Last year proved to be a strong period for the global motorcycle industry.
6,543 units Benelli TRK 502 sold in Italy, outsell the BMW R 1250 GS (4,062).
Tenere 700 is third best-selling bike in Italy with 2,762 units registered.
In Malaysia, more than 700,000 units of motorcycles sales were recorded in 2022, which is the biggest number ever registered despite the country was still in the process of recovering from Covid.
Italy also recorded significant sales throughout 2022, with 291,661 bikes sold.
Meanwhile, the Benelli TRK 502 emerged as the most popular full-size motorcycle for 2022 in Italy, with 6,645 units sold. More importantly, the Chinese-made motorcycle also outsold BMW’s R 1250 GS.
As a result, the 500cc parallel-twin ADV bike becomes the most popular motorcycle in Italy for the third consecutive year.
Interestingly, no motorcycles could exceed the 6,000 figure other than the TRK 502 in the last five years.
Below is the number of units sold for the best-selling motorcycles in Italy in the last five years:
Benelli telah pun memfailkan tanda nama TRK 702 sekitar April lalu sekaligus mengesahkan kedatangan motosikal ‘adventure’ yang lebih besar selain TRK 502.
Memasuki bulan Ogos, jenama motosikal Itali-China itu dengan rasminya melancarkan Benelli TRK 702 di China.
Seperti TRK 502 yang mencapai status selaku motosikal paling popular di Itali, Benelli mengharapkan TRK 702 juga mampu melakukan pencapaian sama.
Oleh sebab itu, Benelli akan turut memperkenalkan TRK 702 di pasaran Eropah. Menariknya, model tersebut hanya akan membawa lencana Benelli dan tidak akan dijenamakan sebagai QJMotor di pasaran lain.
Perbezaan ketara antara TRK 702 dan TRK 502 adalah di bahagian enjin, apabila model ADV lebih besar itu dihidupkan platform parallel-twin 693cc serba baharu yang dibangunkan Benelli. Enjin tersebut menghasilkan 75hp pada 8,500rpm dan 68.2Nm pada 6,250rpm.
*Benelli TRK 702
Seperti kebiasaan, motosikal serba baharu itu juga tampil dalam dua varian, TRK 702 (standard) dan TRK 702 X yang menampilkan penggunaan rim spoke (lidi) dan saiz tayar berbeza.
*Benelli TRK 702 X
Versi standard datang dengan rim 17-inci yang dipadankan dengan tayar 120/70 depan dan 160/70 belakang manakala versi ‘X’ pula dilengkapi tayar 19” depan dan 17” belakang di samping dilengkapi tayar ‘dual-purpose’.
Antara ciri lain ditawarkan temasuk:
ABS dwi-saluran
paparan meter LCD digital
grip dengan fungsi pemanas
tempat duduk dengan fungsi pemanas
Menariknya, Benelli turut melengkapkan TRK 702 dengan kamera HD yang diletakkan di bahagian bawah lampu hadapan. Kamera tersebut bertindak seperti ‘dashcam’ yang bertujuan merakam perjalanan sewaktu menunggang.
Benelli telah melaksanakan beberapa naik taraf terbaru bagi motosikal popular, TRK 502 X.
Menurut laporan, TRK 502 X kini dilengkapi dengan ‘swingarm’ aluminium serta skrin TFT.
Bukan itu sahaja, model 2022 juga menyaksikan pertambahan ciri sensor tekanan tayar dan ‘heated grips’.
Bagaimanapun, naik taraf paling mencuri tumpuan terarah kepada bahagian ‘swingarm’ dengan Benelli mendakwa penggunaan bahan aluminium menyaksikan berat berjaya dikurangkan sebanyak 3.5kg.
Namun, bahagian nadi kekal sama dengan TRK 502 X digerakan enjin parallel-twin 500cc yang menjana 47.6hp dan 46Nm.
Selain enjin, reka bentuk TRK 502 X juga dikekalkan kecuali beberapa pertambahan warna baharu.
Jenama Benelli kembali meningkat naik sejak diambil alih syarikat gergasi China, Qianjiang.
Dibawah pengurusan baharu, ibu pejabat serta jabatan penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) Benelli yang terletak di Itali meneruskan pembangunan beberapa model baharu sambil dibantu bahagian pembuatan dan pemasangan di China.
