To answer your question about the crash bars - I've dropped my TRK 502x a number of times off road so far, most recently onto a solid slab of rock with large boulders sat on top of it (and once on road with the weight of a full load of luggage - totally user error!) and they and the rest of the bike are still as good as new, save for the obvious minor scuffing to the bars where they contacted ground. I was also unfortunatley T boned by a car about six weeks ago that decided to rush out of a junction between two other lanes of waiting traffic either side of it at a red light. The car hit the left side crash bar and the bike went down on the road onto the right side crash bar. Again, it did a fantastic job of keeping the bike protected and remarkably, still don't appear to show any notable damage beyond light paint damage (and I mean really light - the protective paint is pretty durable!) themselves. They may not be pretty but they're certainly up to the job.
Bought the 502 at the beginning of August, after a lifetime on large capacity bikes. I cannot fault it. Comfy, plenty quick enough, all day riding comfort in fact. The published weight is incorrect, its a lot lighter, and it all vanishes when moving. Handles great, very planted. The spec is amazing and the build quality is on a par with anything Japanese that I have owned. It looks amazing as well. 300 mile tank range is a blessing nowadays, almost 70mpg.
Great bike for the money. Had one for just over a year. Very comfortable, quick enough, weight is the only problem I have when handling around the garage that’s not helped by my advancing years. My bike has been garaged, and looks as good now as it was when I had it.
Great review ER. Have my 502 1 yr now,5200 miles and use it for commuting,pleasure.No faults yet.Changed a few bolts for Titanium (rear rack ) and marine grade stainless steel (sump guard). Does everything asked,great in the wind due to the weight.Spares are available from China direct and Polish distributor Krakow parts. Keep it garaged it will last with basic and regular tlc.
I've had one for 2.5yrs and only issue was my own doing and broke the handguard. I fitted a two teeth smaller rear sprocket I bought from Italy as it was a bit buzzy for touring on main Rd. It dropped the revs by nearly a thousand and turned it into the bike it should be. Love it.
Your usual quality review of what appears to be a pretty competent machine, ER. Benelli is another of those classic Italian marques like Moto Morini which were 'rescued' by the Chinese. The 750 and 900 Sei machines of the mid 1970's were six cylinder bikes that could easily rival the multi cylinder Japanese offerings.
Good review Exeter!! I know what you're saying about the 500 engine. I was expecting the Rebel 500 to be a bit under powered when I first got on it. ( Especially since I'm used to a 1000 ). But it was perfectly fine. No real problems doing anything really.
Liked it, bought it, sold it, yup, all in 6 months! Nothing wrong with the bike whatsoever, just had small incident and NO spares whatsoever available! Made me so angry thought stuff it, imagine having a serious incident and being off the road for months!!! Very good review X'ter!
Thanks mate, yes that's understandable, but I have found nearly all brands have issues for the last year. Some Honda parts you can't get till next year.... Even then who knows 👍
Blimey DD, sorry to hear that, thought you were still enjoying conquering the island on your big Benelli. Brand confidence is a big part of any bike buying decision for me. I still have difficulty believing that these chinese brands are really going to support their products long term but in your case maybe it was, as ER suggests, just part of a larger global problem with parts supply. So what are you riding these days ? Cheers, ER
go traduire :) salut je suis français nous avons des pièce en stock et l'italie peux reconstruire la moto entièrement mais vue que vous avez quitté l'europe vous n'ette plus prioritaire je pense car en france il nous garantie 5 ANS sur toute piece
Hey Exeter. You probably won't remember me. But some time ago, you reviewed the Benelli 752s, the exact colour of my 752s. At the time, I'd only just bought mine and three weeks after, I bought a TRK 502X in yellow. I can confirm that these bikes are better than I expected. I'm surprised how well I can filter on my TRK.
1911? Bloody hell I never knew that, fair play. Certainly looks a lot of fit, plenty of bars and crash protections Plenty of poke from that engine, definitely would surprise a few people I think it looks very neat, especially at the front Great review mate. Hope you're well.
Thanks Sir, Yes its speced well for the price. Centre stand, crash bars, comfy seat etc etc. A lot to be said for it. Yes all good fella, hope you doing well too and looking forward to the weekend which seems a lifetime away at the moment!
Looks like a serious chunk of bike there. I think the Italians design great looking bikes. Very good review, you always tell us what we practically need to know. Hope you are recovered from the lurgey now.
Thanks Lilly, I'm back to work tommorow but just drained all the time TBH. Its going to be a long day tommorow : ( And yes I try to get all the onfo over but a lot is cut out too, or the videos would be 1 hour long lol...Hope your well : )
Had my 502x a little over 6 months now (same color) and while I absolutely love it , i do feel it has some issues. The indicators have began to malfunction and had to be sent in for repair twice already with the switch flat out stopping working apparently due to water damage ? which is strange as the bike is kept sheltered and only rides in the rain quite rarely , The stock rear brake is absolute rubbish and my advice to anyone is to swap out those stock pads with HH immediately. The front however being dual caliper is absolutely fine. The bike weighs quite alot for a 500cc motor which can be a little hard to get used to if you arent used to riding a large bike or are below 5'8 this may prove a problem to keep the bike upright at a stop , even with my height i sometimes find the weight can be a little off putting and hard to keep up. when full of fuel the bike is 230kg add your own weight to that and you've got the weight of some 1000cc bikes which to me is a bit mad. The stock tires are ....meh , they arent bad but aren't amazing (again this is subjective). The bike itself does pack some decent power for motorway cruising but those vibrations do not go away i promise you and if anything have gotten worse over its 6 months and 7500km driving. I do think that for its price range its a fantastic entry level A2 tourer that will suit the average joe soap or a large person such as myself (6ft 3) who wants the comfort of a GS without spending GS money, but don't buy this expecting GS quality , it is a Chinese bike and some of the cost cutting measures do show such as the interface switches which in my opinion are absolutely horrendous non tactile and squishy. Last thing I will say is the stock battery is absolutely woeful and i had to replace mine at 6000 as it just died.... no reason , no damage, not left idle for too long just one morning going to work went kaput and according to the guys at the dealership isnt the first time its happened on the 502x or 502. So i suppose the main point im trying to get across to anyone considering this bike is , Do it. Its not world class and mind blowing in terms of quality but my got is comfortable , easy to ride , looks the part , great sound and hassle free ( in most cases) but do be aware of some of the negatives ive pointed out !
