Bike Rider Reviews Benelli TRK The Truth
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- Опубліковано 15 сер 2023
- If you are considering buying a Benelli TRK and want to know the truth about the TRK, then this video is for you. WARNING THIS VIDEO CONTAINS FLASHING IMAGES.
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It's refreshing to hear a review from someone who actually owns & uses the bike & not simply ridden a demo for two hours. Great, honest review, thanks for uploading.
Thanks for checking out the review and the good feedback. Ride safe 👍
12300miles on my 2018 plate 502. Bought on the back of a £5 pub bet with a mate who was arguing all the points you highlighted. To me the quality of machines cars and bikes coming out of China as been improving and I set out to prove it. Originally I only expected to keep it for a year and do a bit of a running blog on my findings (just to win the £5 bet that it wouldnt fail) . Four and a half years later I have now had it in my ownership longer than any other bike I've owned over the last 43yrs. The next phase of its life will be being pressed into service as my instructor bike as I enter a new career path. Only problems have been rubber band original chain and crappy break pads, apart from that I have been totally impressed and won the £5 bet. Great review by the way.
Thanks for checking out the review and the feedback. Good luck with your new career, ride safe 👍
I've been looking around for motorbikes in the last few months. I was going for a BMW 850 second hand. Few days ago i came across a Benelli by accident and I loved the look of it. I started to watch millions reviews and 99% of them were praising the motorbike. So, i made up my mind and orderd a TRK 702x after visitint a shop here in Ireland. Regarding the fact is Chinese, what is not nowadays? Most of these companies, if not all, have the parts made in China and assembled in their country. I don't see much difference from Benelli. I hope i won't regret buying it. I'll pick it up in few days and I can't wait!
I have a 2021 TRK 502, previously had a triumph tiger 800 xRx apart from the Tiger being more rapid off the blocks as it’s an 800. As far as I’m concerned the TRK 502 is a better bike all round and more comfortable ride too. Also at todays prices for the new 900 Tiger the TRK is almost 1/3 of the price. Happy to recommend the TRK now looking at the new TRK 702 for a bit more power as a replacement for the TRK 502.
A very refreshing review. It great to hear you call out some of these stereo typing reviews that are out and about on YT.
Thanks for checking out the review and your kind words. Ride safe 👍
I so wished ide gone to the Binelli stand at the bike show last week.. your video is very different to other reviews.. very detailed.. listening to you i hear you saying its really about the cleaning and maintenence side
Great review. Been looking at the 702, and your review has certainly given me confidence in the brand.
Now subscribed and will be watching a few more of your vlogs.
Ride safe.
Thank you. Just to add a little more feed back, I'm currently covering around a thousand miles a week for a work project, riding through some prety bad winter conditions and the bike is performing great. I really cannot fault this bike. Ride safe 👍
Really enjoyed the review. Thankyou! I am probably more focused on riding the street to get to offroad so a dual sport probably fits me best, but I much prefer the look of yours and it is great to get a detailed review to give me the confidence that I don't need to get a big engine bike to get great looks and something a bit easier to handle and a crazy good price. Thank you, again.
I'm glad the review helped. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for your review. It's good to see you back out on your bike again. I'm in the position of being able to own 2 motorcycles, a Suzuki DR650 for back road work and a Benelli 752S for good roads. If I could only own one bike the 502x would definitely be on my short list. I have had a good run with my Benelli, no reliability issues, just like a Jappa! Take care out there. Greetings from NZ
Thanks for checking out the review and your kind words. It's great to hear from people all over the world and always good to hear people enjoying their motorbikes. Please consider subscribing to the channel if not already done so. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for the review very good great to have a honest conversation about Chinese bikes I actually live in Italy and trk very popular but I went for voge 500 dsx just personal choice and have to say love the bike and very good dealership network
Loved the Lake District trip as I lived in Keswick and cockermouth before moving to Italy 3 years ago great Chanel thanks look forward to seeing more
Thank you for the great feedback and I'm glad you are enjoying the channel. Ride safe in sunny Italy 👍
Thank you for the honest review. I am looking at a trk702x. Currently riding a bmw r1100rt wich is very reliable to me. But getting older and not liking the knee angle anymore I am looking at a adventure tourer. A GS would be nice but they are über expensive and those engines of the F GS bikes are also made in China. The Benelli is affordable and in these expensive times reasonable and wise to choose. Your review helps me to get trust in the brand. And you are right. No matter wich brand of motorcycle you ride. Ride through salt and anything will rust. I did ride a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and liked that bike a lot and it is a for its displacement a quick bike.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I think the Chinese have really closed the gap now with the standards if manufacturing. People still slag them off, comparing them to GS's and Africa Twins, but you have to keep in mind the price. I think the TRK's at the moment are one of the best value bikes out there. If you are a rider who keeps on top of maintenance and keeps your bike clean, then you should have no problems with a Benelli. Ride safe 👍
Seriously looking at TRK 502X next year, have test ridden and loved it, for 500 cc has great up and go and very comfortable. Thanks for honest review and agree with you too Mate! Ride safe 👍😎
Thanks for checking out the review. You won't go far wrong with the TRK. Ride safe 👍
Cracking review mate I couldn’t agree more with you. Great bike and great price. I’m just waiting delivery of my trk 702x should be here next month👍
Thanks for checking out the review. Congratulations on the new 702, let me know how you go on with it. Ride safe 👍
Prejudice is a difficult thing to shake. It takes time to overcome preconceived ideas reinforced by journalists and those uneducated by experience.
