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Benelli Motorcycles

Patents filed in China reveals details of upcoming Benelli TRK 702, with all signs pointing to a possible launch later this year.

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  • The sixth SYM Smart Shop in the country has started its operations in Kluang, Johor

  • The three storey showroom consists of an exclusive SYM showroom, Benelli display corner, service centre, accessories and spare parts display area

  • It’s a one-stop showroom that showcasing SYM full range of high quality moped and scooters and a service centre which provides after-sales services

SYM Malaysia introduces the sixth SYM Smart Shop in Malaysia and the second in Johor state today. The official opening ceremony is graced by Mr.Lu Tien Fu, General Director of Vietnam Manufacturing & Export Processing Co. Ltd, Dato’ Seri Leo Tan Lean Heah, Managing Director of MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, Mr Asri Ahmad, Operation General Manager of MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, Mr Leok Kah Ling, Managing Director of Wei Ling Motor Sdn Bhd and Mr Leok Jun Yu, General Manager of Wei Ling Motor Sdn Bhd. (more…)

Walk around video of all three new Benelli motorcycles including engine start up.

  • The design of the Benelli TRK 502 has obvious influences from BMW, especially the fuel tank, sitting position and the shape and angle of the handle bar.
  • The damping is cushy so there is the usual dive under heavy braking typical of softish suspension, but the rear does a decent job at soaking up speed bumps and such, which gives it a comfortable ride.
  • Taller riders will find the TRK a bit cramped, but it makes up for that with good low speed handling, and a big comfortable seat.

Benelli Malaysia made quite a wave in the local motorcycling scene when it launched three new models last weekend. You can read about the launch here, but M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, the local importer, distributor and soon to be assembler of Benelli motorcycles, also gave us an opportunity to sample all three bikes the following day.

The test ride route was just a small loop around the Equatorial Hotel in Penang, maybe about a kilometer long at most, which wasn’t exactly the perfect scenario to truly sample the capabilities of any motorcycle, but it was good enough to judge the basic handling and engine response of the new motorcycles.

We started the ride with the TRK502, Benelli’s new adventure bike. I must say that I was surprised with this bike, so surprised that I will go so far as to say that among Benelli’s new motorcycles, the TRK is the best.

The design has obvious influences from BMW, especially the fuel tank, sitting position and the shape and angle of the handle bar, but who can blame Benelli when the BMW GS is quite obviously one of the benchmark’s for almost all adventure bike builders.

Taller riders will find the TRK a bit cramped, but it makes up for that with good low speed handling, and a big comfortable seat.

It does not have a lot of technology, in fact it skimps out on things like cruise control, traction control, and tyre pressure monitoring sensors, but it does have ABS. And Benelli knew exactly what kind of motorcycle it wanted the TRK 502 to be, so they also threw in a well placed button (on the left handle bar, right within reach of your thumb) that allows you to completely switch off the ABS system. This is handy when you want to tackle dirt and mud off-road. Well thought out Benelli!

The TRK 502 isn’t exactly big on power either, the twin-cylinder, liquid cooled engine produces just 48hp at 8,500rpm and 45Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. There’s good grunt lower down the rev band, but there’s a feeling that more power will be needed on the highway, especially when you want to just squeeze the throttle and accelerate out of a situation. We’ll get to that when we actually get to ride this bike on a highway.

Gear changes are nice – short and precise. The final drive is of course chain driven which makes the TRK quite well suited for global riders who want to ride a bike to the end of the world without worrying about complicated or shortage of parts and such.

Suspension feels good too – the front consists of an inverted fork with 150mm of travel while the rear is made up of a steel swing arm with a single telescopic oil damped coil spring with 45mm of travel. The damping is cushy so there is the usual dive under heavy braking typical of softish suspension, but the rear does a decent job at soaking up speed bumps and such, which gives it a comfortable ride.

Brakes too are decent and are made up of twin 320mm discs up front grabbed by twin-piston calipers. The rear is made up of a single 260mm disc. Tyres are 120/70ZR17 up front and 160/60/ZR17 at the rear.

All in all the Benelli TRK 502 seems to be the ideal adventure bike for those looking to get into the segment with a unsophisticated machine with proven old-school technology. It is cheaper than the Kawasaki Versys 650 and there is still no news of Yamaha’s 700 Tracer, so that makes the TRK 502 the cheapest Adventure bike you can get in the market right now.

Complaints? Well I don’t quite like the patchy welding job and the frame could do with a bit more attention to detail, but that does not make this a bad motorcycle. Aesthetics aside, the TRK 502 seems to have it all, now we are just waiting on M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd to make this bike available for a review so we can rack up about 1000 kilometers on it. We will be back with more on the TRK 502.

[button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”https://www.bikesrepublic.com/bikes/2017-benelli-trk-502/”] Click here to see the complete specifications of the Benelli TRK 502 and compare it against other bikes at the Bikes Republic Bike Buyer’s Guide![/button]

Benelli Malaysia has strengthened its presence in Malaysia through a new distributor, click to read about the appointment of M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd as Malaysian distributor. 

