Benelli has finally launched the touring and ADV oriented TRK 502 at Rs 5 lakh and TRK 502X at an introductory price Rs 5.4 lakh (ex-showroom, India) respectively. Online bookings for the bikes have started and you can book yours by paying Rs 10,000. Benelli is also offering a voucher worth Rs 10,000, which can be used to purchase accessories and apparels at the showroom.
The mid-weight ADV segment is gaining pace, as there are many contenders (Versys 650, V-Strom 650XT and Superdual T) in this segment. Benelli feels that it can do well in the mid-weight ADV segment in India better than Europe since the said segment is quite large in India.
Both the TRK 502 and 502X were revealed at the EICMA 2015 and the company is late to bring these bikes to our shores. But it hasn’t been a good ride for Benelli in India and they are picking up speed, after the partnership with Hyderabad-based Mahavir Group to continue their Indian operations. After the tie-up, the company had announced its plan for taking on the Indian market and more recently, it re-launched the TNT 300, Benelli 302R and TNT 650i. With the launch of the TRK series, the company is looking to take its share of the pie in the mid-weight ADV segment. Both bikes will remind you of bigger ADVs in the segment like the Ducati Multistrada 950 and the Triumph 800 series. Especially in the front, where the beak resembles that of the Multistrada 950.
Say hello to the TRK 502, meant for mile munching. Both the bikes get a 20-liter tank, which is good for touring purposes. The handlebar is wide and the saddle height is an accessible 800mm, which can be raised up to 825mm. The ground clearance is a decent 190mm (10mm more than the Superdual T and 20mm more than the V-Strom 650XT)) and the length of the bike is 2170mm. A major difference between the bikes is the exhaust type – the 502 gets underbelly exhaust while the 502X gets a side-mounted end can. You get 17-inch aluminum alloys as standard and spoked wheels are optional.
The 502X gets a lot more to go in with the off-road characteristics of the bike. Benelli says that the windscreen of the bike is designed in a wind tunnel. Ground clearance is 30mm more than the 502, at 220mm. The saddle height of the bike is 840mm and the length of the bike is 2200mm. The 502X gets bashplate and upswept exhaust to take on rough terrain. Both bikes get knuckle protectors as standard. The TRK 502X will sport Metzeler tyres – 110/80 slapped to 19inch alloys up front and 150/70 tyres fitted to 17-inch wheel at the rear. The aluminum panniers are optional accessories.
Wheelbase for both bikes remains same at 1525mm and the 502 & 502X tip in the scales at 213kg (unladden weight). For perspective, the V-Strom is 3kg heavier and the Superdual T is 44 kg less. Both 502 and 502X are built around a steel trellis frame and get 50mm USD forks up front with a travel of 135mm. The rear monoshock has a travel of 45mm and is adjustable for preload. The 502X gets compression adjustments for the rear monoshock as well. The dash is part-digital, part-analogue. The analogue rev-counter is on the left and the digital speedo counter with all the essential rider info in on the right. The wind screen for both bikes is the same and is not adjustable.
Power comes from an inline, twin cylinder, DOHC liquid-cooled, 499.6cc engine that develops 47bhp at 8500rpm and 45Nm at 5000rpm. The engine comes matched to a 6-speed gearbox. The 502X makes 1Nm extra, at 6000rpm. Braking duties are taken care by 320mm dual discs operated by a 4-pot calliper up front and a single 260mm disc operated by a single pot caliper at the rear, along with dual channel ABS.
There are no direct rivals for the TRK range in the 500cc segment. Looking at the nearest contenders there is the overpriced Kawasaki Versys-X 300 at Rs 4.69 lakh, the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT ABS and the SWM Superdual, both of which retail at Rs 7.46 lakh and Rs 7.3 lakh. There is also the Kawasaki Versys 650, which is priced Rs 6.69 lakh. As you can see, the gap between the Versys-X 300 and the likes of Superdual and V-Strom is large and Benelli has targeted that segment in the rapidly growing mid-weight ADV segment. Pricing was crucial and they have slotted the TRK bikes bang in between the aforementioned bikes. Benelli is planning to introduce five new models including variants of new bikes. The company aims to sell 2000 units of the TRK range as Benelli is confident about the Indian market when it comes to the 500cc segment.
Are the TRK 502 and 502X worth the price tag? Watch this space for our first ride review of the TRK 502 and 502X soon.
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