On one level I feel morally opposed to the Benelli TRK 702. But it’s a bike that intrigues me, and I sometimes wonder if the action of my moral opposition is reasonably placed.
I mean, how do you solve a problem like Maria China?
China’s government (not its people) is bad: oppressive, sinister, and head-fucky. It is able to behave this way in part because it has a lot of money, which it gets from manipulating and strong-arming Chinese businesses. If you want China’s government to stop being so horrible to its people and its neighbors (and, maybe, you), one line of thinking is to hit it in the pocketbook. It is nigh impossible to live a life completely free of China-made products, but I try my best.
Does that work, though? Many have argued that buying China’s products helps the sweet nectar of freedom to trickle down to the masses; they say boycotts only make things worse.
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Review Round-Ups
Maybe you just don’t care, however. Maybe all you care about is getting a bike that looks cool and doesn’t cost a lot. That certainly describes the Benelli TRK 702/TRK 702X.
Benelli is an Italian brand with a history extending back to 1911. But these days, the company is owned by Qianjiang Motorcycle and, although its bikes are designed in Italy, they are made manufactured and assembled in Wenling, China. For all intents and purposes, Benelli is a Chinese company and the TRK 702 is a Chinese bike.
Being China-made is no longer necessarily a black mark in terms of a bike’s quality. China’s manufacturers have made huge strides over the past decade or so, with some able to rival the Japanese and Western brands with which we’re more familiar. CF Moto is one such manufacturer, Benelli/Qianjiang is another.
“And in 2015 [Chinese manufacturer] Geely bought out Qianjiang,” observes Nathan Millward in his video review of the TRK 702X. “Geely are the people who own Volvo. So… this is built by the same people who own Volvo. Which does give it a certain credibility.”
The TRK 702 was first introduced to the world at EICMA almost two years ago, but as best I can tell it has only recently made its way to the United Kingdom.
Written reviews of the TRK 702 are hard to come by; I have only managed to find two. All other reviews come from industrious YouTubers who have taken the time to build a relationship with a local dealer and borrow the bike for a day. I respect that hustle, but, man… to deliver this review round-up I’ve had to sit through a lot of looooong (for the sake of monetization optimization) videos full of helmet POV camera shots, hot audio, regional accents, awkward to-camera stand-ups from white men of a certain age, and grating copyright-free music.
Your reviewers this time around are Ross Mowbray of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, Miguel Fragoso of Motorcycle Sports (a site that is strangled by pop-ups, so beware) and vloggers On the Road Adventure (I’ll shorten that to OTRA), The Bingley Wheeler (TBW), Mark Pulling, and Nathan Millward of Nathan the Postman.
SOME NUMBERS
Starting price: £6,499 / £6,899 X
Engine: 698cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin
Power: 51 kW (68.3 hp)
Torque: 70 Nm
Seat height: 790mm / 836mm X
Fuel capacity: 20 liters
Dry Weight: 215 kg / 218 kg X
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I first became interested in the TRK 702 after spending a lot of time thinking about buying a different bike: a 2021 Benelli TRK 502X with just 2,700 miles on the clock that cost the same as the 2012 Kawasaki Versys 1000 (with 30,000 miles) that I ended up buying.
The 502 looks a whole lot like the 702 (they share the same frame) and I liked that it was physically big. Usually, smaller-capacity bikes have correlating smallness; smaller engines almost always mean physically smaller bikes. That is annoying for guys who are 6 foot 1, and very much at the heart of why I’ve never looked seriously at great bikes like the Honda NX500 (née CB500X).
I didn’t test ride the TRK 502X, but I did some poking and prodding. All the bits seemed to be of reasonably good quality. This fit with what I had read in reviews of the bike (apparently it’s the best-selling bike in Italy over 125cc). And those reviews also spoke highly of its performance and handling.
Ultimately, I decided against it because of the whole China thing, along with some minor concerns about whether the 35 kW (46.9 hp) of the TRK 502 would be enough for me. Almost certainly it would be enough for me; I was just asking that question because there was, as I say, a Kawasaki Versys 1000 (which has 85.3 kW) in the same showroom being offered for the same price.
I generally feel I made the right decision in buying the Kawasaki but thoughts of the Benelli have stuck with me ever since. I found myself continuing to search for reviews afterward, which is how I eventually learned about the almost identical but more powerful TRK 702.
Like the 502, the TRK 702 comes with an X version that is different really only in wheels. The TRK 702X has a 19-inch front wheel (spoked, as opposed to the TRK 702’s alloy wheels), which helps to boost seat height and ground clearance.
