This video is a god send. I took my bike to on a 300 mile round trip a few days after purchasing, and the only thing I could think of is "why is it reving so high?". Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hi buddy, I've watched all of your videos,especially when I was thinking of buying a trk 502x. I took the plunge and have recently passed my test (2 weeks ago). She's a big old girl but as you said she handles really well. I've just finished the sprocket change to the 15 tooth. Due to gale force winds I only gave it a quick test and it seems great. Thanks for the detailed video as it made my life so much easier. Happy riding, Andy
Thanks for checking out the channel and I'm glad it's been of some use. It always nice to hear good feedback from people like yourself. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with your bike. Ride safe 👍 🙏
I have a close family member who is an experienced motorcycle technician with more than 35 years experience. He suggested to me when I got my TRK that I have an old fashioned, "One Inch" of free movement in the chain. Funnily enough, I have the opposite problem living down here in the Channel Islands where the speed limit is mostly 25 to 35 MPH. I've been thinking of adding a toot to the rear sprocket on mine.
I have done this mod, cruising at 75 is now very easy, the mpg of the bike now is 68mpg I'm just back from a 600 mile round trip in the Noth East, did this with ease👍
Thanks for checking out the review. I haven't emptied a tank of fuel yet since doing the mod but I'm keeping an eye on the miles to compare. Ride safe 👍
Just changed my front sprocket and it seems a calmer bike to ride. Again seems to have dropped my revs so for £25 I happy with the conversation. Thank you again for this great “how to”video 👍
That's great news please take note the measurements for slack in the chain of 10 - 15mm taken from the Benelli manual is wrong and you should adjust the slack to 28 - 30mm instead. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. Please be aware the upgrade is ony for the 502x version as the standard 502 is geared different and will not benefit from the upgrade. Welcome to the TRK brotherhood. Ride safe 👍
Interesting note and not sure when this changed: just got a 2022 502x last weekend. In the manual and on the bike they recommend 30mm play in the chain as you point out in your description. Cheers from the US.
Brilliant vid, just ordered my 15 tooth sprocket because of your vid, I do 100miles a day commute and agree 70mph doesn’t feel right. Can’t wait to make this improvement
Thanks for checking out the channel. If your TRK is quite new with low miles on the clock, you may find the vibration lessons as the engine wears in. My bike was quite buzzy at first, but I found that after around 3,000 miles, it really improved. (or perhaps I just got used to it lol). However, there are things you can do to help. The first thing I would do is put a 15t rear sprocket on. This will help to lower the revs at higher speeds, reducing the vibration. You can also look at the seat. There are the netting seat covers that are supposed to help. However, I've never owned one, so I can't vouch for them. You can also get inflatable seat pads such as air hawk seats. I've used these in the past, and they are comfortable. However, consider that they will raise the seat height, which may cause problems if you are already on tip-toes. Another thing to look at could be changes tyres to some that are kess viby. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews The speedo cable connects to the gearbox so changing the sprocket affects the speedo reading so people use a product called Speedo Healer to rectify the difference .
@@PhilipKerry Ah that's the difference between the two bikes. The TRK takes the information from the rear wheel. So it makes no difference what changes you make to the gearing as the rotation of the road wheels is always a constant ratio, (if you travel at 30mph in 3rd gear, or 30mph in 5th gear, the road wheel will spin at the same speed.) This is why the 15t upgrade on the TRK does not effect the speedo reading. Ride safe 👍
I came here to ask where you bought the sprocket from but see you've already answered that a few times. I have a Benelli BN600 and have recently dropped the rear sprocket from 46 to 42, mainly to improve the snatchyness of the throttle at low speeds and my god what a difference. So I may now do they same as you have and up the front sprocket from 14 to 15, once I'm sure this part is interchangeable. I didn't do it initially as I wasn't sure about clearance in that front housing being able to take it. As for speed/rev changes I think you could only be sure if you referred to a gps speed indicator (sat nav, google maps etc) and obviously a before and after reading, vehicle speedos are usually way over reading. Mine shows 44 for a true 40mph. Good video, thanks
Just a quick thought, some manufacturers measure the chain slack from the bottom of the swingarm to the chain as they do on my KTM. The first time I adjusted the chain I thought it was tight, then when I found out my mistake and redone it, it was fine.
Congratulations on the video. Very well explained in assembly. Please tell me, what do you think of putting a 16-teeth pinion? Does it hurt a lot at startup? Thanks.
Thanks for checking out thr review. Unfortunately I have no experience of using a 16T sprocket so I'm unable to answer your question. It may be worth looking on Facebook and asking the question on one of the Benelli TRK forums. There may be someone more qualified to answer your question. Ride safe 👍
I have a TRK 502 and would like to reduce the rpm's. I mainly drive urban. Someone suggested changing to 14/44 on the non X version as with the 15/42 on the non X version, you will really struggle to get under away. The 15/42 is only suitable on the X version IF you don't load your bike up with a fully set of panniers, top box and a pillion. Which sprockets would you recommend? Thanks
Haha I've been asked this before and to be honest I cannot remember it was that long ago. I'm pretty sure I would of seen it on the floor and replaced it but if I didn't I think after the thousands of miles I've done on the bike something would of gone wrong by now. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. I kept the original chain and have covered thousands of miles since the upgrade with no problems or issues so I would say there is no reason to change the chain. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for the info. I'm actually going to test ride TRK X later today. I do quite a lot of mileage over a normal year. Just wondering what sort of mileage you've put on yours and what your overall impression of this Italian/Chinese offering is?
