Benelli, a Chinese motorcycle brand with Italian roots, has been selling its entry-level adventure bike, the TRK 502, for some time now. When it was launched in 2017, it was quite impressive, with features that were ahead of its time.
Now, however, it’s clear that the TRK 502X has aged a little. The class of 400cc to 500cc adventure touring machines has evolved rapidly in recent years, with new offerings from new and established manufacturers shaking up the market. Motorcycles such as the KTM 390 Adventure, as well as the recently launched Royal Enfield Himalayan and CFMOTO 450MT place a strong emphasis on off-road performance. Meanwhile, machines like the Honda NX500 focus on the ability to make long-distance journeys.
So where does this leave the old Benelli TRK? Well, as it turns out, Benelli has revamped the bike, presenting it as the TRK 552X for the year 2024. And judging by the bike’s specifications and features, it looks like Benelli has taken what was good about the TRK 502X and made it even better.
Gone are the halogen headlights, and in their place is a new set of two-unit LED headlights. The front panel has been improved with a more aggressive profile and a larger windshield. And the fairings are wider, blending in with the large fuel tank.
In the cockpit, the old analog-digital display has been replaced by a color TFT screen, just like all the other bikes in the segment. The screen also includes features such as smartphone pairing and an integrated tire pressure monitoring system.
Marketed as an entry-level adventure bike, the new TRK 552X has plenty of power for its class. Its 550 cc twin-cylinder puts out a respectable 60 hp of power and 54.9 Nm of torque, narrowing the gap between the entry-level and mid-range ADV segments.
When it comes to technology, however, it seems that Benelli has kept things fairly simple, as the TRK only has dual-channel ABS – no riding modes, no sophisticated electronics.
That said, judging by the bike’s underpinnings, it’s clear that Benelli isn’t looking to take on the rally-inspired ADVs in the segment, but rather to bridge the gap between on-road performance and go-anywhere capability. So while the TRK has sophisticated Marzocchi suspension with a range of settings front and rear, it rides on a combination of 19-17 spoked wheels and Metzeler Tourance tires.
As is the case with most Benelli bikes, the TRK 552X was launched first in China. If it’s a success, it’s likely to be sent to other markets where it will compete with some of the bikes we’ve talked about above.