I saw this at the Motorcycle Live this year, I thought that it looked it great for the cost, and soon as I have sold my 4 month old e-motorbike I will be buy one in yellow. Also great review thanks.
Thanks for the review, the picture quality is excellent. How would you compare it to versys 650? They look pretty similar, but this one could be a bit more comfy?
Total different tbh mate. NC is better on the motorways etc but it dosent feel nice and big like the TRK. Cant go wrong with a Honda of course but there is something about the TRK......Also you get a lot as standard with the TRK
Just catching up on your videos ER, this one is great I liked the voice over introduction before you switched to helmet audio as well as the multiple camera shots which are undoubtedly more effort, gives a kind of professional edge. I considered the Benelli but went for the slightly lighter Voge 500DSX, but I would be happy on either. Look forward to more reviews :)
@@exeterrider I have enjoyed it and done 5000 miles now, just 3000 on a Europe trip (by all means check out the videos 🙂). I have learnt that perhaps I should of bought the 500DS and not DSX as I rarely go offroad and would have more tyre options with a 17inch front. Secondly, we've struggled a little with the servicing, I took it to a local garage as the dealers are very far away from me. Was very difficult to remove the rocker cover to get the valve clearance done without dropping the engine, and we couldn't get much support or any technical docs. So I gather there was a lot of swearing and cut knuckles but they got there in the end...
@@exeterrider Very kind of you sir, I'm a big fan of your content and style as well! There seems to be a more honest and authentic feeling with channels like yours perhaps having
Thanks for the review . Think I may pull the trigger on one of these just sold my himilayan , was also considering a nc750x, but do like the big bike feel of the trk .
@@exeterrider iam in Nottingham and no demo bikes available up here not local anyway. I was the person who asked you the other week for the trk review , and you delivered 🤣 thankyou..
Excellent real world first impressions review ER,clearly Benelli are serious about producing excellent quality,well equipped budget machine s for us to buy. I’ve heard there is a 800 parallel twin version in the pipeline & hopefully coming our way. Hoping you’ll get your hands on one to test for us. Top job Buddy 👍
Well i t looks good it sounds great what's not to like really ER great job as per mate, I never knew this even existed before today Nice bike ,what would you say between Enfield quality and the Benelli quality similar price to the Interceptor and power too it seems ,different style of course but discounting green laning ?👌👍
Hi, RE materials is better id say, and alot goes into the finishing department. The Benelli finish is still good but just slightly under RE id say. Not a lot in it though. The Benelli feels almost better value due to it feeling more like a 850 GS so feels like a big capable bike. Green laming on the TRK, I think I would pass. Its too top heavy for my confidence and seems better as a tourer to me. Thanks Crumbley👍
Nice review again Exmouth ! There is a lot to like about this bike but for me, it's priced a bit too steeply. There is not so much difference to the CB500X and I'd just feel much more confident investing my money in one of those over one of these. For me it needs to be at least 500 quid cheaper really. I did look at one, was offered a test ride on one but when the dealer told me it was going to cost over €7000 OTR with the hard luggage thrown in, I went pale and lost all interest 😂 Didn't even take it out for a spin. Too steep for me. Especially for a brand where I'm not sure how well they are going to support their previous products in say, five to ten years time. Brand confidence is a big factor in my buying decisions. I buy bikes with a view to keeping them forever, although of course more often than not I do end up selling them after a few years. But I still struggle to have much confidence in these chinese brands and their support of their products. I guess it's still too early to say. I'm sure their bikes are pretty good these days, it's just the spares support which concerns me. Are they only interested in selling new bikes perhaps ? I'm a bit wary, need to give them another five years or so and maybe they'll convince me. Funny how you keep testing bikes which appeal to me. If you test one which I've never considered buying, I'll be sure to let you know ! 🤗 Cheers Exmouth, El Otro.
Yes I know where you coming from there.. The 500x is almost faultless, but now I've tried both I feel that the 500x does need a centre stand ideally, and a better screen and most importantly the 500x is a bike people generally buy and then yearn for more power, where as the TRK feels like its a bigger bike and almost more capable and feels you can go a further distance. I'm still torn with it myself, and regarding parts, I think nearly all brands such as all the Japanese brands have issues at the moment, some Honda parts have a 4 month wait list, BMW GS wiring looms are made in Ukraine so cant get them at the moment. So in my eyes the parts are at the moment on par with others. The TRK is nicer to ride as well. But I get what you mean , I felt the same way when this bike came out in 2018 but infact its proved pretty steadfast through the years. The pricing is close though for sure. My heart says TRK, my brain says 500X. El Outro Thanks for your time Exmouth
@@exeterrider I think if it was 500 quid cheaper that would probably be the difference between taking a punt on them or not. I genuinely believe that would be the case, not just for me, but for many. They have to compensate for the understandable lack of brand confidence at the moment somehow and by being as good as, if not better than the competition AND by being significantly cheaper, they would have a real chance at imposing themselves on this segment. If they could just be a tad less greedy I think they would sell more of these bikes and in the end be better off. For me the jury is still out. I trust their bikes, I just don't completely trust their ability to support their older products. Thankfully you'll keep me posted on such matters Exmouth ! Take care and keep testing bikes I'd like to buy 😃 Saludos amigo, El Otro.
Had this bike (and a dealer/service centre) been available locally I would have considered this when I was looking to buy a bike 4 years ago. It would have to be very much cheaper than my NC was to have persuaded me though.