Hi thanks for checking out the review. I have a shade under 9,000 miles on my bike and the only things I have replaced are brake pads, tyres and fork seals. The bike has been super reliable and copes with all weather and terrain. In the past Chinese bikes were terrible however now there are some great Chinese partner bikes out there. MCN paper nominated 2 CFMOTO bikes for best bike of the year in category this year. CFMOTO as you probably know are partnered with KTM. The Benelli is easily one of the best value bikes on the market currently. I was very sceptical of the Benelli when I bought it. I simply bought it as a 12 month stop gap until the new Africa twin came out but now I can't believe how good the Benelli has been and I'm keeping it. If your on a tight budget you can't go wrong with the TRK . Ride safe 🙏
No, not really on a budget. I'm running 2 bikes at the moment. A Yamaha MT-09 Tracer and an xt660z Ténéré. I was looking at the Benelli 502 as a more modern update for my 2011 660 single. You can't read very much wrong about the Chinese/Italian machine so I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, I think I was given a badly prepared bike for my test that coloured my immediate impressions. It only had a handful of kilometres on the thing but there were a good few minor adjustments that should've been made to make the bike rideable. My first reaction on reaching the dealer, with the bike stood there waiting for me was very positive. My xt660z parked next to it kind of looked dated and a bit 'second fiddle'. Taking the Benelli away for a ride though wasn't a good experience at all..... The gear lever wasn't placed in its proper position. Any human rider could never get a foot onto the lever with their foot on the peg. I worked around that though and got the thing moving. Changing gears was a fumble however, and, due to the aforementioned lever and I couldn't get nicely into 2nd. The Neutral light lit up. I was coasting now to almost a standstill.....glad that weren't any witnesses as I was feeling very novice-esque. I gave the throttle a wee blip before notching into 1st and the thing lurched forward. It was already in 1st with the green Neutral light on!!! To be fair....the light then went out and I couldn't replicate the glitch at all. It never happened again. Another couple of badly prepared details detracted from my test ride. The throttle had far too much free play. I noted that it was a mechanical, push-pull cable set up rather than a fly-by-wire and easy enough to adjust but. it should've been done before the bike was offered up to ride. Slow speed riding on the bike was horrendous. Experience and and an educated guess indicated very under inflated tyres! All minor irritations that can make even the very best of machines feel like a heap of s##te to ride. All the above influenced my opinion and though not really serious, got me indulging in a thorough look-around the Benelli when I got back to the dealers. Perhaps because of all the above I got a bit picky but a good few things niggled away at me. That awful 'afterthought-looking' great length of radiator hose down the left hand side of the motor looks extremely vulnerable. It looks right in the line of fire from stuff that could puncture/tear it, especially if you were to do quite a bit of rough-road riding. The weight distribution's not very good either and the bike's super-top-heavy. It'd be too much for me to lift fully loaded if I had a slow speed tumble .(We all have them sooner or later if we do enough rougher trail rides) There's an awful lot of body work with bits on that suggest some sort of function but don't actually do anything at all. Like those air intakes on the nose that aren't actually air intakes at all. If you look under the bodywork they're just a sort of gauze that fills a hole in the bodywork. Why? I thought the motor started and whizzed away nicely but just seemed kind of out of place in its environment. To me, it seemed like I had to have it whirring away like an egg whisk to make any decent progress. I wouldn't argue that for a great many people this would be an excellent buy but I base that on the fact that so very many pundits and satisfied owners give some wonderful reviews. Over my many decades of motorcycle riding I've come to believe the motorcycling fraternity, as a collective, is very savvy when it comes to a bargain. If that's the case, then it might convince many others to buy one. Not for me though. I thought it was a bit too much of a sheep in wolf's clothing. That being said, being a bit sheepish doesn't necessarily mean you're a total wimp. A bit like comparing Primark jeans to Levi Strauss. Or a torque wrench from your local Saturday market stall compared to a Snap on. They both look good and do the job but, you instinctively know which one will be in the land fill first.
@@17405pop I think you're dealer is most probably not the best in the world as the bike sounds as though it was not set up right at all. Its true you cannot get away from the fact that the bike is very heavy but in context if you have a Honda 500 cbx specced to the same spec as the trk then there isn't much difference in weight. Obviously there are a lot of better bikes out there in this category but as you imagine, they are a lot more expensive. As you say with the Levi - Primark comparison, people automatically get on the bike expecting the same experience and quality of the big brands but not taking into consideration the price. I hope you find the right bike mate. Thanks again for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. Here is the link for the sprocket www.omniaracing.net/en/front-sprocket-pbr-525-code-2331-teeth-for-benelli-trk502x-2018-p-145945.html
I realise that the std 502 is geared up a bit. I am still considering changing to a 15 tooth sprocket. Where did you buy yours from. The hardness of the sprocket is very important. Thanks
Thanks for checking out the channel. Yes I do use thread lock but mainly on where I feel there is high vibration and increased chance of nuts or bolts coming lose. Over the years I've pretty much found out through trial and error when and where I need to use it. A lot depends on the type of bike too. When I was younger I used to build racing scooters, Lambrettas and Vespas. Believe me every single nut and bolt needed thread lock on those things 🤣😂. Ride safe 👍
Hi I have been very pleased with the improved characteristics of the gearing which the 15 tooth upgrade has provided so yes I would recommend it. Ride safe 👍
I wonder if the seemingly less than expected change in RPM was due to the correction in MPH/KPH. My speedo is about 5 MPH higher than reality when at 60 MPH and gets worse the higher it goes. I'm looking at doing this mod to correct both the high revs at highway speeds and the inaccurate speedo. When I looked up a calculator the change in chain ratio should result in about 5 MPH on the speedo. Have you notice any change on speedo accuracy?
