Benelli TRK 702 hits the market
By Ben Purvis
The Benelli TRK 502 twin has been a remarkable success story in its Italian homeland - repeatedly topping sales charts thanks to its low cost despite unbalanced styling and middling performance. Benelli has addressed both those issues by now creating the TRK 702, and it could be the machine that brings the 502's Italian success to a wider global reach.
Launched in China, the TRK 702 is likely to come to Europe and other markets once production gears up, and it already looks like a tempting package. It's the first Benelli to get the 693 cc parallel twin engine that's already appeared in some QJMotor models, including the SRK700 that's now gone on sale in Europe - proving that it meets Euro 5 emissions limits.
With 56 kW (75 hp), the 693 cc engine is a huge step forward compared to the 35 kW (47 hp) 499 cc twin in the TRK 502, but the bigger Benelli isn't very much more expensive than its older sister. In China, where both machines are on sale now, the base TRK 702 costs around the same as the top version of the TRK 502.
The TRK 702's equipment includes heated grips and a heated seat, as well as a built-in, high-definition front camera that feeds a 'driving recorder', allowing rides to be saved and replayed either on the full-colour TFT dashboard or elsewhere. Styled in Italy, the bike's appearance has a distinct family resemblance to the recently launched TRK 800, with a much more modern and appealing design than the 502.
The current TRK 800 uses a 754 cc parallel twin derived from Benelli's old three-cylinder engine - making the same 56 kW output as the newer, cheaper 693 cc.