I have road 6s going on my nc in a couple of weeks. I must admit I have a unstable relationship with metzeler. They seem OK for the first 2 k then seem to become alot more Slippery.... Probably just me. Thanks flat cap 👍
Thanks Carl, it's not easy mate. It takes a lot of building up over the years.... The video I put out today is on Lympstone beech and nearly pass by the barracks BTW....total fluke really because it was filmed before your asked👍
Lol yes those curbs can be a issue. Is a much better fuelling wise than the VOGE but there isn't much completion there. These Benelli bikes have been round since 2017 so are will set up compared to the VOGE brand. Although I liked the 650 as a bike, the engine was a let down as I'm sure you will agree, the Voge 500 range is great but the strength of the Benelli brand is a safer bet it seems. Fuelling is Brill on the TRK. Pros and cons with both but the Benelli wins with brand confidence👍
Great review, do you have any experience with the 502 version, going to ride on road only so wondering if the 502 version which is slightly lower would be better, but I prefer the look of the 502x 😀😀
@@exeterrider Hi, what I mean is you are on the 502x but there is also the 502 with smaller front wheel and is lower, I was just wondering if you had any experience of both variants. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks very much for the coffee again Simon. I appreciate it hugely. Yes the bike is really smart in yellow for sure. You get a lot for the money . Thanks E.R
Great review! The only questions I have is that you mention in this review that the bike has 190mm ground clearance. Is this not for the road-biased bike and this TRK 502X has 220 mm ground clearance? My other questions is, if this would be a good budget bike to do the TET with? (I live in Belgium). At the moment, I'm also looking at the Himalayan, but I need some extra power for my work-home route which is almost completely highway. Thanks in advance for the information!
Hi ....Good point about the ground clearance....Truth is I'm not sure now ,but I think with what your saying the himalayan would be the way to go for the trails, the TRK is lumpy and would be easier to drop but good on the road, also on the trails you will have to concentrate with the weight more which can take the fun out of things. Question.....have you considered the BMW850GS, budget is up there but that could suit all your needs?
@@exeterrider Hi, thank you for the information. Yeah he BMW850Gs was certainly an option for me but to high of a budget. The TRK 502X is much more within my budget.
@@exeterrider hi (see comment below). But I really like the TRK 502X, but I'm just curious how the overall sturdiness is of the bike. I have a sidecar motorcycle where I go off-roading with (Ural sidecar), but I want an affordable bike (with enough performance) that I can drop now and then and can keep on riding. Do you think the TRK will be able to keep up with the abuse? Thanks in advance for the advice and the great video's! :)
3:29 Sorry for the erelevant comment but In what country you live that the cost of unleaded is 1,65 while 2 months ago here in Greece it was 2,05 and now its 1,95....???? By the way I own a TRK 502 of '21and I am loving it!!!
@@typhoontim125 The Honda will be bullet proof,sell at high re-sale , and is light enough for short trips down theshop, The TRK will be better for touring,feels more capable and is speced higher, comfort level is higher too.
For 5k is about right for a Chinese bike. The finishing of the bike is very poor and feels cheap. It’s also a heavy bike loaded up with pillion it would struggle on long trips. However for an entry level adventure I cannot fault the price.
I didn't find the bike had a poor finish at all tbh.... Yes underneath the finish was questionable but acceptable. 2 up riding is OK, but your not going to Jane the pet of a 800 for example.... Its a well priced machine and comfortable to ride.
@@exeterrider I had a really good look at one at bike live ( NEC) this year. I’m not calling the bike as for the price it cannot really be knocked other than the resell value. For an entry level 500cc it’s good value for your hard earned brass.
@@exeterrider that’s what I said to our lads if you buy one you’ll have to keep it. But for 5k is about right. The new 900 they have brought out £9100 is ridiculous for me. They keep pumping the 890 KTM discontinued over heating engine but for 9k your in the jap 800 price band.
He said 'it might be' ... I am 6ft and wear an Arai X4 helmet with a peak and can say that I am able to sit at 70 - 80mph with zero buffeting and can turn my head either way with no wind issues ... stock screen
I will be making a video on this subject. You get more for your money with the TRK , its nicer to ride, centre stand,decent seat all as standard. The TRK feels more evergreen as well so it dosent egg you on to upgrade because it feels a big bike... But the CB500x Is such a strong dependable bike . My heart says TRK, my mind says CB500. TRK will give you more enjoyment I feel.
They are both heavy to be honest john. And they do much the same thing but I have a review coming up on the 650 strom which dosent look as nice as the TRK but they both have funny looking front ends to be fair.. Its almost like there is no wrong decision there . The Suzuki has slightly more power and the V-twin is superb. My advice would be to sit on both on the same day, only then will you feel the bike and the decision will come to you. If you will be riding with a pillion then the 650 is the best option.
Great informative and easy to understand review i love the Benallie's so much i started my own reviews and vlogs on my 502c ruclips.net/video/Q4buEvEU4P0/видео.html Some say its cheating to use the same platform for your bikes but i think Benelli has really hit the essence of it by not messing about with the engines and transmissions. from the street bike all be it a 750cc with a bit more of everything the Trail TRK 502c and leoncino 500 they all have the same 47 BHP and 45.5 ish Torque figures they all perform well and all are very very good value for money. Yes the fit n finish is not that of a BMW but the Equivalent BM say the F700gs was £8,599.00 back in 2018 and the new TRK is £5,999.00 on the road with a 2-year warranty source of price MCN web.
The nc is better built for sure, not as comfortable as the TRK though. can't go wrong with a Honda on every level tbh but the nc stock seat isn't great 👍
@@exeterrider currently u could take the Trk502x 2020 for 1000Eur less than the NC700X dct (with custom seat and windscreen). Wondering how to proceed for a city commuter.
Thanks mate, yes the whole dash seems to like changing its mind all the time. Perhaps not helped by the huge tank on this one so perhaps the float dosent know if its coming out going. I reckon you would enjoy the TRK. 👍
@@KevinDaken10% is still poor the Benelli I rode showed 80 on speedo and 71 on Satnav thats not good enough, riders get the idea the machine is better than reality.