To be honest no I haven't. All the bikes I own have incorrect speedometer readings when compared with GPS speed readings. My TRK speedometer reads roughly 3-5 mph faster than my GPS. So to cruise at a constant 70mph as shown on the GPS I would need to be traveling at 73 - 75 mph indicated on the bike speedometer
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. If you take a look at the description for the video you will find all the information there. The early TRK manuals have a miss print in them stating 15mm slack when it should say 30mm I only found out about this after making the video. I hope this helps. Ride safe👍
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. This is a great upgrade. It changes the gear ratio allowing the bike to cruise at high speed with lower revs, making the bike far more comfortable during long motorway / highway journeys. Ride safe 👍
just done the sprocket and as the sprocket came off the splines two high carbon wahers fell from the cog ...i checked your video to make sure they were not at the front ..if you look i can see the washers drop when you pull the sprocket ... did you find them put em back on or am i missing somthing ..thanks
Hi to be honest I cannot remember if I put the washer on or not. Looking at the video it does not look like I did put them on however I have done thousands of miles on the bike since and I've had no problems. Ride Safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews cant see it being abig deal they are summet like .75ml thick ..i looked in the 502 17 manual and their exploded diagram did not have them ? as a aside i ran the bike today and its deffo calmer i ordered a 42 rear and am going to give it a go still pleanty of go in sixth ..it maay be a bit much but i feel it may well pull it ok ..theres certainly scope for making a 6th a higher overdrive gear by the factory they are a tad close ...thought for 25 quid it was a cheap try out ..thanks keep well
Hi thanks for checking out the review. The 502 version has different gear ratios to the 502x so I am afraid this conversion will not be of any use for the 502. Ride safe 👍 🙏
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. Here is the link www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motion-Pro-Motocross-Motor-Bike-Motorcycle-Chain-Slack-Setter-Setting-Tool-/224448548482?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
The 15T sprocket is only for the 502X version not the road going 502. If you have the 502X then I'm pretty sure it will fit the 2021 bike. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
thinking seriously of getting one myself . i have a triumph speed four I'm getting old sports bikes hurt my back and wrists get terrible pins and needles left arm lol ..... nice vid don't wanna put a downer on it but your not a fast lane hog are you ? that can be irritating
Thanks for checking out the review. Haha your right I'm not a speed freak but to be honest when not filming I do ride a little faster. The reason I ride slower when filming is it cuts down wind noise in the helmet and improves sound quality on the videos. I have some touring videos coming to the channel over the next month where I touch on the subject as there were a few days where I actually lost a lot of footage due to going too fast which caused the mic to fail. I'm looking at improving the mic set up but just like everything in life its down to time and money. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. Side stand works just the same. There is the same amount of load on the rear swing arm. It's easier on a paddock stand though as you have easier access and it's easier to move the back wheel around to check the chain at different points. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
Ordered this from the link above and it shipped to New Zealand in about a week 👌. Installation was easier than expected, I used a pneumatic impact driver to remove the nut holding the sprocket on, which made life easier 😅. Have only ridden about 5km so far, but I have to say, this might just be the best mod I’ve done so far 😁. Thank you for your advice and installation tips. I have found the manual for my bike doesn’t provide particularly accurate details sometimes. When adjusting my suspension sag, the stated rear suspension travel in the manual is completely wrong 👀 something to be aware of for future mods I suppose.
@@NZstealox181196 That's good news, please make sure you adjust the chain slack to around 30mm rather than the 10-15 Shown in the video. I've put nearly a 1000 miles on mine since the install, had no problems at all 👍Rode safe
Good video , very informative. I messed around with sprockets before on bikes. Standard is probably aimed at potential off road use ?? 15 more suited to,purely road use. Is the speedo accuracy affected ? Sometimes that can be out with a gearing change . Couple of tools there I've not used. Almost bought the Chain Monkey but Amazon reviews seem hit n miss. But it has made me think about chain alignment. I might just get one of the £8 ones with the metal bar. Previous video nearly got me buying a digital torque wrench until I stopped and thought about the 4 torque wrenches I already have .. 👍
Hi the speedo isn't affected as I believe the speed is calculated from the brake sensor. I am also terrible with tools. The amount of tools I have still sitting in their original packaging unused is amazing and yet yesterday I needed a 13ml washer and after turning my garage upside down still couldn't find one 🤔 Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews yes I can confirm this is true, on mine the speed sensor is located on the rear calliper mount, so completely independent of the gearing
No you need a specific one. If you are on Facebook, join the Benelli TRK 502 Adventures UK page and then contact this guy, Mark Breeze he will get you the part your after, if not try this place, www.cosmo-accessories.com/products/benelli/trk502
@@BikeRiderReviews Thanks,spoke to him yesterday,he's awaiting a delivery,was just enquiring maybe about what make,but I guess I'll wait till he contacts me,hope it's soon as it's really busy over 70 mph on the way into work,have to wear ear plugs 🤦
Thanks for checking out the review. I don't have the tools for splitting a chain and refitting so I had to move the wheel. I should imagine its quicker to move the wheel anyway. Ride safe 👍
@@eazysleep8623 True but this is not really an issue as when fitting the 15t front sprocket the rear wheel has been loosened so there is already 0 tension in the chain. The tension on the chain is only adjusted after the sprocket has been installed, if that makes sense. Ride safe 👍
run the 15/42 today and pretty positive very calm at a real sat nav speed easy enough in slow town no issus with rurning in 2nd gear from a walk ....deffo worth a punt for 24 quid id say true 60 4900 true 70 5900 and 78mph at 6500 pulls well and keeps it out of the buzz zone ....you can easy pluck fifth as a doin gear it makes kinda 5th in to sixth and 6th in to 7th if that makes sence ..still bobs on niceley .seems no bother at all ruclips.net/video/yLJppZD5gos/видео.html
So it hasn't affected the acceleration at all. How did you go on with the chain. Did you keep the original or did you have to get a longer chain? Looking at your video it seems to have reduced the top speed quite considerably?
