Benelli TRK 502

Benelli seems to have nailed the perfect recipe with its 500cc models. Both the TRK 502 (standard and X) and the Leoncino 500 arrived in 2019 with a lovely smooth motor, some decent hardware and good price tags. But it has taken the Italian marque a while to get the bikes BS6-compliant. The main talking point though is that prices have been slashed, the TRK now retailing at Rs 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom). So, what are the changes in store for the mid-displacement ADV, and is it better than before?

The design updates on the Benelli ADV are minimal and not easily recognisable at first.

• The mirrors are new and the bike also gets reinforced aluminium knuckle guards. Earlier, a basic set of knuckle guards were standard only on the TRK 502X, the standard variant never got any. So we are glad that this crash protection bit has been included on the regular 502 as well.
• It is still quite an imposing motorcycle, giving off a pukka big bike feel.
• The black powder-coated handlebar is a nice touch and so are the new backlit switches. They really amp up the bike’s premium quotient.
• Even the semi-digital instrument cluster looks significantly better now thanks to a white backlight for the analogue tacho with a contrasting orange light for the digital panel.

The dual-headlamp setup is one of the biggest highlights of the TRK, it has an intensely powerful beam and a good throw. The instrument console feels a little old school though. It gets an analogue tachometer paired to a digital display, but misses out on a trip computer. The crash guards are offered as standard, which is a necessary addition considering that you might be venturing out into the woods.

The TRK 502 is a road-biased model and rides on 17-inch wheels with Pirelli Angel ST tyres. The TRK 502X on the other hand, is meant to go off-road more often. As such, it boasts of a 19-inch wheel at the front, spoke wheels and Metzeler Tourance dual-sport tyres. It also gets knuckle guards and a metal bash plate.

The suspension on the 502X also gets longer travel. And it has higher ground clearance too. The downside is that the seat height has gone up from 800mm to 840mm, which makes it difficult to manage for shorter riders. The 502X also gets an upswept exhaust to improve its water wading capability in place of the underbelly unit on the 502.

• In spite of adhering to the more stringent BS6 emission norms, the 500cc parallel-twin motor has not lost any steam. It still makes 47.5PS at 8500rpm and 46Nm at 6000rpm.

• While the performance is nothing to write home about, what’s promising is that the acceleration timings of the BS6 502 are almost identical to its BS4 counterpart. Recently, we have seen BS6 bikes posting slower times than their BS4 counterparts, even if the on-paper output is identical.
• The 500cc motor builds up momentum steadily and likes to sit between 100-110kmph. The motor has the capability to cruise at a slightly higher pace but it becomes quite buzzy then.

• The vibes are quite prominent at the footpegs with slight tingling sensations also felt at the bars. We wish the rubber inserts for the serrated footpegs were slightly thicker to provide better insulation.

• No change in fuel efficiency scores as well; the 500cc parallel-twin motor proves to be quite frugal both on the highway and the city. Its 20-litre fuel tank enables you to ride for almost 600km without necessitating a fuel stop.
• What also managed to impress us was the engine’s tractability. You can slot it in fifth or sixth gear and ride around at city speeds. 
• The six-speed gearbox isn’t the slickest of the lot but is consistently positive. A lighter clutch would be appreciated.

• On the go, the TRK manages to mask its weight well. It is light to filter through traffic, changes lanes on the highway with minimal effort and is pleasantly agile for its size. It isn’t a corner carver in the slightest sense, its top-heaviness makes it a bit nervy if you plan on hustling through a set of twisties. If you do encounter a ghat section on your tour, it is best to take it easy and peacefully make your way through the bends.
• The suspension soaks up everything in the bike’s path. It was as composed over city speed humps as it was when going over large highway undulations. Rumble strips and potholes are rarely felt. In the stock setting of the rear monoshock, only the sharp bumps filter through. Thankfully, adjusting the rebound setting, via a small round knob, to make it slightly slower should iron this out.

• Braking performance is decent but not as crisp as the BS4 bike. Even though there’s ample bite and feedback provided by the 320mm front discs with their radial calipers, the stopping distances are nearabout the same as the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 BS6, which has a single disc and a simple floating caliper. ABS calibration on the TRK is consistent and not too intrusive.
• To read more about the ride and handling of the TRK 502, check out our review of the BS4 bike.