@@KevinDaken my comment is not as you infer, a "measure of quality" rather an inference the Benelli is lacking in true performance! We all know Ducati's do not lack in performance even if the speedo fibs.
My speedo is accurate to 50mph, it only reads a little over at 70mph. I have a GPS to compare it to that gives me audible 'you are over the limit, slow down' warnings at around 75mph.
Riding a motorcycle wearing a T shirt is really stupid, if you come off, the skin will be removed from your arms, as a seasoned rider you should know better.
It was only drive bys on a quiet road in 25 degree heat. It was unbearable that day. On and off the bike to set the camera up I had to draw the line or I stand more risk of conking out due to the heat. Each to there own 👍it read only for those shots then I put my jacket on for the easy home. I wasn't in a t-shirt getting there or the way home 👍
Thats okay, everyone can make their own choices. I came off over thirty years ago, I slid along the road, my leather jacket arm was ripped to spreads, a new jacket was no problem, having the skin on my arm put back..not so easy.
To answer your question about the crash bars - I've dropped my TRK 502x a number of times off road so far, most recently onto a solid slab of rock with large boulders sat on top of it (and once on road with the weight of a full load of luggage - totally user error!) and they and the rest of the bike are still as good as new, save for the obvious minor scuffing to the bars where they contacted ground. I was also unfortunatley T boned by a car about six weeks ago that decided to rush out of a junction between two other lanes of waiting traffic either side of it at a red light. The car hit the left side crash bar and the bike went down on the road onto the right side crash bar. Again, it did a fantastic job of keeping the bike protected and remarkably, still don't appear to show any notable damage beyond light paint damage (and I mean really light - the protective paint is pretty durable!) themselves. They may not be pretty but they're certainly up to the job.
I really appreciate your help on this comment. I will pin this to the top, thank you 👍🍻
Bought the 502 at the beginning of August, after a lifetime on large capacity bikes. I cannot fault it. Comfy, plenty quick enough, all day riding comfort in fact. The published weight is incorrect, its a lot lighter, and it all vanishes when moving. Handles great, very planted. The spec is amazing and the build quality is on a par with anything Japanese that I have owned. It looks amazing as well. 300 mile tank range is a blessing nowadays, almost 70mpg.
Brill , A highly under rated bike I think.
Enjoyed this review👍 just purchased a 502x and enjoying it so far! Less power than my Suzuki Bandit but a lot more comfortable😃
It's a nicer ride too I expect. It feels a real big bike dosent it....Good value for money!
how many miles you got i own now a suzuki gsxf 750 1998 sport tourer and looking to buy in the near future the 502trk
This was a loan bike not my own 👍🍻
Great bike for the money. Had one for just over a year. Very comfortable, quick enough, weight is the only problem I have when handling around the garage that’s not helped by my advancing years. My bike has been garaged, and looks as good now as it was when I had it.
Brill Peter , nice to hear from a TRK owner, but yes , it uses some grey matter pushing it around dosent it. Thanks
The price/money ratio is excellent here. Great review bro. Enjoyed it. This is or at least was the top selling bike in Italy. :)
I've just come back from cypress, and Benelli's are everywhere there. As you say the value is very good...hope your well : )
@@exeterrider Aha, nice. Yeah, I believe you. I am fine. :)
Great review ER. Have my 502 1 yr now,5200 miles and use it for commuting,pleasure.No faults yet.Changed a few bolts for Titanium (rear rack ) and marine grade stainless steel (sump guard). Does everything asked,great in the wind due to the weight.Spares are available from China direct and Polish distributor Krakow parts. Keep it garaged it will last with basic and regular tlc.
Great to hear! Yes Ali ,seems to be a good place to go for spares and extras. I am pleased you were pleased with the review....Thanks for watching.
Great review as always mate, had the benelli leoncino 500, brilliant bike with no issues, keep up the good work 🇮🇪🇮🇪
Thanks! 👍 Good to hear from some Benelli owners. I would like to try the Leoncino! Looks a fun bike!
I've had one for 2.5yrs and only issue was my own doing and broke the handguard. I fitted a two teeth smaller rear sprocket I bought from Italy as it was a bit buzzy for touring on main Rd. It dropped the revs by nearly a thousand and turned it into the bike it should be. Love it.
Thats great, loosing a couple of teeth was a good idea....I would do the same I think.
Your usual quality review of what appears to be a pretty competent machine, ER. Benelli is another of those classic Italian marques like Moto Morini which were 'rescued' by the Chinese. The 750 and 900 Sei machines of the mid 1970's were six cylinder bikes that could easily rival the multi cylinder Japanese offerings.
It seems to be a common theme with these companys being rescued by India or China. Shame really but needs must. Thanks Jim.
Good review Exeter!! I know what you're saying about the 500 engine. I was expecting the Rebel 500 to be a bit under powered when I first got on it. ( Especially since I'm used to a 1000 ). But it was perfectly fine. No real problems doing anything really.
500 seems to be a good haig medium 👍
Thanks for the video.. nice to hear about the quality of yhe build side of this bike .. im looking at the 702x...
Yeap, no complaints here mate 👍🍻
Mate what is that tune at the end.
Absolute banger, takes me back to the days of matt Darrey at Heaven.
Good review also👍👍
Old skool🧓🏻😎👍👍👍👍🙏🍻
Liked it, bought it, sold it, yup, all in 6 months! Nothing wrong with the bike whatsoever, just had small incident and NO spares whatsoever available! Made me so angry thought stuff it, imagine having a serious incident and being off the road for months!!! Very good review X'ter!
Thanks mate, yes that's understandable, but I have found nearly all brands have issues for the last year. Some Honda parts you can't get till next year.... Even then who knows 👍
Blimey DD, sorry to hear that, thought you were still enjoying conquering the island on your big Benelli.