True words. Ride safe 👍
Ive bought a 2023 benelli 302s band new and have put 10k miles on it. Thinking about upgradeing to the trk 502. My benelli has never let me down!
Totally agree, l have a 2022 trk 502x, and it’s brilliant. Comfortable on road and very capable off road within reason. I have changed the sprockets to lower the revs for cruising speeds. Only issue l have had so far was with the centre stand bump stop rubber it disintegrated after 6months, bear in mind though l live in Asia and the heat and the insects can damage many components. I owned a BMW 1200 GSA in the Uk so like you, the Benelli was a stop gap motorcycle. Can’t see me swapping it anytime soon. Great video.
Thanks for checking out the review. It's great to hear of another TRK rider getting a great experience with the bike. Ride safe 👍
Man, love your honest review. I cannot agree more. I know people with more than 200k kms already, and this bike keeps reliable as it can be. Not always a bad bike is but bad owners indeed. I owned a TRK as well. 21k kms and no issues.
Thanks for checking out the review. I am glad you enjoyed it. Ride safe 👍
Been watching since you got this bike and its been a good n 👍🏻👍🏻 Ride safe mate 👌🤙🤙
Thanks for checking out the review and following the channel, I appreciate it very much.
Well said buddy , as we all know there a great bike for the money, and a secondhand gem. What do you make of the 702 x , 70 bhp😉 , do you think you will review one, would be interesting to get a comparison on the 502x as a rider. Oh and fantastic to see you back 👍
I liked your review, considered it unbiased and very interesting. I am English, living in Ecuador, wanted to buy a GS, but a new GS costs around $45,000 here while the Benelli is $10,000. So,I shall be buying a Benelli at some point. Your review was one of only two positive reviews I have seen on YT concerning the 502. Thank you for that.
Wow, bikes are expensive in your part of the world. Take a look at all the comments on my reviews about the TRK on my channel and I'm sure you will find lots of encouraging information from owners of the bike. I think the TRK will be a great option for you. Please consider subscribing to the channel to show some support. Ride safe 👍
Brilliant review as usual well done kevin
Thanks for checking out the review and the great feedback. Ride safe 👍
Have just bought my TRK 502 x after test drives and good deal on 16,000 km 3 year old
Fantastic real world review👍... Im contemplating selling my Himalayan for TRK502X for a trip to the picos next year, certainly seems great value machine 👍👍👍
Thanks for checking out the review. I've never ridden the Himalayan so I can't realy comment on the bike, however in my opinion the TRK will cope easily with the Picos and will make the trip really comfortable and enjoyable for you. Please consider subscribing to the channel and ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews ... I've been a subscriber since you started 👍👍👍🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻🍺😁
Looking into the benelli 702x rn, ive mostly owned yamahas and suzukis but tbh i currently own a zong shen rx3 for touring. TBH the frame and body is amazing build quality, some plastics could be better and mechanically its alright as long as the electicals don't mess up.
Over 40000 km on a 18 502. Engine has been amazing. It out in sun and rain allot. Looking it's age. Pain in a&#@ to do airfilter. Bike is solid for the coin. Comfy and very reliable
Hi i have a standard 2022 502trk, had it 6 months and its been great, not had any issues as of yet parts wise. The crash bars work, dropped at 30-35mph in the rain had tge oarts within a week, new crash bar, side stand and gear change leaver. Seems as good as my last few bikes, ride most of the year and also wash it off after winter rides, no rust. Had one problem a stucky front caliper, fixed in 20mins, had this on a Kawasaki zzr too so not holding it against the bike! 🙂 oh and a honda vfr 800.
I too wanted a cheap bike to commute on, but its used for fun too.
Great review
Cheers
Thanks for checking out the review and the great feedback. Ride safe 👍
Agree with all you say.
Had my TRK502x since march this year. 2022 plate ex demo with 67 miles on clock. Had an absolute bargain. Only done just under 2000 miles so far but look forward to doing many more. Cant fault the bike, looks stunning, rides excellent, corners brilliantlly. Ive put 15 tooth on front, scott oiler, heated grips, headlight protector and screen extender.
Ride safe dude.
