The Benelli TRK 502 may be a fully dressed adventure tourer, but its modest 500cc powertrain makes it a friendly and easy-to-live-with – yes, even for new riders. But, does it cut it as the perfect middleweight tourer?
Adventure tourers are increasingly gaining traction among motorcycle enthusiasts these days. And why shouldn’t they? This breed of motorcycles can take you on every kind of journey, dismissing every obstacle, topology or challenge that you’re faced with – including going off tarmac. Of course, depending on the scale of your adventure, there are several versions available on the market. You have full size adventure tourers featuring 1,0001,200cc engines, and smaller ones with 650-750cc engines. But, what if you want something even smaller?
Up until now, the only available option came from Honda’s stable in the form of the much-appreciated CB500X – it’s a different story that it’s not available in India. However, of late, there have been an onslaught of new small-to-medium engine capacity adventure touring machines in global markets. Some of these will also make it to the Indian market. And the first one of this new breed of affordable adventure tourers that’s expected to arrive on Indian shores is the Benelli TRK 502.
So, can it carve a niche for itself in a nascent market like India? Well, we’ve tested this 500cc motorcycle on and off road to find the answer.
This story is from the July 2017 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2017 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Honor-able Mention
Aiming at users who like premium smartphone features at mid-range prices, the new Honor X9b promises to offer it all. However, can it truly deliver on these promises?
LIGHTS OUT
MotoGP 2024 kicks off in style as the usual stars and a rookie sensation shine under Qatar floodlights.
'I've Seen How Quickly Things Can Change'
Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing discusses the level of competition that his team is facing in Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.
UNBEATBLE AGAIN!
The new season seems to unfold a familiar narrative Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen, all set to secure the championship once again.
Chilling Point
It's not every day you bid farewell to winter by frolicking in the snow. So, when the opportunity presented itself, we decided to master the art of chilling.
FULL THROTTLE
What happens when you put your foot down in a VW and refuse to lift it for 24 hours?
ICE BREAKER
If drifting an Audi on a frozen river in Lapland sounds exotic, well, that's because it is. Suffice to say, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - ALL your clothes!
DREAM DEBATE
GT3 RS or GT4 RS? Talk about first-world problems… but if you’re going to choose, you should be so lucky as to be in a position to decide between two of the most focussed driver’s cars ever made.
TEUTONIC COMBAT
BMW and Mercedes are once again trading punches - this time vying for supremacy in the realm of full-size luxury SUVs.
DRIVING IN STYLE
The updated Range Rover Velar offers a unique package-stylish, yet capable-but what do we think of it after spending a few days on the road with it?