Brand confidence is a big part of any bike buying decision for me. I still have difficulty believing that these chinese brands are really going to support their products long term but in your case maybe it was, as ER suggests, just part of a larger global problem with parts supply.
So what are you riding these days ?
Cheers,
ER
go traduire :) salut je suis français nous avons des pièce en stock et l'italie peux reconstruire la moto entièrement mais vue que vous avez quitté l'europe vous n'ette plus prioritaire je pense car en france il nous garantie 5 ANS sur toute piece
Hey Exeter. You probably won't remember me. But some time ago, you reviewed the Benelli 752s, the exact colour of my 752s. At the time, I'd only just bought mine and three weeks after, I bought a TRK 502X in yellow. I can confirm that these bikes are better than I expected. I'm surprised how well I can filter on my TRK.
Yes your user name does ring a bell....The TRK is a pleasant surprise isn't it...I felt the same way. Thanks for coming back here for more mate.
1911? Bloody hell I never knew that, fair play.
Certainly looks a lot of fit, plenty of bars and crash protections
Plenty of poke from that engine, definitely would surprise a few people
I think it looks very neat, especially at the front
Great review mate. Hope you're well.
Thanks Sir, Yes its speced well for the price. Centre stand, crash bars, comfy seat etc etc. A lot to be said for it. Yes all good fella, hope you doing well too and looking forward to the weekend which seems a lifetime away at the moment!
Looks like a serious chunk of bike there. I think the Italians design great looking bikes. Very good review, you always tell us what we practically need to know.
Hope you are recovered from the lurgey now.
Thanks Lilly, I'm back to work tommorow but just drained all the time TBH. Its going to be a long day tommorow : ( And yes I try to get all the onfo over but a lot is cut out too, or the videos would be 1 hour long lol...Hope your well : )
Take it very easy. A bit of cosseting is in order. I'm just dandy thanks.
Great man, there are too many unnecessary video reviews of this bike and for the first time we can see how to move it with the engine off. 👏 👏 👏
🙏👍
Had my 502x a little over 6 months now (same color) and while I absolutely love it , i do feel it has some issues. The indicators have began to malfunction and had to be sent in for repair twice already with the switch flat out stopping working apparently due to water damage ? which is strange as the bike is kept sheltered and only rides in the rain quite rarely , The stock rear brake is absolute rubbish and my advice to anyone is to swap out those stock pads with HH immediately. The front however being dual caliper is absolutely fine. The bike weighs quite alot for a 500cc motor which can be a little hard to get used to if you arent used to riding a large bike or are below 5'8 this may prove a problem to keep the bike upright at a stop , even with my height i sometimes find the weight can be a little off putting and hard to keep up. when full of fuel the bike is 230kg add your own weight to that and you've got the weight of some 1000cc bikes which to me is a bit mad. The stock tires are ....meh , they arent bad but aren't amazing (again this is subjective). The bike itself does pack some decent power for motorway cruising but those vibrations do not go away i promise you and if anything have gotten worse over its 6 months and 7500km driving. I do think that for its price range its a fantastic entry level A2 tourer that will suit the average joe soap or a large person such as myself (6ft 3) who wants the comfort of a GS without spending GS money, but don't buy this expecting GS quality , it is a Chinese bike and some of the cost cutting measures do show such as the interface switches which in my opinion are absolutely horrendous non tactile and squishy. Last thing I will say is the stock battery is absolutely woeful and i had to replace mine at 6000 as it just died.... no reason , no damage, not left idle for too long just one morning going to work went kaput and according to the guys at the dealership isnt the first time its happened on the 502x or 502.
So i suppose the main point im trying to get across to anyone considering this bike is , Do it. Its not world class and mind blowing in terms of quality but my got is comfortable , easy to ride , looks the part , great sound and hassle free ( in most cases) but do be aware of some of the negatives ive pointed out !
Spot on there. Yes its a well priced bike and its good to hear a owners view on it. Thanks for taking the time to write that and watch the video.
Agree on vibrations they are terrible
Excellent positive review confirmed my decision to buy one.
Elle mate, that's cool, enjoy it👍😎🍻
I saw this at the Motorcycle Live this year, I thought that it looked it great for the cost, and soon as I have sold my 4 month old e-motorbike I will be buy one in yellow. Also great review thanks.
Thanks Jay, Yes get a test ride mate : )
Cracking review buddy, nice looking bike
Not a lover of those plastic controls, but for the money its a game changer
Thanks RB. Yes it's well sourced for the money for sure. Quite impressive to ride as well. Have a good week 👍
Excellent review... exactly what i was looking for, nice sound out of the exhaust...subbed...👍👍
Thanks for the sub! Much appreciated 👍
Thanks for the review, the picture quality is excellent. How would you compare it to versys 650? They look pretty similar, but this one could be a bit more comfy?
Not ridden the versys, I struggle to get hold of Kawasakis sadly.
Really interested to know how you think it compares to your NC750X in the comfort and cruising department. Thanks for a great review 😊
Total different tbh mate. NC is better on the motorways etc but it dosent feel nice and big like the TRK. Cant go wrong with a Honda of course but there is something about the TRK......Also you get a lot as standard with the TRK
Great review ER. It’s sounds good when you were blipping the throttle
It has a nice burble. Thanks EMA 👍
Just catching up on your videos ER, this one is great I liked the voice over introduction before you switched to helmet audio as well as the multiple camera shots which are undoubtedly more effort, gives a kind of professional edge. I considered the Benelli but went for the slightly lighter Voge 500DSX, but I would be happy on either. Look forward to more reviews :)
The VOGE 500 is a good bike. How are you getting on with it, all good? Have you put many miles on it?
@@exeterrider I have enjoyed it and done 5000 miles now, just 3000 on a Europe trip (by all means check out the videos 🙂). I have learnt that perhaps I should of bought the 500DS and not DSX as I rarely go offroad and would have more tyre options with a 17inch front. Secondly, we've struggled a little with the servicing, I took it to a local garage as the dealers are very far away from me. Was very difficult to remove the rocker cover to get the valve clearance done without dropping the engine, and we couldn't get much support or any technical docs. So I gather there was a lot of swearing and cut knuckles but they got there in the end...