The TRK 702 looks like the lovechild of a Triumph Tiger 900 and a Ducati Multistrada V2, with a beak that’s reminiscent of Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in Maestro. That’s not to say it looks bad. In fact, I quite like it. Adventure bikes are supposed to be ruggedly ugly and this Benelli does a good job of meeting the brief.
“Jumping on this bike, my first thought is: I’m convinced it is lighter than the 502,” says OTRA. “It certainly feels lighter to pick up off the stand.”
It isn’t, according to Benelli’s stats, but the bigger bike’s extra weight is so minimal as to not matter. According to Benelli’s website, the 702’s extra 200cc of capacity adds just 2 kilograms of dry weight.
It may be that the 702 seems lighter than the 502 because you expect it to be heavier. That is to say, the 502, with its girth and steel trellis frame, is notably heavier than its competition, but the 702 – although still very much a chunky monkey – is a little more in line with its competition.
Miguel Fragoso puts the running weight of the TRK 702 at 232 kg, “with the X tipping the scales at just 3 kg more.” Compare that against the wet weight of competitors like the Suzuki V-Strom 650 (216 kg) or Kawasaki Versys 650 (219 kg). Of course, those wet weights don’t account for certain bits, like a center stand, that come standard on the Benelli.
Fortunately, the bike’s seat is relatively low – even on the X – so no one seems to be bothered by the bulk. Once settled into the bike, all reviewers agreed it was a nice place to be, with an incredibly comfy seat and ergonomics that are neutral for most riders.
ENGINE, PERFORMANCE, AND HANDLING
The TRK 702 is powered by a 693cc parallel twin engine that is apparently a direct copy of the unit that drives Kawasaki’s Z650. That’s potentially useful knowledge when doing maintenance.
“It’s by no means the most dynamic or characterful thing,” observes Ross Mowbray. “But there’s ample power to make swift, smooth progress even in excess of motorway speeds. It’ll sit at 75 mph for extended periods without a grumble, with little in the way of vibration.”
Compared to its smaller-cc sibling, one can “feel that extra element of urgency and enthusiasm on the throttle” of the 702, according to TBW. He also joins a number of reviewers in commenting on the quality of the engine’s sound.
“There’s a lot of character coming from this engine… if I hadn’t read on the Benelli website that it’s a 180-degree crank, I would have sworn it was a 270,” he says. “Because that’s what it sounds and feels like.”
Although the engine is a Kawasaki copy, it seems the transmission isn’t. That’s a good thing (I distrust Kawasaki transmissions). All the reviewers commented on the TRK 702’s light clutch and easy gearbox.
Suspension, meanwhile, “comes in the form of 50mm USD front forks with 140mm of travel, and a link-actuated, fully-adjustable rear shock,” explains Mowbray. “It’s a nice set up, offering plenty of poise without compromising on comfort.”
Brakes are equally good. They’re Benelli-branded but the general assumption is that they are Bybre units, ie, affordable brakes made by Brembo. Pair that with the Pirelli tires (Angel on the 702, Scorpion STR on the 702X) that come standard and you have a bike that all reviewers said was perfectly capable of bringing its considerable weight to a halt.
The first several months of 2024 saw almost constant rain in the UK and Europe, so none of the reviewers were ever able to push the bike extremely hard and test its cornering abilities but the general feeling is that there’s nothing to stop you from enjoying a spirited ride. Related to weather protection, the TRK 702’s screen isn’t adjustable and isn’t very big but none of the reviewers had an issue with it.
BELLS AND WHISTLES
The TRK manages to impress, somewhat, in what it offers relative to its price. You’ve got an old-school cable-actuated clutch, so no fancy ride modes or the like, but you do get a 5-inch TFT screen that offers myriad bits of information. The screen has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can be distracted by incoming calls and texts just like people in cars.
There is also a weather-protected dual USB port (standard and Type C) in the dash, which sparked rapturous praise from OTRA.
“Little small things like that are so helpful and well thought out,” he says. “It costs pennies but other bike manufacturers, they don’t all offer these things; it’s usually an extra. Or you’ve got to [buy an aftermarket bit], and take your bike apart, when they should have put this in right from the start.”
Speaking of things you don’t often get from other manufacturers, a center stand and (largely for-show) handguards come standard on the Benelli; that’s stuff you don’t find on, say, a base-model Triumph Tiger Sport 660. Meanwhile, the TRK 702 X’s spoked wheels take tubeless tires – something you can’t get on the new Honda Transalp 750 – and its switch controls are backlit. That’s not even an option on BMW’s new R 1300 GS.