@@BikeRiderReviews supose it must do a bit but you just hold 2345 alittle longer ..it doesnt feel over the top you can hold the lower gears better and longer for tighter bends all in all it feels much longer legged and sixth still runs on from 40mph without being too sluggish ..chain was fine one up two down its on 4.5 marks pleanty of adjustment room left .. i really prefer it to what was before .... not done many steep hills yet but cant see anyproblem just use a gear lower ..for normal touring at adecent pace i cant see it being needed to rev over 6.5 ..all in all it a positive rsult i think ..could do worse than try it ...i think you will like it tbo
@@minkyhead thanks for the info. I will try it. As you say it's a cheap upgrade so not really an issue if I don't like it and go back to standard. Ride safe buddy. 👍
@@peter58murray It still seems strange though as considering both the X and the standard 502 have the same engine lump you would expect if it was just down to the Euro 5 regulations then both models would still have the same gearing. Strange one?
Wondering if it would be worth getting one of those clip on tools that you can set to the tension of your chain, set chain up to the manual with the 14 tooth sprocket on, change sprocket to the 15 tooth and then clip the tool back on the chain. I reckon it'd show too tight due to the greater circumference of the 15 tooth sprocket, but then you should be able to adjust the chain down to the same tension it was with the 14 tooth sprocket on without having to take measurements from anywhere else. This is one I saw on Amazon that reckon would do the trick. BPA-RACING Motorcycle Chain Slack Adjuster Tool - Innovative Chain Tensioning Tool for Easy, Quick & Precise Chain Slack Adjustment- Slack Setter Tool (Orange) smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085MLYS3J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_004YZFJGCVTWZDQDHTR8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
To be honest by the time you have gone through all of that you may as well just tighten it the usual way as you have to completely loosen the chain to remove and replace the front sprocket so you would be just adding extra work fitting the chain tensioner and to be honest I don't trust them as you are adding extra friction to your chain which ultimately will lead to increased wear. Ride safe 👍
This video is a god send. I took my bike to on a 300 mile round trip a few days after purchasing, and the only thing I could think of is "why is it reving so high?". Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks for checking out the review, I'm glad it has been of some use. Ride safe 👍
Hi buddy, I've watched all of your videos,especially when I was thinking of buying a trk 502x. I took the plunge and have recently passed my test (2 weeks ago). She's a big old girl but as you said she handles really well. I've just finished the sprocket change to the 15 tooth. Due to gale force winds I only gave it a quick test and it seems great. Thanks for the detailed video as it made my life so much easier. Happy riding, Andy
Thanks for checking out the channel and I'm glad it's been of some use. It always nice to hear good feedback from people like yourself. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with your bike. Ride safe 👍 🙏
I have a close family member who is an experienced motorcycle technician with more than 35 years experience. He suggested to me when I got my TRK that I have an old fashioned, "One Inch" of free movement in the chain. Funnily enough, I have the opposite problem living down here in the Channel Islands where the speed limit is mostly 25 to 35 MPH. I've been thinking of adding a toot to the rear sprocket on mine.
Yes that sounds about right, I think 1 inch is roughly 25mm 👍 Ride safe
I have done this mod, cruising at 75 is now very easy, the mpg of the bike now is 68mpg I'm just back from a 600 mile round trip in the Noth East, did this with ease👍
Thanks for checking out the review. I haven't emptied a tank of fuel yet since doing the mod but I'm keeping an eye on the miles to compare. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews I'm getting about 220 miles from full till the fuel gauge flashes then about 14.5 -15 litres to fill
Would you recommend getting one of these bikes.
@@paulcummins5231 Hi, we were talking about this the other day, yes 100%
Are you referring to 75 mph?
I have replaced my 14t to the 15t to my 2021 TRK-502! RPM's dropped about 500! Love it upgrade I did.
Glad it worked out for you.
@smlaveauful hope after upgrade the sprockets the Rpm problem is resolved.
Just changed my front sprocket and it seems a calmer bike to ride. Again seems to have dropped my revs so for £25 I happy with the conversation. Thank you again for this great “how to”video 👍
That's great news please take note the measurements for slack in the chain of 10 - 15mm taken from the Benelli manual is wrong and you should adjust the slack to 28 - 30mm instead. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Yeah I did it at 15mm and thought it was too tight so now it’s all sorted. Thanks Kev 👍
I pick up my my trk 502 in 2 weeks and will be doing this upgrade
Thanks for checking out the channel. Please be aware the upgrade is ony for the 502x version as the standard 502 is geared different and will not benefit from the upgrade. Welcome to the TRK brotherhood. Ride safe 👍
This is just great. Clear and well explained steps. Thank you for showing us this
Thank you I'm glad it helped. Ride safe
Interesting note and not sure when this changed: just got a 2022 502x last weekend. In the manual and on the bike they recommend 30mm play in the chain as you point out in your description. Cheers from the US.
Brilliant vid, just ordered my 15 tooth sprocket because of your vid, I do 100miles a day commute and agree 70mph doesn’t feel right. Can’t wait to make this improvement
Thanks for checking out the review. For the amount of riding you do I think it will be a great upgrade. Ride safe 👍
Where did you order the 15 tooth sprocket from?
Hi. On my 2020 502, the chain guard states 28mm~35mm of slackness. Great video and I will be doing the job next month when the sprocket arrives.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I'm glad the video was of some help. Ride safe 👍
yup also leoncino 500 chain guard states 28-35, same motor and configuration
Great video, really enjoy your style and how comprehensively you talk through and discuss things. *thumbs-up*
Thanks for checking out the review and your kind words. Lots more content coming to the channel soon. Ride safe 👍
Awesome video! Off to change the sprocket of my TRK502!!!
Great video! Very educational and pleasing to watch!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Rider safe 👍
Hi mate. My Benelli trk 502x has a really buzzy seat at freeway speeds 110kmph any thoughts. PS love your videos.
