When it comes to value for money, Benelli’s learner-approved TRK 502 is hard to beat.
Benelli did a lot to win over its sceptics in early 2018, when it released models powered by its new 500cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin, like the Leoncino retro naked and indeed the TRK 502 you see here.
It remains a very impressive donk to this day, and it feels particularly capable in this 35kW/46Nm tune.
Benelli initially marketed the TRK as an entry-level adventure bike, but with its 17-inch front wheel and low-mounted exhaust, that title seemed a bit of a stretch.
The brand followed up with the TRK 502X, which fixed these issues and was far more capable off-road, however, the standard 502 still has a firm place in the stable.
As a sports tourer, and a cheap one at that ($8790 rideaway), the bike offers proper touring capability and a strong suite of features from standard.
The bike has sharp, aggressive lines, a wide stance, a serious windshield and a hefty 20-litre tank.
Keep in mind, the LAMS-approved sports touring market includes heavy hitters like the Suzuki V-Strom 650 and the Yamaha MT-07 Tracer, but they range well above the $10,000 mark.
For suspension, the bike makes use of 50mm inverted Marzocchi forks with 145mm of travel up front, and a Sachs monoshock with 45mm of travel handles at the rear.
When pushed, the plush ride hurts its cornering performance, and I find that the rear end will wander when you really put the hammer down. This is not helped by its heavy-in-class kerb weight of 235 kilograms.
The bike features Pirelli Angel tyres and ABS-equipped Brembo brakes.
Information is displayed with a large analogue rev counter aside a small screen that provides speed readout, gear indicator and two trip meters.
Other notable tech features include a USB port on the tank, LED daytime running lights and LED indicators.
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