Had a quick look, really good content, well done....subbed
@@exeterrider Very kind of you sir, I'm a big fan of your content and style as well! There seems to be a more honest and authentic feeling with channels like yours perhaps having
Thanks for the review . Think I may pull the trigger on one of these just sold my himilayan , was also considering a nc750x, but do like the big bike feel of the trk .
No wrong choice there Jim. Are you near exeter? Try the demo CMS has while they still have it?
@@exeterrider iam in Nottingham and no demo bikes available up here not local anyway. I was the person who asked you the other week for the trk review , and you delivered 🤣 thankyou..
@@JIMWSMITH yes, I remember thinking that's ironic when I had the ride booked in lol. Let me know if you get one 👍
Currently (dec 23)you get givi luggage included..nice
It's a good deal 👍
Nice bike but ill not be giving up the GSA just yet nice review as always mate.
The GSA is top of the tree mate....Thanks : )
Excellent real world first impressions review ER,clearly Benelli are serious about producing excellent quality,well equipped budget machine s for us to buy. I’ve heard there is a 800 parallel twin version in the pipeline & hopefully coming our way.
Hoping you’ll get your hands on one to test for us.
Top job Buddy 👍
Thanks John, Yes the 800 looks great , I hope I can give one a try sometime and report back to you....Thanks
If I suddenly became 5' 8" - 5' 9" I would have tighten my Jeans belt around my forehead ..........
I'd like to see that!
Well i t looks good it sounds great what's not to like really ER great job as per mate, I never knew this even existed before today Nice bike ,what would you say between Enfield quality and the Benelli quality similar price to the Interceptor and power too it seems ,different style of course but discounting green laning ?👌👍
Hi, RE materials is better id say, and alot goes into the finishing department. The Benelli finish is still good but just slightly under RE id say. Not a lot in it though. The Benelli feels almost better value due to it feeling more like a 850 GS so feels like a big capable bike. Green laming on the TRK, I think I would pass. Its too top heavy for my confidence and seems better as a tourer to me. Thanks Crumbley👍
Nice review again Exmouth !
There is a lot to like about this bike but for me, it's priced a bit too steeply. There is not so much difference to the CB500X and I'd just feel much more confident investing my money in one of those over one of these. For me it needs to be at least 500 quid cheaper really. I did look at one, was offered a test ride on one but when the dealer told me it was going to cost over €7000 OTR with the hard luggage thrown in, I went pale and lost all interest 😂 Didn't even take it out for a spin. Too steep for me. Especially for a brand where I'm not sure how well they are going to support their previous products in say, five to ten years time.
Brand confidence is a big factor in my buying decisions. I buy bikes with a view to keeping them forever, although of course more often than not I do end up selling them after a few years. But I still struggle to have much confidence in these chinese brands and their support of their products. I guess it's still too early to say. I'm sure their bikes are pretty good these days, it's just the spares support which concerns me. Are they only interested in selling new bikes perhaps ? I'm a bit wary, need to give them another five years or so and maybe they'll convince me.
Funny how you keep testing bikes which appeal to me. If you test one which I've never considered buying, I'll be sure to let you know ! 🤗
Cheers Exmouth,
El Otro.
Yes I know where you coming from there.. The 500x is almost faultless, but now I've tried both I feel that the 500x does need a centre stand ideally, and a better screen and most importantly the 500x is a bike people generally buy and then yearn for more power, where as the TRK feels like its a bigger bike and almost more capable and feels you can go a further distance. I'm still torn with it myself, and regarding parts, I think nearly all brands such as all the Japanese brands have issues at the moment, some Honda parts have a 4 month wait list, BMW GS wiring looms are made in Ukraine so cant get them at the moment. So in my eyes the parts are at the moment on par with others. The TRK is nicer to ride as well.
But I get what you mean , I felt the same way when this bike came out in 2018 but infact its proved pretty steadfast through the years.
The pricing is close though for sure. My heart says TRK, my brain says 500X.
El Outro
Thanks for your time
Exmouth
@@exeterrider I think if it was 500 quid cheaper that would probably be the difference between taking a punt on them or not. I genuinely believe that would be the case, not just for me, but for many.
They have to compensate for the understandable lack of brand confidence at the moment somehow and by being as good as, if not better than the competition AND by being significantly cheaper, they would have a real chance at imposing themselves on this segment. If they could just be a tad less greedy I think they would sell more of these bikes and in the end be better off.
For me the jury is still out.
I trust their bikes, I just don't completely trust their ability to support their older products.
Thankfully you'll keep me posted on such matters Exmouth !
Take care and keep testing bikes I'd like to buy 😃
Saludos amigo,
El Otro.
Great review ER, looks really nice and it sounds gorgeous.
It's a smart machine 👍🏍️
Had this bike (and a dealer/service centre) been available locally I would have considered this when I was looking to buy a bike 4 years ago. It would have to be very much cheaper than my NC was to have persuaded me though.
I think it's a 2 k saving or so. The NC is a very different bike. The nc is better on the highways for sure 👍
Nicely done! Personally not a fan of the Metzler Tourrance on the Tiger 900, now the Michelin Road 6s are great.
I have road 6s going on my nc in a couple of weeks. I must admit I have a unstable relationship with metzeler. They seem OK for the first 2 k then seem to become alot more Slippery.... Probably just me. Thanks flat cap 👍
Another outstanding review mate. Next time we're both on a live stream you can give us all some tips on how to get places to lend us some bikes🤣😂
Thanks Carl, it's not easy mate. It takes a lot of building up over the years.... The video I put out today is on Lympstone beech and nearly pass by the barracks BTW....total fluke really because it was filmed before your asked👍
vibrations are terrible on this bike, they never going to go. I had to sell it just because vibrations were killing my joints.
Ahh OK, I didn't find that the case tbh but maybe I had a good one?
