NOT YET

The Benelli TRK 251 had so much promise…

- Janak Sorap

I have been lucky enough to spend a substantial amount of saddle time on different bikes, including adventure motorcycles. There is a bunch of factors that are a must on such motorcycles — suspension setup, comfort, low vibrations, low-end torque, progressive brakes, enough tank capacity, and luggagecarrying capability. Now, I had the TRK 251 for about three days wherein I ended up riding it most in the city, followed by a highway jaunt, and just a fair bit off-road. Does that raise an eyebrow or two in confusion? If it did, you are not the only one. Benelli has classified the TRK 251 as an entry-level adventure-touring bike, but in reality, this bike is more of a street bike with an adventure look.

The TRK 251 is more or less a slimmed-down version of the TRK 502, so it has a similar-looking body with the beak-type front end, twin headlamps, a windscreen, a luggage rack at the back, and large wellcushioned seats. With the riding triangle, the stance is similar but slightly slimmer between the legs. Otherwise the single-piece tall handlebar is at a good height that is easy to reach, saddle height is approachable at 800 mm, and the location of the footpegs is just about correct. All of that results in a riding experience that works as long as you are riding within the city.