The name Benelli has been synonymous with motorcycling for 113 years. Originally headquartered in Pesaro, Italy, it is the second-oldest manufacturer of motorcycles in Italy. In 2005, Benelli was sold to Quinjiang Motor Company of China, the same company responsible for manufacturing the SRK 1000RR in partnership with MV Agusta.
Benelli will be importing seven motorcycles for sale in 2024. These include the TRK 702 and 702X along with the TRK 502X. Other additions are the 302S street bike and the all-new Imperiiale 400; as well as the TNT135 mini model.
Benelli TRK 702 and 702X
Designed in Italy at Benelli’s R&D and style center in Pesaro, Italy, the TRK 702 and the 702X adventure bike both house a liquid-cooled fuel-injected 698 parallel-twin engine rated at 70 hp with 51.6 ft-lbs. of torque, mated to a six-speed gearbox through a slipper clutch and torque converter. The engine is homologated following Euro 5 emission standards. The chassis is a steel-trellis frame construction, with an aluminum swing-arm. Braking offers dual 320mm two-piston discs and a single 260mm rear disc.
Benellis TRK 502X
The bike has a 5-inch TFT color display with Bluetooth connectivity, including handlebar controls. The bike has a small windscreen, a 5.3-gallon fuel tank, and a center stand. LED headlights are standard, but options include heated grips and seats, a larger windscreen, and luggage for touring.
The 702X has grippier rubber, and a four-piston caliper beefier brake up front. Additionally, protection bars are available on the TRK 702.
Benellli’s 502X is the bestselling bike in Italy. A twin-cylinder DOHC engine produces 47.6 hp and 34 ft. lbs. of torque. The suspension boasts 5.5 inches of travel in front and 6 inches at the rear. Two-piston floating calipers using 320mm discs front and single-piston 260mm rear discs round out the braking. Wire-spoked 19/17 wheels complement the bike. Standard equipment includes handguards, adjustable handlebars, a center stand, crash bars, and a luggage rack. Aluminum side bags and a taller windscreen are options.
The rest of this article will review the TRK 702 as it is an all-new adventure-tourer, which is the most popular segment of the motorcycling community at present.
As Qianjiang Motor (QJ Motor) expands into North America, Benelli is enjoying a revival of fortunes in Italy, thanks to the popularity of the TRK 502. The TRK 702 tourer-oriented motorcycle is aimed at the market occupied by Kawasaki Versys 650 ($10,099 US) Aprilia Tuareg 6600 ($11,499 US) and Yamaha Tenere 700 ($10,799).
The TRK 702 will be marketed for $7,899 US. The TRK 702X will be priced at $8,499 US. At $3500 less than the Aprilia, $2100 less than Kawasaki and $2,200 less than the Tenere in the adventure model, pre-order sales for the Benellis is growing fast.
It would appear that none of the major motorcycle magazine companies have been able to review the TRK 702 to date, but once reviews are complete I’ll revisit this topic for a better look at how the bike performs on the road.
Ciao…
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