Thanks for checking out the review. I'm glad you're enjoying your TRK. Ride safe 👍
Agree with everything you say, I've only had my TRK for 6 weeks and already taken it 2up from the west country to Belgium and back fully loaded without any issue.
I changed the rear sprocket for a 39 tooth which has taken about 600 rpm of motorway speeds and is a game changer.
I modified a givi tanklock mount to make it fit which makes passport control much easier 😁
These bikes are not only incredible value for money, but also incredible in comparison to much more expensive equivalents.
Top video mate 😎👍
Thanks for checking out the review and I agree with everything you said. I'm glad you enjoyed the review, please consider subscribing to the channel to help support it. Ride safe 👍
@BikeRiderReviews already subbed buddy 👍
What is the original sprocket?
@theawakening2611 I think it's 45 teeth, dropping the rear sprocket makes the motorway revs much more palatable but you lose a small amount of acceleration 👍
@@wsmvwow so that's 6 teeth smaller! I had heard dropping 2 but never 6
I'm gonna buy Benelli TRK 502 2022! so excited!
Great news. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Ride safe 👍
Having reviewed all the Benellis and the CF Moto and Voges on my channel I’ve come across my fair share of “Chinese shit” comments so it’s great to see a long term assessment like this which destroys those urban myths….many thanks…subscribed 👍🏻
Thank you mate. I'll take a look at your channel. I think in the coming years, a lot of people are going to be eating their words, just like when the Japanese bikes first entered the market. Ride safe 👍
Absolutely great video Kevin,very well said. Although I don't own the bike anymore I absolutely loved and still do. The person who bought it also loves it and has become a good friend now. ( So I am able to see the trk from time to time) the only issue I had was that although it is a fair size bike I wanted more power as I nearly always ride two up. I now own a similar looking bike with 3 times the HP, which is a bit of an overkill but cruise control is my helper there .(triumph tiger 1200 rally explorer) would I buy a trk again ? Absolutely ! They are very good value for money. And as for the " it is made in china" comments,...if I came across it I always asked if they have ever been there. ( obviously not) . However I have heard it all before when I was young. " oh from Japan, that's all rubbish" haha. Cheers mate regards from Richard in Brisbane Australia
Thanks for checking out the review. Made laugh to hear you still have visiting rights to the Benelli lol. I can see why you have gone back up to a more powerful bike if you are touring 2 up. I think a lot of people who watch the videos think I am saying the TRK is the best bike out there. Obviously, that is not the case. There are a lot of bikes out there that are better than the TRK. However , if you factor in price, I still think the TRK is most probably one of the best value for money bikes you can get. At the moment the new Explore version of the CF Moto 800 MT is really grabbing my interest. Looks amazing and the spec sheet is very impressive for the price. Glad to hear you're enjoying your Triumph, cracking bikes. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews thanks Kevin.
Love your honesty, makes me happy with my purchase, question! After market crash bars look faded and thought they came with bars anyway? It’s a great bike eh!
Yes the bikes come with the lower set if bars and I've added the upper set. The bars have faded over time. But to be fair the bike is used year round in all weather's. They have saved the bike on numerous occasions and there is literally 99% zero rust on them after 5 years of use. Ride safe 👍
Hi! Look at Lunaris, he is testing also old Bikes. Best reviewer i know actually. You have to speak French though. No, he's not doing long term reviews though.
There is Zero highways from Italy that did 85.000 km on it...
You're bike is looking very good! Well maintained! Nice job! The centre stand needs regular repaint on any bike, stones and salt from the road on one side and heat from the exhaust on the other side... Do you grease or oil the chain? Merry Christmas and safe ride!
I've always been a fan of the 502x since 2018, it has a good reliability record that I've monitored over the years including keeping an eye on your channel.
Motogb should have done more years ago for this bike and the lack of PR etc has really let it down, and Bennellis own website isn't great either.
Same old story, great bike but the company have a lack of enthusiasm to shove them out.
Also motogb need to get the parts side sorted, all they are intrested in is selling bikes and with no aftercare. If only they could stock the parts.
Good job👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. I've tried to change the style of presentation and editing with this video, which seems to have been a success. I think you're right about Moto GB, I think they should put more effort into promotion. I enjoy watching your channel, I've been subscribed for a good while. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Yeap, cutting the intro was a good move, its OK but intros kill the flow. Your on the right track well done.
502x owner here, and after a year of ownership I genuinely agree with your take. I’ve never had a mechanical issue so far. Maybe small things like swapping out the 12v outlet to charge an iPhone, and upping the gear ratio to cruise on the highway at lower rpm, and the OEM storage boxes aren’t top tier. But I’ve loved the bike for everything else, and feel like I got the best bike-for-dollar deal on the market.
Thanks for checking out the review and your feedback. Ride safe 👍
Absolutely this. I got mine to ride around the backroads of Kentucky after watching a fair amount of BRR's videos, I've had it for about a year now and haven't had a mechanical problem at all either. I too swapped in the 15t front sprocket, and I couldn't be happier with the bike. I used to ride a KTM 990 adventure, and I'm still very pleased with it. Like you, I definitely feel like I got an absolutely stellar value for money.