Benelli Malaysia, which is operated by M Force Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd, today took the covers off its first ever underbone, or better known locally as a kapcai, model – the RFS 150i, making Malaysia the first country in the world to have the underbone/moped/kapcai on sale in its market.

Besides that, the company also introduced two other models, the 302R sports bike and the TRK 502 touring bike. All three bikes mark the Malaysian resurrection of the Benelli brand under a new stewardship from M Force Bike Holdings, and the company seems to know what the market wants and is confident of strong sales and a good aftersales service through its network of dealers nationwide.

We will save a thorough review until we have rode all three bikes tomorrow, so for now, these are the what the three bikes have to offer:

Benelli RFS150i

Short walkaround video of the Benelli RSF150i

The RFS stands for ‘Riders For Speed’, and Benelli in its press release says the RFS 150i is a race-spec underbone sport moped motorcycle which balances Benelli engineering standards with Italian racing style.

It is powered by a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder SOHC engine with four-valves and Benelli’s latest B3SP three spark plug technology. It puts out 15.5hp at 8,500rpm and transfers power via a six-speed gearbox with a wet multiplate clutch.

You must be wondering why this bike needs three spark plugs, and so were we, but Benelli explains that it’s B3SP ‘3-Spark’ system uses the three spark plugs together with the bike’s ECU and fuel-injection system, to modify engine timing and plug usage to maximise power, keep engine temperatures down to a minimum, which thus optimises fuel efficiency and minimises emissions. Three spark plugs also ensure an even and complete detonation of fuel, which means better performance, efficiency with lesser environmental impact.

The exhaust of the bike too has been specially designed to clear the emission gases immediately and offers good cornering balance despite it being mounted on the extreme right hand side of the RFS 150i.

The chassis is made up of a straddle type frame with a unique upside down telescopic fork with 88mm of travel. This fork is typical of race and sports bikes, but this is the first time that a moped/kapcai is offered with this suspension set up. So that makes the RFS 150i the only motorcycle in its class with an upside down fork.

The rear suspension is made up of a telescopic single coil spring with 27mm of travel and is oil damped.

Other features include a sports seat with carbon-fibre lookalike weave with a passenger grab handle. The meter panel is part analogue and part LCD while the front headlight features integrated LED daytime running lights.

Prices start from RM6,988 for the yellow, red, blue and matte grey, and RM7,338 for the special edition model. Did we mention the RSF150i is the cheapest in its class?

Benelli TRK 502

This is the touring bike the market has been waiting for. With a price of RM28,888 with no panniers, and up to RM30,588 with all side and top panniers included, the Benelli TRK 502 is the bike you want if you are looking for a touring bike that is big in size, light and easy to maintain with very little electronics.

The engine is a twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, 500cc unit that puts out a decent 48hp at 8,500rpm and 45Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. The engine is mated to a wet, multiple, six-speed gearbox.

The suspension of the TRK 502 is made up of an adjustable upside down front fork with 150mm of travel, and the rear consists of a steel swing-arm with an oil damped, coil spring with 45mm of travel.

Braking power is provided by dual 320mm discs up front with twin-piston callipers, and a single 260mm disc also gripped by a twin piston calliper.

The TRK 502 comes in three colours, white, gray and red/black. Prices stated above are excluding GST.

Benelli 302R

If you want a sport bike but don’t want to fork out more than RM25,000 for one, then the 302R is worth a look. It features a classic Italian rounded design with a mix of a new age edginess.

It may not seem like it from here, but the 302R is a long bike, measuring in at a lengthy 2157mm with a wheelbase of 1405mm. The dimensions and the design gives the 302R an imposing presence, but the powerplant seems friendly.

The engine is a 300cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, vertical twin-cylinder, DOHC with four valves per cylinder, and puts out 37hp at a screaming 10,000rpm and 27.4Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. It too is mated to a six-speed gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch and a chain final drive. In fact, all three new Benelli bikes feature a chain final drive.

It features an arch bar truck frame with telescopic front forks with 120mm travel, and telescopic oil-damped coil spring suspension at the rear with 45mm of travel.

Brakes are made up of twin 260mm discs with radial four-piston callipers with ABS at the front, and single 240mm discs with dual-piston callipers with ABS at the rear as well.

At 190kg dry, the 302R is not a light bike, but with good looks and a great price on its side, the new sports Benelli will be swaying opinions in its favour when it hits the streets real soon.

  • Over 250 Benelli owners from around the country gathered at Tadom Hill Resorts, Banting, Selangor

  • Organized by the Selangor Benelli Club (SBC), Kuala Lumpur Benelli Club (KULBC) and Benelli Matters Club

  • Gathering sponsored by Tenaga Motor, MForce Bike Holdings, MG Prestige Group, Quantum Petroleum, etc.

Last Saturday marked the third annual Benelli Owners Club Mega Gathering here in Malaysia. This year, the KL and Selangor divisions were selected to host such a momentous event which attracted over 250 Benelli owners from 14 different clubs nationwide. (more…)

Chinese-owned Italian motorcycle brand Benelli is set for a rebirth with major plans in the pipelines for 2017.

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