Motorbike Test Ride

Benelli Trk 702 X, how goes the Italian-Chinese traveller

It arrived at dealerships last August, but the Benelli Trk 702 immediately won over many Italian motorcyclists, so much so that it topped the sales charts. We tested the X version, with 19-inch front wheel

by Gianluigi Guiotto

29 June 2024

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3' min read

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Italians seem to like Trks a lot: the Trk 502 topped the charts last year, and has now given way to its big sister, the Trk 702. So much success has intrigued us, and to find out why, we tested the more adventurous version, the 702X (7,500 euros), with spoked wheels and a 19-inch front wheel instead of the 17-inch of the more road-going version.

Italian origin

Despite the fact that Benelli has been owned by the Chinese colossus Qianjiang Motor since 2005, the Trk 702 has been developed entirely in Pesaro, even though it has the taut and angular lines that oriental users like so much; the headlight, with double LED module, and the fuel tank, which is made of metal in the area in contact with the rider's legs, to have the minimum bulk and allow maximum freedom of movement, without penalising the capacity: 20 litres. At the heart of the bike is the new 698 cc twin-cylinder engine, 4 valves per cylinder, which delivers 70 hp at 8,000 rpm (there is a depowered version to 35kW for A2 licences). The 6-speed gearbox is removable on the clutch side and assisted by a wet slipper clutch with torque slapper, which reduces the force to be applied to the clutch lever while maintaining smooth and precise gear engagement.

The skeleton of this Benelli is a tubular trellis with a steel plate derived from its little sister, combined with an upside-down fork with 50 mm stanchions (140 mm of travel) and an aluminium swinging arm with a central mono with adjustable spring preload and hydraulic brake in extension and compression (173 mm of wheel travel).

There are three discs in the braking system: two 320 mm diameter front discs with two-piston floating calipers (on the road version there are four, so there is more power) and a 260 mm rear disc.

In the saddle

The Trk 702X is made to ride comfortably: on the saddle, 835 mm above the ground, less tall riders may have some difficulty (the narrow tank in the middle helps), but the seat is soft and supported enough not to sink in after a few hours of riding. The control blocks on the handlebars are backlit, an important note for night riding. The command bridge consists of a high-resolution 5'' colour tft display, which has a bluetooth connection to connect your phone and show calls; via the Carbit Ride app you can mirror the navigator on the screen.

Travelling

After a few hours in the saddle, the versatility of the Trk 702X comes into its own. If in its smaller sister with a half-litre engine we had noticed a bit of a shortage in maximum power, here there is plenty to enjoy. The wide handlebar also helps in manoeuvring and gives a pleasant feeling of dominance on the road. The twin-cylinder engine, never grumpy, offers a progressive and smooth delivery, without on-off; vibrations, on handlebars and footpegs, come, very contained, only at high engine speeds. We liked the suspension, with its rather soft setting, which manages to tackle our roads without ever getting into difficulty. In the mixed, the Benelli is rigorous in the trajectories, with a very stable rear, both in the entry of corners and in the exit; obviously, with the 19 "wheel also comes a little 'inertia in the mixed narrow, àmbit in which the Trk 702X required a more muscular driving. The braking is neophyte-proof: it doesn't bite hard right away, but it is progressive, perhaps the more experienced would have preferred a little more power; grit that, on the other hand, is not lacking in the rear brake, so much so that every now and then the ABS intervenes, which cannot be disengaged in off-road (better, white roads), an area in which the soft suspension (perhaps too much fork) and delicate braking acquire value. In town the Benelli all-rounder rides well: it moves with agility (only the burly front end requires a bit of attention) and you don't feel the 235 kg in running order. The suspension helps you forget potholes and cobblestones: you ride with ease, in short. Supported moreover by a gearbox free of criticism, one of the strong points of this model. On the motorway, finally, the fairing protects what it can considering its size and the absence of adjustments; the passenger, in a slightly raised position compared to the rider, travels comfortably, with two well positioned handles to hold on to. Until the end of 2024, the three suitcases are included in the price, giving 134 litres of additional cargo.