Benelli TRK502X

Benelli's TRK 502 X is always in the mood no matter what two-wheeled adventures you have in mind. Designed to conquer riding conditions known to man or motorcycle, the TRK 502 X charges into dirt, sand, and tarmac with equal abandon. Sporting higher ground clearance and more off-road-centric wheels and tires to go along with the same powerful liquid-cooled 500cc twin-cylinder engine featured on the base model TRK, the 'X' dares you to cross the line and fearlessly journey to parts unknown. Julain Challis went exploring through Italy to see whether or not Benelli can break into the adventure bike market, with the new Benelli TRK 502 X. Here's how he got on… t's a big ask. For a tiny company like Benelli to break into the lucrative adventure bike market from its factory in the hills of rural Italy, it seems unlikely but carving the new TRK 502 X through the sweeping hairpins and fast back roads around Rossi's hometown of Tavullia, it doesn’t seem out of the question. The bike is genuinely grin inducing and unexpectedly fun to ride and as I chase after the appropriately named Lorenzo, my guide for the day, I'm pretty hooked on the Benelli. Now for all you more informed readers, there are a couple of slight inaccuracies within the opening paragraph. First off, the TRK 502 X may be a new production model, but it's based on an existing bike within the range, the TRK 502 launched last year. For 2018, Benelli has decided to wave the off-road wand very lightly over the more road-based model to create the X version. The changes are not that massive, but the addition of wire spoked wheels, a higher-level exhaust, tweaked suspension, a centre stand and some new graphics make the 502 X suitably different to its older sibling, even if the 19/17 wheel combination indicate that not that much off-roading is actually anticipated – much the same as most of the adventure sector then