Tires are made that vibrations. U neee to change to city grip tires. X use little offroad tires.
@@MrDadov thank you for advice. I have a city model - trk 502, vibrations come from engine
Ok looking bikes, great value, but incredibly heavy for that capacity.
They are lumpy but for the money I can live with that.
Looks good, sounds great. How does it compare to the Voge 650? Smoother I would imagine.
Careful on the curbs mate 🫣
Great review as always 👍🏼
Lol yes those curbs can be a issue.
Is a much better fuelling wise than the VOGE but there isn't much completion there. These Benelli bikes have been round since 2017 so are will set up compared to the VOGE brand. Although I liked the 650 as a bike, the engine was a let down as I'm sure you will agree, the Voge 500 range is great but the strength of the Benelli brand is a safer bet it seems. Fuelling is Brill on the TRK. Pros and cons with both but the Benelli wins with brand confidence👍
I like the yellow colour.Benelli don't offer them iN Germany.We got only Black,red and white.
The yellow is nice : ) /but they all look pretty good TBH
Ground clearance is 220 not 180 or 190mm. This is the X version.
Yes this is the X.
OK thanks, I was just going by the website👌👍🍻
Great review, do you have any experience with the 502 version, going to ride on road only so wondering if the 502 version which is slightly lower would be better, but I prefer the look of the 502x 😀😀
Hi Chris, this is the 502, do you mean something else?
@@exeterrider Hi, what I mean is you are on the 502x but there is also the 502 with smaller front wheel and is lower, I was just wondering if you had any experience of both variants. Sorry for the confusion.
@Chris Dagnall ahh got ya👍no only ridden the X 👍🍻
tis quite a big sturdy beast , looks quite smart in yellow ,,, has lots of gear so will weigh a bit,
Thanks very much for the coffee again Simon. I appreciate it hugely. Yes the bike is really smart in yellow for sure. You get a lot for the money . Thanks E.R
Great bike! I'm lusting after one.
You can do it!
Great review! The only questions I have is that you mention in this review that the bike has 190mm ground clearance. Is this not for the road-biased bike and this TRK 502X has 220 mm ground clearance? My other questions is, if this would be a good budget bike to do the TET with? (I live in Belgium). At the moment, I'm also looking at the Himalayan, but I need some extra power for my work-home route which is almost completely highway. Thanks in advance for the information!
Hi ....Good point about the ground clearance....Truth is I'm not sure now ,but I think with what your saying the himalayan would be the way to go for the trails, the TRK is lumpy and would be easier to drop but good on the road, also on the trails you will have to concentrate with the weight more which can take the fun out of things. Question.....have you considered the BMW850GS, budget is up there but that could suit all your needs?
@@exeterrider Hi, thank you for the information. Yeah he BMW850Gs was certainly an option for me but to high of a budget. The TRK 502X is much more within my budget.
@@exeterrider hi (see comment below). But I really like the TRK 502X, but I'm just curious how the overall sturdiness is of the bike. I have a sidecar motorcycle where I go off-roading with (Ural sidecar), but I want an affordable bike (with enough performance) that I can drop now and then and can keep on riding. Do you think the TRK will be able to keep up with the abuse? Thanks in advance for the advice and the great video's! :)
@@StudioMollie thanks yes I think it would take it but could soon get on your nerves picking it up when it's so heavy 😂
3:29 Sorry for the erelevant comment but In what country you live that the cost of unleaded is 1,65 while 2 months ago here in Greece it was 2,05 and now its 1,95....???? By the way I own a TRK 502 of '21and I am loving it!!!
Hi glad your enjoying the bike. Yes prices in GDP are all over the place here at the moment 😏
Great review mate
Thanks Chris, if you have any questions anytime, feel free to ask away👍
super nice package with nice extras .
You get a lot for your money for sure
Nice Review!
Thank you! Cheers!
Looks great in "DeWalt" yellow 😋
Ha yes good point, a bit like the CB500F I had 😄👍
@@exeterrider Ha! Well now that you mention Honda, how would you say the Benelli Trk502x compares to the Honda CB500x?. Great video.
@@exeterrider Apart from the yellow & black looking great, it helps to be seen which is super.
@@typhoontim125 The Honda will be bullet proof,sell at high re-sale , and is light enough for short trips down theshop, The TRK will be better for touring,feels more capable and is speced higher, comfort level is higher too.
Very true 👍🍻
Good review thanks. 👍
Thanks for your time watching 👍📺🍻
I never see Any Benellis about here. I own a 125 BN which is great. But I'm fast out growing it unfortunately
I know what you mean. The 500trk would be a good progression
@@exeterrider got my eye on the Honda CB500F 👀
@@milaskilathelab can't go wrong with that one
For 5k is about right for a Chinese bike. The finishing of the bike is very poor and feels cheap. It’s also a heavy bike loaded up with pillion it would struggle on long trips. However for an entry level adventure I cannot fault the price.
I didn't find the bike had a poor finish at all tbh.... Yes underneath the finish was questionable but acceptable.
2 up riding is OK, but your not going to Jane the pet of a 800 for example.... Its a well priced machine and comfortable to ride.
@@exeterrider I had a really good look at one at bike live ( NEC) this year. I’m not calling the bike as for the price it cannot really be knocked other than the resell value. For an entry level 500cc it’s good value for your hard earned brass.
@@Daz533 yeap that's the easy I see it mate... Question is do you put more into the pot for long term piece of mind. 👍🍻
@@exeterrider that’s what I said to our lads if you buy one you’ll have to keep it. But for 5k is about right. The new 900 they have brought out £9100 is ridiculous for me. They keep pumping the 890 KTM discontinued over heating engine but for 9k your in the jap 800 price band.
Great looking bike.
I think so too!
Newbie to the channel and in the process of doing the training for my full license.
This is the bike Id like so made up to see the feedback, cheers.
Good news, Thanks in glad it was helpful : )
How do you compare it to Voge 500DS? The premium suspension and brakes of the Voge might make it better?