@JoshuaClarked It's great to hear people are having great experiences with their TRK's and great to get good feedback fir the channel. Ride safe in Kentucky 👍
Bought mine because I watched Long Way Round and as a minimum wage labourer a GS was way out of my budget😁Took me a while to get used to the weight and height as it was so different to my old Suzuki bandit but now I absolutely love it! Especially when others do the whole criticise the Chinese bike thing and then end up being impressed😁absolute cracking video buddy 👍🏼
Thanks mate ride safe 👍
Many of the big brand bike makers assemble their lower cost and smaller models outside their origin country. For example, Honda's CL500 is made/assembled in Thailand. I worked for 25 years, in manufacturing in mainland China (Guangdong province) and in Japan (Chiba prefecture). Asia is now a complex manufacturing regional entity, with parts, sub assemblies being made all over the region. Best to take a long in-depth look at any prospective new bike.....see what level of quality and performance suits you rather than automatically relying on the makers name/badge.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I couldn't agree more. Absolutely spot on. Ride Safe 👍
excellent review; am fed up with flash harry reviews on new bikes only.
Thanks for your kind words. Ride safe 👍
I Bought one in April '23. I currently have 14k kilometers on it, on various terrains (rocky mountain roads, light off-road, b-roads, high-ways etc). I've done 2 long trips with more than 3k kilometers each. No issues at all. Just the regular maintenance at Benelli certified shops. I also use the bike on a daily basis, loaded with a pillion. I enjoy to the fullest. It's really comfortable and powerful enough to enjoy on the twisties (leans and turns amazingly well). Love it recommend it to anyone who wants a reliable bike for daily use and travelling and does not want to spend a small fortune on it. Keep riding :)
It's great to hear from another happy owner. Ride safe 👍
Cud you tell.me.more about this please I finking off buying on too travel the world.
@davidwilkie6302 The thing to consider is the availability of parts. I think if I was travelling the world, I would most probably choose a more mainstream bike where parts will be more readily available in remote parts of the world.
So.wot ya fink.
So wot about touring sapin then
9:02 have you considered xcp rust blocker or their clear coat which is better than the acf-50 in the Bennetts extensive testing 😊 seem shed loads of people just seem to go to acf-50 by habit.
I think once I have used all my AF50 up I'll give it a try. Ride safe 👍
A very in depth review. I am planning to purchase 702X however I do not if it is right for a rider whose height is 5ft7?
Thanks for checking out the channel. I've not ridden the 702 yet, so I can't really say. However, as with any bike, you really should test ride it first. Ride safe, and if you make a purchase, let me know how you go on. 👍
I had a yellow one ... I did the sprocket change and it made it sit a tad more comfy at about 6-6500 revs but everything else was pretty much standard ... it was a great bike, so very comfy (best seat I have had on a bike and I have had sh*tloads of bikes) ... I sold it and got another XT660z but only because I like to get out on the tracks and there is a lot of plastic on the Benelli and I just wasn't as relaxed whereas if I drop the XT then meh! Value for money then they are hard to beat ... everything we use these days comes from China mostly, no worries ... great bikes and the 720X is very, very tempting
Thanks for checking out the review. Totally agree with what you have said. Ride safe and enjoy the tracks 👍
Hi mate. I've got à TRKX
also and absolutely love it. I ride it more thàn my R1. I've toured Ireland and Isle of Mann 7wks ride and just got back from Spain and France. I rode mountàin roads ànd tracks in both countries ànd also followed the Tour de France, about 8wks total. Apart from a small adjustment on the clutch cable I had no problems at all. All day comfortable while carrying my camping gear. I'm considering buying my first sat nav (just used paper maps and phone so far. I noticed your sat nav mounting bar on your TRK. Could you tell me what brand it is? Also which sat nave you use? I've seen some poor comments for Garmin Xt. I was thinking of Tom Tom rider as I don't have a computer or làp top. Thanks.
Hi thanks for checking out the review. I use the tomtom rider 550. It's a great piece of kit. To be honest I can't remember what make the mount was, I'm guessing it was tomtom. If you take a look on the video tab of the channel there is a TRK accessory review, I'm prety sure I give all the details there. Great to hear you're getting max use out of the TRK, I admit I'm feeling very jealous of your recent tours lol. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for that. I'm now subscribed 😊
@kennethsutton282 Thanks for your support, it is much appreciated 🙏
Lovely video... Can i expect you to do a test of the 702??
