BENELLI TRK 502X
FULL TEST
P106
The Benelli has sharp
styling and excellent
build quality.
Benelli has geared the X-model
down by adding two extra teeth
on the rear sprocket for a 14/44
overall ratio, versus 14/42 be-
fore. That's with the same curb
weight of 518 pounds (469.6
pounds dry) with a full 5.3-gallon
fuel tank (which Benelli claims
delivers a 310-mile range) on
both models. The weights are
unchanged even with the heavier
exhaust because Benelli no
longer delivers the bike already
fitted with mounting frames for
the optional Givi luggage, as on
the TRK 502.
The TRK 502X's 49/51%
rearward weight bias comes via
the 19-inch front wheel now fit-
ted, replacing the tarmac bike's
17-incher. The 3.00-inch front
aluminum rim carries a 110/80-
19 Metzeler Tourance tire, with a
150/70-18 on its 4.25-inch rear.
These wire wheels replace the
TRK 502's cast aluminum ones,
so they're no longer tubeless.
The larger front delivers a subtle
change in the steering geom-
etry, with the non-adjustable
50mm upside-down fork more
kicked out at a 26º rake with
125mm of trail (versus 25º and
95mm before). These conserva-
tive numbers deliver stability on
fast tarmac sweepers, without
(L-R) Nothing fancy here
but instrumentation is
plentiful. The TRK 502X
is fitted with a 500cc
parallel-twin engine with
69 x 66.8mm dimensions
and 360º crankshaft and
dispenses a broad spread
of torque via a linear
power delivery.
