Benelli TRK 502 X adventure/all-rounder (2017- ) review

The TRK 502 is a classic, rugged-looking, full-size adventure bike that has the useful bonus (or limitation, perhaps, for some) of being an A2-compliant, 47bhp middleweight twin. The looks are solidly handsome, the fairing has more than a little shade of Ducati Multistrada about it (which is no bad thing) and it has all the right bits in all the right places, even if some aspects, such as the LCD dash, look a little dated against more modern, Japanese and European rivals. On top of that, there’s the bonus of two versions being offered: the base, road-orientated 502 with cast alloy 17in wheels at £5999, and the slightly higher spec, more off-road looking X, as reviewed here, with 19/17in wire wheels, longer travel suspension and crash protection which currently starts at £6299.

One of the main appeals of adventure bikes is their comfy, upright, roomy riding positions and the Benelli scores here for delivering exactly that, with a decent screen and without being too cumbersome, in a middleweight, A2 bike, which makes it very appealing for A2 riders wanting a more substantial bike. The X version here is even more so with a 10mm taller seat height due to its longer travel suspension and bigger front wheel. Six-footers will be fine but shorter riders might be better off with the base version (or something else!)

Another of the TRK 502’s ace cards, simply by virtue of offering the same advantages as most other full-size adventure machines. The riding position is all-day comfortable with a screen that offers plenty of protection while luggage is available, too, making it an excellent tourer. It’s also decently manageable and nimble which means it’s also a more than adequate city bike or commuter while, being a 47bhp 500cc twin further means there’s enough performance for pleasing sunny Sunday ride-outs. Few A2 class bikes offer so much.

The Benelli’s 499cc, liquid-cooled, 4v parallel twin is an update of an old Kawasaki design and produces the A2 maximum of 47bhp, as does Honda’s more recent CB500X. But although the Benelli unit can’t quite match the smooth refinement and more frugal fuel consumption of the Honda, it does for performance (the Benelli’s only slightly slower due to its extra weight), has a pleasing exhaust note and more raucous character and is a great all-rounder. The twin-piston, Benelli-branded front brake calipers biting onto meaty 320mm dual discs may be nothing special and are only assisted by standard ABS, but they’re more than up to the job, especially considering the bike’s budget price.

The TRK 502 X is a fairly big, heavy (235kg) middleweight riding on longer travel, off-road targeted suspension, so it’s never going to be an ultra-nimble, sharp sportsbike. That said, although unadjustable, the beefy, long-travel, 50mm inverted forks and preload-only adjustable rear monoshock are reasonable quality and deliver a plush, but secure ride and although the steering isn’t exactly sharp it’s fairly typical for a bike of this type. If stlightly lower, sharper road handling is important, get the base 502.

The TRK502 is pretty much the cheapest bike of its type, at £5999 and £6299 for each version compared to the £6699 currently of its nearest rival, Honda’s CB500X (although some may be tempted by Royal Enfield’s far more pedestrian, 411cc, 24bhp, £4799 Himalayan) so it’s off to a good start. Fuel consumption is around the 50mpg mark and the A2 performance means it won’t be too voracious when it comes to consumables such as tyres, chain, brake pads and so on. Servicing costs will be better than most, too. On the slight downside, although cheap, Benelli’s residuals aren’t the best meaning it won’t hold its value as well as the popular Honda, either.

Although the Benelli wears a historic Italian badge, the company is now Chinese-owned and its bikes are built in the Far East. As a result quality isn’t the best and there remain question marks about durability but the TRK’s not bad either. On top of that the TRK is based around proven ex-Kawasaki mechanicals, has been on the market since 2017 with no major reliability concerns coming to light and plenty of owners have reported that, while you need to check for corrosion if ridden through winter, they’ve had no reliability concerns.

Like most modern mainstream motorcycles the Benelli TRK 502 comes with a standard, manufacturer-backed, two-year, unlimited mileage warranty covering all parts and labour. In terms of servicing, intervals are every 4000 miles for an oil change, with the bigger service at 16,000 for the valve check. That’s a little bit more frequent than some – the Honda CB500X, for example, only needs servicing every 8000 miles – which will add to the running costs.

This is another area where the affordable Benelli seems very tempting. Although there’s only a basic LCD dash and little by way of electronic riding aids, the TRK 502 X does come with smart wire wheels, centre stand, sturdy rear rack, handguards, 12v charge point and engine guards. Panniers, top box and luggage frame are also available as extra cost options.

If you’re after a more substantial A2 class bike, perhaps because you’re a larger or more experienced rider, or merely after an affordable middleweight all-rounder, the Benelli TRK 502, in both its forms, has a lot of appeal. It looks good, has a historic badge, can do pretty much everything, is pleasing to ride, comes over as a full-sized bike and comes with most of the kit you actually need – all for around £6K. On the slight downside, it suffers slightly from its Chinese origins with the doubts over reliability, quality, durability, dealer availability etc that still comes with that. That said, the TRK 502 has now been around for a while with few reported issues and oenrs generally give glowing reports. For the money, there’s few ‘full-size’ bikes that come close.