Thanks for checking out the review. If there are a0ny dealers out there willing to give me a bike to test I certainly would not say no. Ride safe 👍
What a superb review and i was wondering when someone would come out with the true facts about chinese bikes. I have spent the last few years contstantly pointing out to other bikers that china has been making engines for bmw amongst others for years after micky taking for taking chinese bikes out on test. Your right the cf moto 800mt is a tremendous bike, had a slight problem with the fueling to start but that has been fixed. Ktm engine but is dogged by this chinese stigma you talk about. The 502 is a great bike and im sure the new 702 will be as well.
Thanks for checking out the review. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Ride safe 👍
I bought 1 about 8 months ago, low milage for a 21 plate, lot cheaper than the V Strom. Ride it all weather a like you main mode of transport. Great bike.
Hi Kev, as you know I had the same bike as yours for 3 years. I commuted weekly to London from Northampton on it racking up over 25K miles in all weathers. I relied on it heavily and it never let me down once.
Hi mate, hope all is well. Your bike and usage is a shining example of the quality and reliability of the TRK. Ride safe 👍
There are no five year reviews because all these reviews are designed to get consumers to buy new bikes! Excellent point!
A beautiful looking machine, I am caught between TRK502x or CFMOTO 800 MT and leaning towards TRK due to price and reviews like your so thanks for that, quick question How is the power?
Hi, sorry I've only just seen your message. I find the power for the TRK completely usable for all aspects of riding. I would like just a little bit more for long motorway days, but not to the extent that it would put me off the bike. It's a more personal preference rather than physical need. I'm also very interested in the CF MOTO 800 MT. It looks like a very good bike for the price. The latest model even has rear facing radar to give blind spot warnings for vehicles overtaking. Please let me know what you get. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews I will Mate, I was interested in Royal Enfield Himalayan too but a bit small for me being 6 ft feel like an adult on a kids tricycle 😂selling my V Star 650 then decide Benneli TRK502x or CFMOTO 800 MT will let you know. Ride safe and cheers for logical honest review 🏍️👍🏻😎
Have you considered the new TRK 702, I don't know a lot about them, but so far I'm hearing very good things about them.
@@BikeRiderReviews Not available here in Australia yet, they actually don’t know when, about of my budget too I guess as new and can’t reach that level of $12k+ they are saying 👍🏻🙄
The only problem with benelli is that the 2nd hand price are not great, however that can make it a good 2nd hand purchase 😊
I have a Honda SH125i 2021. I had to wait four days for the belt to arrive at the main dealer and when I picked it up, they gave me the wrong brake pads I had also ordered.
Waited 4 days for the correct pads. I'd consider a Chinese bike!
What do you think of the Voge 500?
Thanks for checking out the channel. I've seen some favourable reviews of the Voge. However, I haven't actually ridden one, so I can't really provide any reliable feedback. I also like the look of the CFMOTO 800MT Explore. It's a bit more expensive than the majority of the other Chinese bikes but it has an incredible spec sheet and when compared to its Japanese or European similar speced competitors its awesome value. Ride safe 👍
Great review. I am glad that someone has to say something good about the TRK. I own a 2022 model for almost a year now and I love it. Great bike. Very reliable, comfortable, and the greatest looking bike I have ever seen. I m so proud of it. Also the dealership in Cyprus is excellent! All spare parts are available and aftermarket accessories as well.
Thanks for checking out the review. Here in the UK it's still difficult to get some parts for the TRK. Thankyou for your feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Please consider subscribing to help support the channel. Ride safe 👍
Well maybe you can be help me out. After reviewing the vast number of videos out there on the bike, I started to look at what was in my market -Finland. What I found was very interesting. Firstly and quite shockingly, a lot of second hand TRK are sold within the first 1-4 yrs of ownership with a max of 10-12,000 km on the clock. The question is why??? Is there a problem that no one is willing to say about this bike once it hits 10,000km? Just want to know as it worries me.
Hi, thanks for checking out the channel. I haven't heard of any kind of problems at that mileage point or any other mileage point to be fair. The majority of feedback I hear for the TRK is very positive, especially when it comes to reliability. The only thing I think of is maybe it has to do with being a mid range bike. A lot of people have the TRK as a first bike or even a first adventure bike as they are well priced and not overly powerful. I think a lot of people move on to the bigger bikes like BMW GS or Triumph tigres. Another thing to consider is price depreciation. Unfortunately, the Benelli brand doesn't hold its value well in the second-hand market, so it may just be people selling at that point due to this. I hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
this is my 11th bike, own four ducatis (who also use chinese components as do triumph, royal enfield and now even Harley Davidson) a Royal Enfield Scram 411, Harley Sporster 1200, 2 Monster 795s 2 scramblers (nightshift and café) MV Agusta Brutale 800, MV Agusta Brutale 1090, a Diablo 650 parallel twin custom cafe racer from k speed custom Thailand, a Yamaha XSR, and this Benelli 502X. There are worse bikes at twice the price. To illustrate how initially untrusted brands can become the oreferred brand: LG Tvs used to be viewed as c r a p, now they dominate the market and are known for their high quality screens for a much lower price than a sony or a samsung. China, used to make bad quality stuff, now, since the western manufacturers contracted China to build their engines, China has learned to make very good reliable motors.. which is why the western brands also choose China to make their engines. You would be surprised how many famous bespoke bikes use a Chinese engine, according to their minimum standards… I live in Thailand so we know a Chinese engine has less chance of blowing up than a bsa.