In terms of options, heated seats are available for the TRK 702 (as are heated grips, obviously) if you’re happy to pay a little more.
Not nearly enough manufacturers or reviews talk about tool kits. As I get older and more curmudgeony I find I place ever greater value on bikes that come equipped with the tools needed to work on them. To that end, the TRK 702 comes with a decent-sized kit that includes a few different wrench sizes, a screwdriver, and allen keys.
RIDERS’ VERDICTS
Ross Mowbray: “I’ve been impressed with the TRK 702X. It’s leaps and bounds better than the much- loved 502. That’s partly to be expected; it’s more expensive, more powerful and better equipped. But it feels like Benelli has made another leap forward with its latest generation machine. All credit to it.”
Miguel Fragoso: “[You can] enjoy this X version (of the TRK 702) off-road but be aware of its limits. In all other respects, the higher version performs in the same way as the base version: simply but flawlessly, with an interesting price-quality ratio and plenty of arguments for those who are just starting out in this market segment, where longer journeys make even more sense.”
Nathan Millward: “There are people who won’t buy Chinese products – I do get it from a political/economic standpoint – but just assessing this bike…we’ve reached the point where there’s parity between the Chinese product and the Japanese/European product. This is the first bike out of China that I think: ‘Wow. Pound for pound, I can’t tell any difference, in terms of how this rides or feels, to a Japanese bike.’”
On the Road Adventure: “A superb bike, this is. Handles really well. Stops really well. Plenty of power. Good wind protection. Comfort is good. Overall, I’m very impressed… and I think at this price point it’s hard to find problems, really.”
The Bingley Wheeler: “I’m well impressed – remembering this is a review of the bike, not its origins or its country of manufacture… It has plenty of grunt/shove/traction just where you need it and doesn’t feel wanting at all. A very engaging ride is assured.”
Mark Pulling: “Sounds good. The overall build quality is good… it looks really smart. Top marks for the suspension in my book… Good, strong brakes… That engine is superb…Benelli have done a superb job with this.”
WHAT AI SAYS
I asked Google’s Gemini AI to provide a summary of all the reviews it could find:
“The Benelli TRK 702 is a middleweight adventure bike praised for its affordability and impressive performance. Riders enjoy its smooth acceleration, comfortable ergonomics, and capable handling on various terrains. Reviewers highlight its user-friendly engine power, well-balanced suspension, and surprisingly comfortable seat, even for long rides. The TRK 702’s budget-friendly price tag and inclusion of features like luggage racks often sway reviewers, making it a strong contender in the adventure bike category, particularly for new riders or those seeking a value option.“
MY TAKE
I feel pretty confident that in terms of quality, the TRK 702 is a good motorcycle. You can find plenty of TRK 502/X owners singing the praises of that bike’s durability and all-weather, all-the-time usability. There’s no reason to think the TRK 702/X would be any different.
It’s a bike that’s rugged, looks good, is all-day comfortable, and performs well on wet and awful British roads. And it’s practical, with intelligent touches like that double USB port. Related to practicality: with its copycat Kawasaki engine, the TRK 702 is probably not too difficult to work on, and – assuming we don’t get into a full-blown trade war with China – parts should be affordable and easy to find (Qianjiang produces 2 million engines per year).
In terms of price, there is no Japanese/European competitor that even comes close; the Benelli beats them all by at least £1,000. CF Moto (also Chinese) offers its somewhat comparable 700MT for slightly less, but that bike doesn’t look as good and you don’t get a center stand (with its underslung exhaust, I’m not sure a center stand is even possible for the 700MT).
Also, check out that torque figure: 70 Newton meters of torque. In thinking that number couldn’t be right (it’s more torque than on an old Harley-Davidson Sportster 883), I found a dyno video suggesting the figure is actually closer to 72 Nm, and can be pushed to 78 Nm with an aftermarket exhaust.
So, as I say, by most metrics, the Benelli TRK 702 is a pretty damn good motorcycle being offered at a pretty damn good price. Yes, if you’re skilled at hunting used bikes, you can buy a good-quality, bigger, “better” Japanese/European moto for the same amount of money, but if you want an all-new machine with a two-year warranty, the Benelli really can’t be beat.
Is that enough to make a person turn a blind eye to a very long list of human rights abuses? I suppose you’re the only one who can answer that question.
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