Thanks for checking out the channel. If your TRK is quite new with low miles on the clock, you may find the vibration lessons as the engine wears in. My bike was quite buzzy at first, but I found that after around 3,000 miles, it really improved. (or perhaps I just got used to it lol). However, there are things you can do to help. The first thing I would do is put a 15t rear sprocket on. This will help to lower the revs at higher speeds, reducing the vibration. You can also look at the seat. There are the netting seat covers that are supposed to help. However, I've never owned one, so I can't vouch for them. You can also get inflatable seat pads such as air hawk seats. I've used these in the past, and they are comfortable. However, consider that they will raise the seat height, which may cause problems if you are already on tip-toes. Another thing to look at could be changes tyres to some that are kess viby. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
Great video! Thanks for the useful tips! I’ve a Benelli Trk 502 x from a couple of months (1500 km). Soon I’ll do the same from 14 to 15
Antonio
Amazing comprehensive video, just what I wanted to hear. Thank you 🙏. I think they chose the shorter gearing for off road torque?
Thanks for checking out the channel and the kind words. Ride safe 👍
Changing the front socket also affects the speedo calibration , you can get an electronic accessory that will correct the speedo reading .
Thanks for checking out the review. I'm not sure if you are correct as believe the speedo sensor runs off the brake sensor. Ride safe
@@BikeRiderReviews Maybe but I know that if you change to the 16 tooth sprocket on the Honda CB 500X it does directly affect the speedo reading .
@@PhilipKerry What method does the Honda use to determine speed?
@@BikeRiderReviews The speedo cable connects to the gearbox so changing the sprocket affects the speedo reading so people use a product called Speedo Healer to rectify the difference .
@@PhilipKerry Ah that's the difference between the two bikes. The TRK takes the information from the rear wheel. So it makes no difference what changes you make to the gearing as the rotation of the road wheels is always a constant ratio, (if you travel at 30mph in 3rd gear, or 30mph in 5th gear, the road wheel will spin at the same speed.) This is why the 15t upgrade on the TRK does not effect the speedo reading. Ride safe 👍
Excellent once more. I am at the same "skill" level as you, but this looks like an easy job.
It's a very easy job, you will have no problems. Ride safe 👍
Bravo! Pragmatic endeavour, excellently done and presented.
Thank you for checking out the review and your kind words. Ride safe 👍🙏
I came here to ask where you bought the sprocket from but see you've already answered that a few times. I have a Benelli BN600 and have recently dropped the rear sprocket from 46 to 42, mainly to improve the snatchyness of the throttle at low speeds and my god what a difference. So I may now do they same as you have and up the front sprocket from 14 to 15, once I'm sure this part is interchangeable. I didn't do it initially as I wasn't sure about clearance in that front housing being able to take it. As for speed/rev changes I think you could only be sure if you referred to a gps speed indicator (sat nav, google maps etc) and obviously a before and after reading, vehicle speedos are usually way over reading. Mine shows 44 for a true 40mph. Good video, thanks
Thanks for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
Just a quick thought, some manufacturers measure the chain slack from the bottom of the swingarm to the chain as they do on my KTM. The first time I adjusted the chain I thought it was tight, then when I found out my mistake and redone it, it was fine.
Congratulations on the video. Very well explained in assembly.
Please tell me, what do you think of putting a 16-teeth pinion? Does it hurt a lot at startup?
Thanks.
Thanks for checking out thr review. Unfortunately I have no experience of using a 16T sprocket so I'm unable to answer your question. It may be worth looking on Facebook and asking the question on one of the Benelli TRK forums. There may be someone more qualified to answer your question. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Thank you and good curves. If I put 16T I leave feedback
Sergio did you end up changing to 16t sprocket?
I have a TRK 502 and would like to reduce the rpm's. I mainly drive urban. Someone suggested changing to 14/44 on the non X version as with the 15/42 on the non X version, you will really struggle to get under away. The 15/42 is only suitable on the X version IF you don't load your bike up with a fully set of panniers, top box and a pillion. Which sprockets would you recommend? Thanks
Hi mate just wondering where you get the sprocket to buy
Thanks
@@112mania No worries mate, they sell them on eBay now. Just do a quick search and loads will come up. Ride safe 👍
Did you remember to replace the washer that fell off when you took the sprocket off? You see it fall as you take the sprocket off.
Haha I've been asked this before and to be honest I cannot remember it was that long ago. I'm pretty sure I would of seen it on the floor and replaced it but if I didn't I think after the thousands of miles I've done on the bike something would of gone wrong by now. Ride safe 👍
Nice and helpful video!
I read some people have also changed the chain to a 520, instead of the original 525. Is it necessary?.?
Thanks for checking out the channel. I kept the original chain and have covered thousands of miles since the upgrade with no problems or issues so I would say there is no reason to change the chain. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Thanks a lot. Subscribing to your channel right now. Tx
@@GoJi4m3gzc Thank you for subscribing. I hope you continue to enjoy the channel. Ride safe 👍 🙏
Thanks for the info. I'm actually going to test ride TRK X later today. I do quite a lot of mileage over a normal year. Just wondering what sort of mileage you've put on yours and what your overall impression of this Italian/Chinese offering is?
Hi thanks for checking out the review. I have a shade under 9,000 miles on my bike and the only things I have replaced are brake pads, tyres and fork seals. The bike has been super reliable and copes with all weather and terrain. In the past Chinese bikes were terrible however now there are some great Chinese partner bikes out there. MCN paper nominated 2 CFMOTO bikes for best bike of the year in category this year. CFMOTO as you probably know are partnered with KTM. The Benelli is easily one of the best value bikes on the market currently. I was very sceptical of the Benelli when I bought it. I simply bought it as a 12 month stop gap until the new Africa twin came out but now I can't believe how good the Benelli has been and I'm keeping it. If your on a tight budget you can't go wrong with the TRK . Ride safe 🙏
No, not really on a budget. I'm running 2 bikes at the moment.