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. You are spot on with what you say. It absolutely amazes me the amount of people who are completely bias and prejudice against the Benelli quoting because it is Chinese. What amazes me more is that the same people are riding around on bikes which are made of a large amount of Chinese components and they are total ignorant of the fact. I think this is the best time to buy Chinese manufacturer bikes as we are in the period where they are offering good products at a reduced price to break into the market. I think in the years to come, the stigma of Chinese bikes will drop and the prices rise. Ride safe 👍
@16:50 I would add to that, you don't even need to be riding on salt-strewn roads for corrosion to set-in. My 2000 Suzuki was stored in a wooden garage in rural lincolnshire one winter. By the following spring, corrosion was everywhere; and I mean, *everywhere*. It cost me over 3k to put it right and I only did so because the bike had less than 6k on the clocks; otherwise I would've sold it on. Lesson learnt; use ACF50. So yeah, before slagging-off a machine from a country that might have once had a reputation for poor quality, know that even the big brands aren't that durable either.
Spot on mate. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews You too brother 👍
Have you ridden this bike with passenger and luggage? Can it actually keep up with traffic? Not taking the piss, but would just love to know.
Thanks for checking out the review. I have ridden the bike with fully loaded panniers and top box, plus bags and tent strapped to the seat. Obviously only being 500cc you can tell the difference more than you would on a larger capacity bike. However the TRK rides fine, it keeps up with traffic no problem and will sit at 70 - 80mph all day long. However when fully loaded you will have to plan overtaking at higher speeds a little more than when unloaded. Ride safe 👍
'Nathanthepostman' had the rear bearing fail on his Voge 300 after just 5,000miles. It appeared to be a poor quality bearing. I've had a chinese bike myself and in less than a year I gave it away (I couldn't face asking money for it!). Just thinking about all the trouble it gave me brings back me PTSD. Best quality and parts availability is still Japanees big four
Thanks for checking out the review. I can only go off my own personal experience with the Benelli and at 16,000 miles it has given me virtually no problems. I agree you will get better components on a Japanese bike, but you will also pay a lot more for a Japanese bike. At the same time when looking at owner reviews of all bikes, even the Japanese and European bikes, you find owners who have had horror stories. I think the point is, ask any old timer biker about when the Japanese bikes first made their way onto Western markets, they were also looked down on as substandard and we all know how that has turned out. Looking back over the past 20 years I think its clear to see the Cinese bikes have continued to close the gap and looking at the new CFMOTO 800MT Explore I think there's a good case to state they are almost getting to a level playing field. Ride safe 👍
110% agree with every word well done sir !!
Wow.. Its scary how much i agree and talk about your exact points and totallt agree with your opinions.. I have had 5 modern chibese bikes and currently ride a zontes 310 T2.. ( the riggs garage) for my vids.. Im very much thinking of getting a 702..
Thanks for checking out the review. I'm hearing very good things about the 702 and I can't wait to test ride one. Ride safe 👍
about that long time rider review.........try the zundapp KS 750......😜
Both my Chinese assembled CFMOTO 700 Sport and my Kayo K-4 250 have been perfectly reliable. I wish I could say that about my harley davidson.
Chinese bikes have certainly come on a long way in recent years. Very near to closing the gap between the rest of the world. Ride safe 👍
I almost bought one but main problem for me is the hp or lack of it and the brakes are shitty i still like it but i bought a fjr1300 a rocket and relaxed
Thanks for checking out the review. I test rode the TRK when they were first released and I also found the brakes terrible, so much so I did not buy the bike. However Benelli did sort the brake issue out and I can honestly say I don't really find an issue with them. I'm glad you found the right bike for you, as I say in lots of my videos, we are all different people and ride and require and enjoy different things about the bikes we ride. Ride safe and please consider subscribing to the channel. Ride safe 👍
26:24 or possibly you should have said "the modern day name brand bikes are good" as there is still some lower quality Chinese bikes around but the likes of Cfmoto, Voge, Benelli, and even as you say the Chinese engine KTM are very good nowadays 😊
Can anyone tell me about spares availability for Chinese bikes? I anecdotely know of a horror story regarding unavailability of some spares. It's holding me back from buying a mid weight Chinese adv bike.... though I admit their bikes look amazing value.
