Benelli TRK 502 Range: 5 Things To Know

From its styling to price and competition, here are five things you need to know about the Benelli TRK 502 and 502X

The iconic Italian two-wheeler manufacturer, Benelli, has launched its mid-displacement adventurer tourer, the TRK 502 in India. Launched in two variants, the 502 and the 502X, Benelli has launched the bikes at competitive prices, positioning them between 400cc and 650cc rivals. Without further ado, let’s take you through five things you need to know about the newly launched Italian ADVs.

Design:

Both, the TRK 502 and TRK 502X look almost identical to each other, aside from a few mechanical changes that make the latter more off-road friendly. The overall design inspiration leans more towards its Italian rival, the Ducati Multistrada with a hint of Benelli’s DNA. Now, considering its displacement (500cc), one would expect the bike to be slightly larger than the Kawasaki Versys-X 300. However, its overall proportions are a lot bigger and mimic that of 1000cc plus ADVs. That aside, the TRK 502 also features twin-halogen headlamps with LED DRLs, an LED tail light, a tall windscreen (non-adjustable), a semi-digital instrument console and a USB charging port. Both variants come with serrated footpegs with removable rubber padding, while the TRK 502X gets an additional sump guard. Funnily enough, the size of the sump guard or bash plate feel rather puny for a full-sized ADV.

Also Read: Benelli TRK 502 And TRK 502 X Launched In India

Powertrain:

The Benelli TRK 502 and TRK 502X draw power from a 500cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor that dishes out 47.5PS at 8500rpm and a peak torque of 46Nm at 6000rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed transmission. Weighing in at 235kg, the TRK 502 isn’t what one would call lightweight. Furthermore, thanks to a power to weight ratio of 202PS per tonne, the bike isn’t expected to be a performer. That said, a massive 20-litre fuel tank should work in the bike's favour on long hauls.

Underpinnings:

Suspension duties on both bikes are handled by USD front forks and a monoshock at the rear which gets preload and rebound damping. Braking duties are handled by twin 320mm discs paired with four-piston calipers at the front and a single 260mm rear disc mated to a single-pot caliper.

Coming to the differences between the TRK 502 and 502X, for starters, both employ a different wheels and tyre setup. While the former gets road-biased 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends, the latter features spoked 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels shod with Metzeler Tourance dual-purpose tyres. Additionally, the TRK 502X sits rather tall with a seat height of 840mm and a ground clearance of 220mm. In comparison, the TRK 502 could prove to be a better bet for shorter riders thanks to a seat height of 800mm and a ground clearance of 190mm. The differences stretch to the bikes’ braking setup as well. The TRK 502 features standard discs with radially mounted calipers, whereas the 502X gets petal discs with sliding calipers. To add to this, the latter also gets switchable ABS for the rear.

Price and Competition:

The Benelli TRK 502 and TRK 502X have been launched at Rs 5 lakh and 5.40 lakh respectively. Interestingly, neither of the bikes face any direct competition as they’ve been positioned to sit between the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 (Rs 4.69 lakh) and the Kawasaki Versys 650 (Rs 6.69 lakh) (all prices, ex-showroom India). Customers can book either of the bikes online for a token amount of Rs 10,000, while deliveries are expected to commence after two months. These are introductory prices, so expect the costs to go up by a bit in the following months.

Offers: 

On the day of delivery, the first couple of customers will be given a voucher worth Rs 10,000 which can be redeemed on the bike's accessories. The accessory list includes panniers, hand guards, an extended top rack and a top box.