A Yamaha MT-09 Tracer and an xt660z Ténéré.
I was looking at the Benelli 502 as a more modern update for my 2011 660 single.
You can't read very much wrong about the Chinese/Italian machine so I thought I'd give it a try.
Unfortunately, I think I was given a badly prepared bike for my test that coloured my immediate impressions.
It only had a handful of kilometres on the thing but there were a good few minor adjustments that should've been made to make the bike rideable.
My first reaction on reaching the dealer, with the bike stood there waiting for me was very positive.
My xt660z parked next to it kind of looked dated and a bit 'second fiddle'.
Taking the Benelli away for a ride though wasn't a good experience at all.....
The gear lever wasn't placed in its proper position.
Any human rider could never get a foot onto the lever with their foot on the peg.
I worked around that though and got the thing moving.
Changing gears was a fumble however, and, due to the aforementioned lever and I couldn't get nicely into 2nd.
The Neutral light lit up.
I was coasting now to almost a standstill.....glad that weren't any witnesses as I was feeling very novice-esque.
I gave the throttle a wee blip before notching into 1st and the thing lurched forward.
It was already in 1st with the green Neutral light on!!!
To be fair....the light then went out and I couldn't replicate the glitch at all. It never happened again.
Another couple of badly prepared details detracted from my test ride.
The throttle had far too much free play.
I noted that it was a mechanical, push-pull cable set up rather than a fly-by-wire and easy enough to adjust but. it should've been done before the bike was offered up to ride.
Slow speed riding on the bike was horrendous. Experience and and an educated guess indicated very under inflated tyres!
All minor irritations that can make even the very best of machines feel like a heap of s##te to ride.
All the above influenced my opinion and though not really serious, got me indulging in a thorough look-around the Benelli when I got back to the dealers.
Perhaps because of all the above I got a bit picky but a good few things niggled away at me.
That awful 'afterthought-looking' great length of radiator hose down the left hand side of the motor looks extremely vulnerable.
It looks right in the line of fire from stuff that could puncture/tear it, especially if you were to do quite a bit of rough-road riding.
The weight distribution's not very good either and the bike's super-top-heavy. It'd be too much for me to lift fully loaded if I had a slow speed tumble .(We all have them sooner or later if we do enough rougher trail rides)
There's an awful lot of body work with bits on that suggest some sort of function but don't actually do anything at all.
Like those air intakes on the nose that aren't actually air intakes at all. If you look under the bodywork they're just a sort of gauze that fills a hole in the bodywork.
Why?
I thought the motor started and whizzed away nicely but just seemed kind of out of place in its environment.
To me, it seemed like I had to have it whirring away like an egg whisk to make any decent progress.
I wouldn't argue that for a great many people this would be an excellent buy but I base that on the fact that so very many pundits and satisfied owners give some wonderful reviews.
Over my many decades of motorcycle riding I've come to believe the motorcycling fraternity, as a collective, is very savvy when it comes to a bargain.
If that's the case, then it might convince many others to buy one.
Not for me though.
I thought it was a bit too much of a sheep in wolf's clothing.
That being said, being a bit sheepish doesn't necessarily mean you're a total wimp.
A bit like comparing Primark jeans to Levi Strauss.
Or a torque wrench from your local Saturday market stall compared to a Snap on.
They both look good and do the job but, you instinctively know which one will be in the land fill first.
@@17405pop I think you're dealer is most probably not the best in the world as the bike sounds as though it was not set up right at all. Its true you cannot get away from the fact that the bike is very heavy but in context if you have a Honda 500 cbx specced to the same spec as the trk then there isn't much difference in weight. Obviously there are a lot of better bikes out there in this category but as you imagine, they are a lot more expensive. As you say with the Levi - Primark comparison, people automatically get on the bike expecting the same experience and quality of the big brands but not taking into consideration the price. I hope you find the right bike mate. Thanks again for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
Another great video. Can I ask where you got your sprocket from please.
Thanks for checking out the channel. Here is the link for the sprocket www.omniaracing.net/en/front-sprocket-pbr-525-code-2331-teeth-for-benelli-trk502x-2018-p-145945.html
21:30 Town Yetholm, lovely area to ride
Dose throw the speedo out, and by how much, could be important when passing a speed camera.
No the speedo is not affected as the speed is measured by a sensor on the rear wheel. Ride safe 👍
I realise that the std 502 is geared up a bit. I am still considering changing to a 15 tooth sprocket. Where did you buy yours from. The hardness of the sprocket is very important. Thanks
Hi, here is the link for the sprocket www.omniaracing.net/en/front-sprocket-pbr-525-code-2331-teeth-for-benelli-trk502x-2018-p-145945.html
So I can replace the sprocket and keep the original chain?
Thanks for checking out the video. If you have a TRK X model yes. If you have the road 502 model you will need a longer chain . Ride safe 👍
Handy video again 👌🏻👍🏻 Do you never use thread lock (i.e. casing etc.)?
Thanks for checking out the channel. Yes I do use thread lock but mainly on where I feel there is high vibration and increased chance of nuts or bolts coming lose. Over the years I've pretty much found out through trial and error when and where I need to use it. A lot depends on the type of bike too. When I was younger I used to build racing scooters, Lambrettas and Vespas. Believe me every single nut and bolt needed thread lock on those things 🤣😂. Ride safe 👍
Do you recommend this mod? I have a Benelli Leoncino 500 and I'm thinking of changing my 14 theeth sprocket too.
Hi I have been very pleased with the improved characteristics of the gearing which the 15 tooth upgrade has provided so yes I would recommend it. Ride safe 👍
Could you please give the details of where you purchased the 15 tooth sprocket
Take a look on the Facebook page Benelli TRK 502 Adventures UK. There is a lad on there called Mark Breeze who sells them.