Kolaborasi dua bahagian ini berjaya menghasilkan motosikal Itali dengan harga lebih rendah dan mampu milik.
Dikalangan model yang ditawarkan, motosikal ‘adventure’, TRK 502 paling mendapat perhatian ramai.
Sejak diperkenalkan pada 2018, TRK 502 bingkas menjadi model paling popular dan berjaya muncul sebagai model paling laris di Itali pada tahun 2020.
Rekod itu kemudiannya dipecahkan pada 2021 apabila 6,543 unit berjaya dijual.
Menuju ke tahun 2023, Benelli sekali lagi bakal mengorak langkah baharu apabila akan melancarkan varian TRK yang lebih besar, dikenali sebagai TRK 702.
Perkara itu didedahkan menerusi paten terbaru yang difailkan di China oleh syarikat induk, Qianjiang.
Menariknya, paten tersebut turut mendedahkan rupa jelas TRK 702, yang semenangnya menawarkan rekaan serba baharu berbanding TRK 502.
Menurut dokumen yang difailkan, TRK 702 akan dikuasakan enjin parallel-twin 693cc dengan penyejukan cecair mirip dengan platform CFMoto 700CL-X.
Berupaya menghasilkan 75hp dan 70Nm, Benelli TRK 702 ini dijangka bakal memberikan saingan sengit terhadap segmen ADV pertengahan.
Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Group Co – pemilik jenama Benelli – mendedahkan beberapa perkara bagi tahun 2020 ketika sesi penyampaian syarikat itu, baru-baru ini.
Selain daripada mendedahkan kerjasama dengan Harley Davidson dalam menghasilkan HD 338, Qianjiang Motorcycle turut bakal memperkenalkan beberapa model baharu – Benelli TRK800, 600RR dan Imperiale 530.
Berdasarkan penyampaian tersebut, Benelli akan melancarkan TNT600i pada Februari, TKR 502X 2020 pada Mac dan Leoncino 800 pada hujung April tahun ini.
Bermula bulan Mei ke atas, Benelli akan memperkenalkan beberapa model baharu antaranya 600N dan 600RR.
Sementara bulan Jun akan menyaksikan pendedahan dua model baharu, HD 338 dan sebuah motosikal 250cc – maklumat terperinci tidak didedahkan.
Bagaimanapun, bulan September bakal menjadi fokus utama apabila Benelli akan memperkenalkan TRK 800 selepas mendedahkan Leoncino 800 di EICMA, November tahun lalu.
Difahamkan, TRK 800 akan menggunakan enjin parallel twin 754cc yang menghasilkan 81hp.
Kemudian pada bulan November, Benelli akan memperkenalkan 600RR versi touring yang dinamakan 600GT.
Pictures of a Benelli TRK 520 in Royal Malaysian Police colours were making rounds on the internet.
The pictures led some to believe that PDRM are using the bike.
However, they denied that they have the model in service.
The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has denied that they have drafted the Benelli TRK 502 into service.
Pictures of a Benelli TRK 502 resplendent in PDRM markings were making rounds on the internet. Additionally, it is equipped with police regalia such as sirens/loudspeakers and strobe lights. There appears to be no CB radio, however.
Director of the Strategic Human Resources and Technology at Bukit Aman, Datuk Sri Tajudin Md Isa said that PDRM has yet put any new bike into service. “I confirm that the motorcycle does not belong to the Royal Malaysian Police.”
Conversely, he added that, “The motorcycle may be used for testing.”
The PDRM currently has six types of motorcycles in service. They are the Honda CBX750P, Honda VFR800, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Ninja 300, Kawasaki KLX250 and Kawasaki Z250.
The fleet is being used by the Department of Traffic Investigation and Enforcement (Jabatan Siasatan Trafik dan Penguatkuasaan), Motorcycle Patrol Unit (Unit Rondaan Bermotosikal) and Special Operations Command (Pasukan Gerak Khas).
We hope that the bike is legit i.e. being tested by the police. Otherwise, please refrain from dressing up your motorcycle to mimic that of the police.
Motosikal Benelli TRK 502 telah dilancarkan sebagai pilihan mampu milik bagi mereka yang inginkan motosikal ‘sport-tourer‘ kelas pertengahan yang ringkas.
