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/1422170
QUICKSPIN I 2021 BENELLI TRK502X P92 scratch easily. Latches are simple to operate but require a second key from the ignition. For those concerned about purchasing a motorcycle made in China, all I can say is that the Benelli seems to be built well. It does not have the China-made feel. From the outside, fit and finish appears to rival most other higher-priced motor- cycles from Japan and Europe, and we didn't notice any unusual noises or wear during our short time on the bike. Noth- ing broke or fell off, either. Long-term reli- ability is a bit of a mystery, of course, but so far, so good with our test bike, which shows 700-plus miles on the odo. APPLES TO ORANGES So, what would we compare the Benelli TRK502X to? That's hard to say. Price- wise, the Benelli sells for a few hundred dollars more than Kawasaki's Versys 300 ABS, KTM's 390 Adventure, and BMW's 310GS. Displacement-wise, you could compare it to Suzuki's V-Strom 650, Kawasaki's 650 Versys, or Honda's CB500X, which are considerably more expensive (by approximately $600- $2400) than the Benelli. You could also include in the mix the new Kawasaki KLR650, which starts at $6699 and is a far more capable off-road bike. As you can see, the Benelli fits somewhere in the middle. On its own, though, the Benelli is a surprisingly good motorcycle—for the street. But it can handle some light (and we mean light)-duty off-roading. For the money, you get quite a lot for your $6399. It's a very comfortable motor- cycle that performs well on the street, is seemingly well-built, and, hey, looks every bit Italian. And the cherry on top is that Benelli name on the tank. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2021 BENELLI TRK502X ($6399) ENGINE TYPE Inline, 4-stroke, twin VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4-valve COOLING SYSTEM Liquid DISPLACEMENT 499.6cc BORE X STROKE 69 x 66.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 RATED POWER 46.9 hp @ 8500 rpm RATED TORQUE 33.9 ft·lb @ 6000 rpm FUEL SUPPLY EFI w/37mm throttle body STARTER Electric TRANSMISSION 6-speed FRONT SUSPENSION 50mm inverted fork w/rebound damping adj. REAR SUSPENSION Single shock, spring pre-load, and rebound damping adj. FRONT BRAKE Dual disc 320mm, w/4-piston caliper; ABS REAR BRAKE Disc 260mm, w/1-piston caliper; ABS FRONT TIRE 110/80-R19-in. 59V REAR TIRE 150/70-R17-in. 69V SEAT HEIGHT 33.0 in. WHEELBASE 60 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 8.6 in. FUEL CAPACITY 5.28 gal. WEIGHT (CLAIMED) 469.6 lbs.