Hi, thanks for checking out the channel. To be honest, it is a bit hit and miss with availability in the UK. However, as the TRK is such a massive seller in Europe, parts are usually readily available there. So it isn't so much a problem of not being able to get the parts, it's just you may have to wait a little longer for delivery. To be honest I haven't really had any real problems up to yet. I mainly use ebay or a generic Web search to get parts. MOTO GB are dismal. Ride safe 👍
Benelli trk 501x or Honda Nc750x ? Benelli 2021 used full accessories, but Honda Nc750x 2023 manual transmission brand new, if I go with Benelli, I will save 3000$ , please advise me.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I can not realistically advise you. They are two very different bikes. The main thing I would take into consideration is what you want to use the bikes for. If it is touring, I personally prefer the Benelli. However, if you are comutinng on busy roads, then I think the Honda is better. Consider your own riding ability and physique. The Honda is easier to ride and push around. Also, consider the availability of dealerships and parts if that is something important to you. Honda has a far better dealership. Resale value may be important to you. Again, the Honda will hold value better than the Benelli. For my circumstances, I prefer the Benelli, but remember we are all different people. What may be best for me might not be for you. Ride safe 🙏
Thanks for kind reply, before one month I have done disk prolapse surgery, and I'm 183 cm , Honda Nc750x riding position is suitable for me ?
@AhmedSaad-xz5tv I think the Benelli has a more comfortable seating position but the Benelli is very heavy to slow manoeuvre and heavy to get on and off the stand. The Honda is more manageable at slow speed and getting on and off the stand. You really need to test ride both bikes as that is the only way you will know which suits your needs best. On a medical note, I would recommend you spend more time recovering from your surgery before riding. Ride safe 👍
The company is in Chinese hand but still Italian engineers are responsable for this bike so for me it is an Italian bike !!!
"No rust issue"... 18:03 washer and bolt from the right side wind deflector: rusted and decoloring the transparant plastic. 😅
19:09 weld where subframe joins togheter: rust and cracked paint.
WOW, great criticism. Just a thought, can you show me a bike, that remains in show room prestine condition after being used daily, 7 days a week for over 5 years, all year around including winter in the UK on salted roads, covering high mileage road trips? I think everyone who knows anything about owning motorcycles in the UK will understand the general message I was conveying about the bike. I always welcome constructive criticism on my channel when appropriate, but mate, really. If you feel my video or videos are misleading, please feel free to scroll on by. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Well yes I can, my '99 Bmw GS has no rust, and I know at least I am using it in all seasons, including riding on salt roads. I watched your video because I'm interested in the bike and was hoping for the best. In my comment i was merely stating the obvious: by the time that bike reaches the age of my old beemer it will be well rusted, unfortunately.
@vixr350r Thank you for your reply. I think you must have an exceptional GS. Last December, i was working as a motorcycle instructor. I was covering around a 1000 miles a week and around the Edinburgh area like much of the country it was constant horrendous weather, snow, ice, and rain for the whole month. Two of the other instructors rode BMW GS bikes. Each night, the bikes were foam bathed and jet washed. I can honestly say they showed the same wear and tear and rust levels as my TRK. I have been riding bikes for a very long time, and I understand that you can keep any bike in pristine condition given enough time to meticulously clean it after every ride. My bike is not treated in this way. Yes, it is hosed down with fresh water after a ride and cleaned with a foam bath / sponge, and jet was once a week. My bike is a daily commuter and work horse. I have absolutely no doubt that if I was to spend more time cleaning the bike after each ride, it would remain totally rust free and pristine. As for rust on the weld on the subframe that was dirt. I'll put a close up on my next upload to the channel. In the video I have not tried to hide anything or pull the wool over anyone's eyes. I showed the bike in its entirety. If that's the impression you got from the video, then accept my apologies. However, I have to disagree with your implication that in time to come, the bike will be rusted away. In my opinion, the TRK is no worse or better than my other bikes I've owned, including Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Ride safe 👍
I don't believe my bike to be exceptional. It just has no rust and i haven't owned it for long now, yet it was fabricated in 1999. Anyway, good to hear you are very assured about the rust on the benelli. This gives me more confidence to go and test ride one soon, but still don't like to see rusted bolts on a bike that young. If only they used a better material, or i'd have to replace a lot of bolts after buying.. Also there's quite a few benelli owners (not necessarily trk502) that complain about rust. I'm definately not trying to say these bikes are bad quality, since i'm actually interested in them, but yet have to be convinced about the build quality. Looking forward to another review from this bike in a couple of years.
@vixr350r Honestly I've been riding bikes well over 20 years and I've had a lot of different makes of bikes and I wouldn't say the Benelli is any worse than for reliability or rust than any the them. I also have a Honda at the moment and uts true to say some of the components look to be higher quality and things like the welding is neater than the Benelli but I wouldn't say that makes the Benelli of poor quality either. My Benelli gets absolutely hammered mate year in and out, and it's been rock steady throughout. While the Benelli is not the best bike ice owned, it's still an exceptional bike, and if you go on the best bike for money, it's definitely the best. My advice is to take one out for a test ride and have a good close look. I think only that way will you be able to make a decent assessment for yourself.