Walaupun ia tampak ringkas, motosikal Benelli TRK 502 ini direka dengan cantik sekali lengkap dengan gaya Itali.
The Benelli TRK 502 was launched as a budget option for those who seek a simple, midrange sport-tourer.
Simple as it is, the Benelli TRK 502 is prettily designed with Italian flair.
It was comfortable and frugal on fuel.
We Malaysian motorcyclists love to tour and we’d do it on any sort of bikes. I had an ex-colleague who along with his friends, rode 135cc kapchais all the way to Chiang Mai, Thailand and back. There are those who completed the Thousand Corners at Mae Hong Son on classic Vespas. Another group rode the Ducati Scrambler to the Chinese border. I’ve joined cross-border where the participants rode sportbikes. Also, consider the fact that the record holder for the longest continuous motorcycle ride at 5,600km was a Malaysian, who rode non-stop without sleep for four-and-half days.
It’s for this very reason that Malaysia is also a hotbed for sport-touring and adventure-touring motorcycles.
However, these 650cc and above machines cost from just below RM 40,000 and up, putting them out of the reach of a large number of enthusiasts.
Well, that’s changed with the addition of Benelli TRK 502. Priced from RM 30,621, it’s a price point that’ll appeal to a few.
The Benelli TRK 502 is certainly pretty when viewed. It has that aggressive signature Benelli dual headlights, swooping lines and large diameter brakes. The long “snout” reminded us of another Italian sport-tourer.
Getting on was easy as the seat was low, so both feet touched ground. But the reach to the handlebar was a bit “different.” At 167cm tall, I found the wide handlebar was further in front than most bikes. But that wasn’t the whole story. It was also high up, therefore lifting both my elbows and the shoulders up in the air. Adjusting the handlbar backwards by just a smudge had the control housings banging on top of the fuel tank, so it may as well be fixed. The footpegs were set to the front which meant the knees almost didn’t fold at all.
The combination of footpegs set low and forward, low seat and high handlebar way up front, made me felt like I was riding a bagger with lowrise ape-hangers. On the other hand, taller riders should find it alright. That said, your body will get used to its riding position in no time.
It was also due to this that the bike felt heavier than it really was when lifting it off the sidestand, riding and idling at the stoplights.
The engine started up within a few revolutions most of the time. I said most because there were a few times when it just cranked and cranked without catching, and only to start after calling it a few choice words. Good thing the battery was new and strong otherwise I’d be stuck. I even got laughed at by a couple, “Hahaha, the guy’s big bike couldn’t start,” they said in Chinese, not realizing that I understood them.
I came across the same issue when I tested the TRK 1190 and TnT 302 years before. Hope Benelli fixes this issue. The TnT 600 I reviewed didn’t have this issue.
But when the bike ran, it was comfortable. The large-sized windscreen and bodywork kept windblast off the face and torso.
The handling was commendable, although it wasn’t that agile. It was stable due to its long wheelbase and low seat height, however. The rear shock pumped up and down when slamming the bike through fast corners, but the bike maintained its line. Both front and rear suspension coped well to road bumps by clunking loudly over them.
Did someone abuse this demo bike before we tested it?
The brakes were really good, without a fault. I rode it in pouring rain a few times and they grabbed hard without sending the bike into a death wobble. The ABS worked as advertised when brakes are applied hard over wet speedbreaker lines.
The engine accompanies you with the combination of a roar and howl. It revved slowly but it held its speed effortlessly at higher speeds. Torque was good too, given the capacity. Passing other vehicles was done briskly with the right amount of revs.
However, I couldn’t escape the fact that finding NEUTRAL while the engine idled was like trying to find a billion ringgit without resorting to breaking the law. Against, this was just like the previous models, except for the TnT 600
What I truly welcomed was the addition of the large Coocase panniers and top case. What I didn’t appreciate, though, was rain leaking through the top case and inundating the contents inside which included my camera. To fair, it seemed that someone had dropped the bike on box or the box on the ground before. But for a complete peace-of-mind, just opt for those from GIVI.
All in all, the Benelli TRK 502 was alright. I did what it meant to do, despite the few niggles we mentioned. It’s priced to offer Italian styling and some performance at an accessible value, so that you could take it on an extended trip. Being a 500cc bike, it’s touring on a budget for everyone.