Voge 500 in the UK are now defunkt. LEXMOTO bought the rights and call it the 500 pioneer .shame really, the 500ds was superb.
@@exeterrider yeah but still, you've ridden both of them.. which one is superior?
@@ChristosTsaousidis Id say the VOGE, The TRK is much heavier although more comfortable. but the VOGE was a good allrounder.
So the screen is crap for anyone 5 10 or over? As is the case with so many of these adventure bikes. 😢.
Style over practical usage😏👍
He said 'it might be' ... I am 6ft and wear an Arai X4 helmet with a peak and can say that I am able to sit at 70 - 80mph with zero buffeting and can turn my head either way with no wind issues ... stock screen
My frvt bike
😊👌
👍🍻
Hi ER, how would you compare this against the Honda CB500x?
I will be making a video on this subject. You get more for your money with the TRK , its nicer to ride, centre stand,decent seat all as standard. The TRK feels more evergreen as well so it dosent egg you on to upgrade because it feels a big bike... But the CB500x Is such a strong dependable bike . My heart says TRK, my mind says CB500. TRK will give you more enjoyment I feel.
@@exeterrider That'd be great, I'll look forward to it! I've been to see the guys at CMS and they're always happy to stop for a chat.
@@adamindevon Yes top bananas they are. See if you can test ride that TRK they have there. Worth a try.
lots of vibrations on this bike in any rpm range
I am in 2 minds between Suzuki V-strom 650 or Benelli 501Trek, Benelli might be too heavy? Advice appreciated.( Just subscribe to your channel).
They are both heavy to be honest john. And they do much the same thing but I have a review coming up on the 650 strom which dosent look as nice as the TRK but they both have funny looking front ends to be fair.. Its almost like there is no wrong decision there . The Suzuki has slightly more power and the V-twin is superb.
My advice would be to sit on both on the same day, only then will you feel the bike and the decision will come to you. If you will be riding with a pillion then the 650 is the best option.
@@exeterrider thanks I sat on the V-strom yesterday in show room but not the Benelli, appreciate the reply 👍
If you need anymore info you know where I am 👍
@@exeterrider thanks m8 👍
Very nice 👌
👍🍻
@@exeterrider cheers 🍻 brother
Hermosa es el escape es el original
Yes it is😉
people who buy these would probably buy a RE Interceptor 640.
Tightwads 😂
The last one in the pub, then ask for a lemonade to finish off the night.
Great bike 🙏🙏🙏🙏🇨🇦🇨🇦🙏🙏
It is 👍
Great informative and easy to understand review i love the Benallie's so much i started my own reviews and vlogs on my 502c ruclips.net/video/Q4buEvEU4P0/видео.html Some say its cheating to use the same platform for your bikes but i think Benelli has really hit the essence of it by not messing about with the engines and transmissions. from the street bike all be it a 750cc with a bit more of everything the Trail TRK 502c and leoncino 500 they all have the same 47 BHP and 45.5 ish Torque figures they all perform well and all are very very good value for money. Yes the fit n finish is not that of a BMW but the Equivalent BM say the F700gs was £8,599.00 back in 2018 and the new TRK is £5,999.00 on the road with a 2-year warranty source of price MCN web.
Is 5 ft 8 tall enough for this bike?
Yeap fine 👍same height as me
@@exeterrider can you flat foot on both feet?
Yes but only just when I "try too". It's not too bad... I have a 30 inch inside leg.
What is the actual Mpg and actual top speed. Thanks
About 70mpg and I didn't do a top speed run but about 100mph
@@exeterrider that's pretty good. How you think it compares to the Honda NC700x. Also isn't the seat height too tall for a rider let say 1.70m
The nc is better built for sure, not as comfortable as the TRK though. can't go wrong with a Honda on every level tbh but the nc stock seat isn't great 👍
@@exeterrider currently u could take the Trk502x 2020 for 1000Eur less than the NC700X dct (with custom seat and windscreen). Wondering how to proceed for a city commuter.
Tough one, my heart says if it was a 750x then I'd do that, but if its just the 700 then I'd get the TRK myself. No wrong decision there really.
what's the fuel range on it.
between 70 and 80 is average on it
Around 300 miles on a tank full.
Good bike, good review i liked it. Don't trust them Chinese speedo's they lie like a politician to make them look good?
Thanks mate, yes the whole dash seems to like changing its mind all the time. Perhaps not helped by the huge tank on this one so perhaps the float dosent know if its coming out going. I reckon you would enjoy the TRK. 👍
@@exeterrider I would enjoy it who wouldn't the right price and the firing sequence makes a far better sound than the Honda CB500X
@@KevinDaken10% is still poor the Benelli I rode showed 80 on speedo and 71 on Satnav thats not good enough, riders get the idea the machine is better than reality.
@@KevinDaken my comment is not as you infer, a "measure of quality" rather an inference the Benelli is lacking in true performance! We all know Ducati's do not lack in performance even if the speedo fibs.
My speedo is accurate to 50mph, it only reads a little over at 70mph. I have a GPS to compare it to that gives me audible 'you are over the limit, slow down' warnings at around 75mph.
Leoncino is pronounced Leonchino
Ahh is it, fair enough👍🍻
Riding a motorcycle wearing a T shirt is really stupid, if you come off, the skin will be removed from your arms, as a seasoned rider you should know better.
It was only drive bys on a quiet road in 25 degree heat. It was unbearable that day. On and off the bike to set the camera up I had to draw the line or I stand more risk of conking out due to the heat. Each to there own 👍it read only for those shots then I put my jacket on for the easy home. I wasn't in a t-shirt getting there or the way home 👍
P. S a 100 yard ride by is no biggy
Thats okay, everyone can make their own choices. I came off over thirty years ago, I slid along the road, my leather jacket arm was ripped to spreads, a new jacket was no problem, having the skin on my arm put back..not so easy.
@@jamesbarrie2458 Understandable James. Thanks for your input and comments. I do appreciate your support here. Thanks