fuel gauge, clock, mileage and twin trips, plus a gear-select indicator that's very legible, like the whole dash. The front position lights, rear light and all direction signals are LED, and have evidently been inspired by a close look at the Rizoma catalog! Besides the kick-out The engine is well engineered, refined and flexible, making the TRK 502X quite comfortable both on and off the road. side stand there's now a center stand fitted, which was absent on the TRK 502. This doesn't look like a cost-cutting motor- cycle. Indeed, the TRK 502X is, once again, a lot of motorcycle for the money, whose engine's massive flexibility also makes it so easy to ride, and an excel- lent step up from a learner bike. It's an affordable, accessible adventure tourer suitable for rid- ers with all levels of experience, from returnees to newbies, who risk being daunted by the sheer size and complexity of so many such bikes today. With its re- strained but perfectly adequate engine performance, it's intelli- gently designed and fun to ride, whether on or off road. The build quality is now on a level with its Japanese competitors, and the favorable opinion of current owners of its tarmac-fo- cused predecessor augurs well for reliability, and maintenance of residual value. This isn't one of those Chinese-made bikes from not so long ago where you threw it away after a couple of years—if it lasted that long. This Benelli TRK 502X has both substance and presence, a true dual-purpose go-anywhere motorcycle, whose versatility is matched by its accessibility for all levels of riders. It has no serious challenger in its seg- ment while representing—yes, a downright bargain. Bravo, Benelli! CN