I wonder if the seemingly less than expected change in RPM was due to the correction in MPH/KPH. My speedo is about 5 MPH higher than reality when at 60 MPH and gets worse the higher it goes. I'm looking at doing this mod to correct both the high revs at highway speeds and the inaccurate speedo. When I looked up a calculator the change in chain ratio should result in about 5 MPH on the speedo. Have you notice any change on speedo accuracy?
To be honest no I haven't. All the bikes I own have incorrect speedometer readings when compared with GPS speed readings. My TRK speedometer reads roughly 3-5 mph faster than my GPS. So to cruise at a constant 70mph as shown on the GPS I would need to be traveling at 73 - 75 mph indicated on the bike speedometer
@@BikeRiderReviews Oh okay. Thanks for the reply!
hello do you mean the stroke of the chain or the distance from the chain to the brackets 15mm when I put 15 with it was very tense?
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. If you take a look at the description for the video you will find all the information there. The early TRK manuals have a miss print in them stating 15mm slack when it should say 30mm I only found out about this after making the video. I hope this helps. Ride safe👍
whats the benefict of the 15 t sprocket?
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. This is a great upgrade. It changes the gear ratio allowing the bike to cruise at high speed with lower revs, making the bike far more comfortable during long motorway / highway journeys. Ride safe 👍
Wonder what would happen if you went down one tooth again on front ,or even up one on the rear ?
Thanks for checking out the channel. There is a formula to work the gear ratios out. I'm sure a quick Internet search would come up with something.
just done the sprocket and as the sprocket came off the splines two high carbon wahers fell from the cog ...i checked your video to make sure they were not at the front ..if you look i can see the washers drop when you pull the sprocket ... did you find them put em back on or am i missing somthing ..thanks
Hi to be honest I cannot remember if I put the washer on or not. Looking at the video it does not look like I did put them on however I have done thousands of miles on the bike since and I've had no problems. Ride Safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews cant see it being abig deal they are summet like .75ml thick ..i looked in the 502 17 manual and their exploded diagram did not have them ? as a aside i ran the bike today and its deffo calmer i ordered a 42 rear and am going to give it a go still pleanty of go in sixth ..it maay be a bit much but i feel it may well pull it ok ..theres certainly scope for making a 6th a higher overdrive gear by the factory they are a tad close ...thought for 25 quid it was a cheap try out ..thanks keep well
@@minkyheadOK buddy let me know how you go on with the rear sprocket change, I will be very interested to see how it performs. Ride safe 👍
@@minkyhead DId you happen to test this?
Sir, will you suggest the same for trk 502 (not x)
Hi thanks for checking out the review. The 502 version has different gear ratios to the 502x so I am afraid this conversion will not be of any use for the 502. Ride safe 👍 🙏
@@BikeRiderReviews thank you very much
Wouldn't it throw your Speedo out . How is that changed?
No mate the speedo is not changed as the sensor for the speed is located at the brake sensor on the wheel 👍 ride safe
Is there a link for the blue chain tensioning tool?
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. Here is the link
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motion-Pro-Motocross-Motor-Bike-Motorcycle-Chain-Slack-Setter-Setting-Tool-/224448548482?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Will this 15 tooth sprocket work on my 2021 TRK-502? Hi from Marana, AZ. USA 🇺🇸
The 15T sprocket is only for the 502X version not the road going 502. If you have the 502X then I'm pretty sure it will fit the 2021 bike. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews, I have a 502, not a 502X!
@@smlaveauful Then definitely it won't fit. 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews darn! Is there a reason why? Just curious!
@@smlaveauful Hi, yes the 502 already has different size sprockets to the 502x version. 👍
Hi where can you buy a 15 tooth sprocket thanks
Hi, here is the link
www.omniaracing.net/en/front-sprocket-pbr-525-code-2331-teeth-for-benelli-trk502x-2018-p-145945.html
thinking seriously of getting one myself . i have a triumph speed four I'm getting old sports bikes hurt my back and wrists get terrible pins and needles left arm lol ..... nice vid don't wanna put a downer on it but your not a fast lane hog are you ? that can be irritating
Thanks for checking out the review. Haha your right I'm not a speed freak but to be honest when not filming I do ride a little faster. The reason I ride slower when filming is it cuts down wind noise in the helmet and improves sound quality on the videos. I have some touring videos coming to the channel over the next month where I touch on the subject as there were a few days where I actually lost a lot of footage due to going too fast which caused the mic to fail. I'm looking at improving the mic set up but just like everything in life its down to time and money. Ride safe 👍
I thought you had to have the bike on a rear paddock to check the tension ?
Thanks for checking out the channel. Side stand works just the same. There is the same amount of load on the rear swing arm. It's easier on a paddock stand though as you have easier access and it's easier to move the back wheel around to check the chain at different points. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
Also, where did you buy the sprocket from?
Here is the link for the sprocket www.omniaracing.net/en/front-sprocket-pbr-525-code-2331-teeth-for-benelli-trk502x-2018-p-145945.html
Ordered this from the link above and it shipped to New Zealand in about a week 👌. Installation was easier than expected, I used a pneumatic impact driver to remove the nut holding the sprocket on, which made life easier 😅. Have only ridden about 5km so far, but I have to say, this might just be the best mod I’ve done so far 😁. Thank you for your advice and installation tips. I have found the manual for my bike doesn’t provide particularly accurate details sometimes. When adjusting my suspension sag, the stated rear suspension travel in the manual is completely wrong 👀 something to be aware of for future mods I suppose.
@@NZstealox181196 That's good news, please make sure you adjust the chain slack to around 30mm rather than the 10-15 Shown in the video. I've put nearly a 1000 miles on mine since the install, had no problems at all 👍Rode safe
Will do 😁 thanks.