People said that Japanese bikes were crap once, so they flooded the market, done the British bike industry to ceasing all manufacturing, but look at these 'crap Japanese bikes' now, they are ths leaders in the bike industry, with some damn good bikes. These days, people do not realise that a lot of bike parts (as with other vehicles) are made in China, and their industry is getting bigger, so in a few years time, they will be up there with the other bike manufacturers. I think that the company who own Benelli also own Volvo and a few other vehicle companies also.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I have to agree with what you say. I think now is most probably the best time to buy Chinese bikes as they are in the stage of transition where the quality is getting very close to the Western and Japanese counterparts but still at a low price. I believe in the years to come, the stigma of owning a Chinese bike will diminish, and at that point, the prices will increase in line with the other established brands. Ride safe 👍
My local dealer is doing these with free luggage it looks a great deal
Thanks for checking out the review. I think you are correct on both point's. It's a great bike and that sounds like a brilliant deal. Ride safe 👍
People come from the mindset it's cheaply priced so it's cheaply made .It's the other way round that you need to worry and start asking questions
Thanks for checking out the review. I think if the TRK was manufactured by a big brand name people would happily pay a lot more for it. Unfortunately people still have difficulty looking past the brand name. Please consider subscribing to the channel and ride s0afe 👍
You should normalize your audio, it is too low
Thanks for the feedback I'll take a look at it. Ride safe 👍
At the end of the day it is still a Italian brand in core so it is not like other Chinese bikes
Great thought 👍
It's the same with most bikes if you don't bother to look after them
To me, the minute i spend a lot of money at a hobby, the fun is over.😒 It's like a prison of enjoyment, i hate it.
Chinese metal goods are not the same quality as German or Japanese goods. Try buying a metal spanner, screwdriver, pliers etc They LOOK same but as soon as pressure is brought to bear they fail, I have experienced this many times, so this is not just hearsay. This bike looks great, but can you trust it with your life?
I've been riding it for over 5 years, along side my Honda NC750X. The Benelli has performed just as well as the Honda. Last December I was working as a motorcycle instructor and was covering over a thousand miles a week on the Benelli and it never missed a beat. I get what you are saying about other Chinese goods but look at it like this. Other big brand companies such as KTM have bikes and engines manufactured and assembled in China. Do you class them as cheap rubbish? Ride safe 👍
@BikeRiderReviews thanks for your reply. I have been looking to buy a smaller bike than my beemer, the Honda nx500 was the favourite, but since seeing your video I am going to look at a benneli TRK. The additional add ons for the honda are ridiculously expensive, top box £650! Spot lights £350! Heated grips hundreds, when you can get aftermarket one for less than a hundred quid! Cheers, martyn
@rontheretiredone if you're down sizing bear in mind, although the TRK is lower power, they are still very heavy bikes, so might not feel much of a downsize on the man handling around the yard. 👍
In a nutshell , good for big pharma . Your closing statement might come to pass I politicians didn’t still have their heads in the sand whilst looking the other way .
HI Kev i had the 502x and bloody love it the problem i had was i like you need a new left knee and hip its so bad that i wouild let the bike fall not drop but its bloody heavy bike and you know when it goes it goes but the shit bike snobs used to give you i called them the gs robots so the trk had to go i now ride a royal enfield himalayan and its a lovely bike i think if you had the right tyers it would go up a mountain no pob but the snobs just look down there noses at you but look at itchy boots what her himalayan did i rest my case g.s. warriors but getting back to the trk i love it and at 67years hold once my knee and hip is done i would love a trk but may be the new 800 take a look so kev ride safe look to your next vlog
Thanks for checking out the review. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues. Believe me when I say I know what you're going through. To be honest, I've never really been bothered about what others think about my bikes, as long as I enjoy them, I don't really care, but I know where you are coming from. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for the review! But, I have to say that your English dialect is very difficult to understand! Therefore I have to listen 3 times!😅😮👍
Thanks for checking out the review. Unfortunately I can't do much about that lol. Ride safe 👍
The truth about maintaining your bike especially over in the UK with loads of salt due to either mist of the sea-I assume- and the salt on the roadways leads me to think bout those with BMWs as well. You have 15000 miles on the clock I wouldn’t expect the bike to look as good as it does. Job well done sir. All in all it’s “them” people that are pushing the expensive this and that but they buy the HIGHLY UNRELIABLE KTMs made also in China for thousands more than the Benelli… Cheers from balmy Arizona 🫡🇺🇸🌵
Thanks for checking out the review. I honestly do not do excessive cleaning of the bike. It is used as everyday transport. I have to admit, due to the reputation of Chinese manufactured bikes I have been very surprised that the corrosion levels have been no worse than any of the Yamahas, Honda's or Suzuki's I have owned. Its great to know people are viewing from all around the world. Ride safe 👍