Good video , very informative. I messed around with sprockets before on bikes. Standard is probably aimed at potential off road use ?? 15 more suited to,purely road use.
Is the speedo accuracy affected ? Sometimes that can be out with a gearing change .
Couple of tools there I've not used. Almost bought the Chain Monkey but Amazon reviews seem hit n miss. But it has made me think about chain alignment. I might just get one of the £8 ones with the metal bar. Previous video nearly got me buying a digital torque wrench until I stopped and thought about the 4 torque wrenches I already have .. 👍
Hi the speedo isn't affected as I believe the speed is calculated from the brake sensor. I am also terrible with tools. The amount of tools I have still sitting in their original packaging unused is amazing and yet yesterday I needed a 13ml washer and after turning my garage upside down still couldn't find one 🤔 Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews keep it up mate. Refreshing to see honest reviews without all the corporate rubbish attached.
@@BikeRiderReviews yes I can confirm this is true, on mine the speed sensor is located on the rear calliper mount, so completely independent of the gearing
Nice video bro new subscriber joined From INDIA
Thanks for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
Very nice 👍👍👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
What size socket it the nut thanks
Thanks for checking out the review. Without taking the bike apart again and checking I'm afraid I can't remember. Ride safe 👍
Great video...👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. Ride safe 👍
Are the 15 tooth sprockets universal ? As I can't find one specifically for the 502x
No you need a specific one. If you are on Facebook, join the Benelli TRK 502 Adventures UK page and then contact this guy, Mark Breeze he will get you the part your after, if not try this place, www.cosmo-accessories.com/products/benelli/trk502
@@BikeRiderReviews Thanks,spoke to him yesterday,he's awaiting a delivery,was just enquiring maybe about what make,but I guess I'll wait till he contacts me,hope it's soon as it's really busy over 70 mph on the way into work,have to wear ear plugs 🤦
@@markobrien127 I'm pretty sure I used the PBR make. Good quality and I've had no issues with it since fitting it.
@@BikeRiderReviews did you just order a pbr 15 tooth sprockets or was it bike specific ?
@@markobrien127 I ordered it from cosmo accessories in the link above, it was advertised as benelli trk 502x specific
Great vid thanks
Thank you rode safe 👍
Could you not have just removed the chain via split pin and then you could leave rear wheel alone
Thanks for checking out the review. I don't have the tools for splitting a chain and refitting so I had to move the wheel. I should imagine its quicker to move the wheel anyway. Ride safe 👍
Also the 15 tooth has a larger diameter so when that's gone all the way to the Rear wheel the chain would be to tight by about 10mm 👍
@@eazysleep8623 True but this is not really an issue as when fitting the 15t front sprocket the rear wheel has been loosened so there is already 0 tension in the chain. The tension on the chain is only adjusted after the sprocket has been installed, if that makes sense. Ride safe 👍
Can you do a 16?
I'm not quite sure what you mean - 16?
run the 15/42 today and pretty positive very calm at a real sat nav speed easy enough in slow town no issus with rurning in 2nd gear from a walk ....deffo worth a punt for 24 quid id say true 60 4900 true 70 5900 and 78mph at 6500 pulls well and keeps it out of the buzz zone ....you can easy pluck fifth as a doin gear it makes kinda 5th in to sixth and 6th in to 7th if that makes sence ..still bobs on niceley .seems no bother at all ruclips.net/video/yLJppZD5gos/видео.html
So it hasn't affected the acceleration at all. How did you go on with the chain. Did you keep the original or did you have to get a longer chain? Looking at your video it seems to have reduced the top speed quite considerably?
@@BikeRiderReviews supose it must do a bit but you just hold 2345 alittle longer ..it doesnt feel over the top you can hold the lower gears better and longer for tighter bends all in all it feels much longer legged and sixth still runs on from 40mph without being too sluggish ..chain was fine one up two down its on 4.5 marks pleanty of adjustment room left .. i really prefer it to what was before .... not done many steep hills yet but cant see anyproblem just use a gear lower ..for normal touring at adecent pace i cant see it being needed to rev over 6.5 ..all in all it a positive rsult i think ..could do worse than try it ...i think you will like it tbo
@@minkyhead thanks for the info. I will try it. As you say it's a cheap upgrade so not really an issue if I don't like it and go back to standard. Ride safe buddy. 👍
The euro 5 502 X bikes have shorter gearing as standard ...it was to.compensate for the E5 regulations strangling the bike
I always thought the gearing was different on the X due to it being more off road oriented and different wheel size to the standard road version?
@@BikeRiderReviews yeah I've heard that also but I watched a video today from benelli and what I said was mentioned
@@peter58murray It still seems strange though as considering both the X and the standard 502 have the same engine lump you would expect if it was just down to the Euro 5 regulations then both models would still have the same gearing. Strange one?
Wondering if it would be worth getting one of those clip on tools that you can set to the tension of your chain, set chain up to the manual with the 14 tooth sprocket on, change sprocket to the 15 tooth and then clip the tool back on the chain. I reckon it'd show too tight due to the greater circumference of the 15 tooth sprocket, but then you should be able to adjust the chain down to the same tension it was with the 14 tooth sprocket on without having to take measurements from anywhere else.
This is one I saw on Amazon that reckon would do the trick.
BPA-RACING Motorcycle Chain Slack Adjuster Tool - Innovative Chain Tensioning Tool for Easy, Quick & Precise Chain Slack Adjustment- Slack Setter Tool (Orange) smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085MLYS3J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_004YZFJGCVTWZDQDHTR8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
To be honest by the time you have gone through all of that you may as well just tighten it the usual way as you have to completely loosen the chain to remove and replace the front sprocket so you would be just adding extra work fitting the chain tensioner and to be honest I don't trust them as you are adding extra friction to your chain which ultimately will lead to increased wear. Ride safe 👍