NEW 2023 BENELLI MODELS FOR ANZ

Benelli reveals new 2023 models with Tornado Naked Twin 500 and TRK702 leading the charge.

Over the last few months you’ll have read scoops on these pages about various new Benellis coming from the Chinese-owned Italian brand over the coming years – and now three of the machines we’ve written about before have finally been launched alongside two surprise 250cc models.

TRK702

The firm’s new model line-up for Milan’s EICMA show was led by a pair of 698cc adventure bikes with Yamaha’s Tenere 700 firmly in their sights. We’ve previously nabbed pictures of the TRK702 and more off-road-oriented TRK702X from Chinese type-approval documents, but this is their first official showing.

Driven by a new parallel twin engine that’s all but identical to CFMoto’s 700CL-X motor, the TRK702s both make 56kW and 68.2Nm of torque at 8750rpm and 6250rpm respectively, mounted in a steel tube frame not unlike the design used on the smaller TRK502 models. It’s all wrapped in styling similar to the larger, 754cc TRK800 that was first shown a year ago – a bike that seems increasingly redundant, since it has an identical peak power output to the new TRK702 models but is a heavier, and probably more expensive machine.

The TRK702X is differentiated by its wire wheels, 19 inches at the front, 17 inches at the rear, compared to the cast alloys – 17 inches at each end – on the standard TRK702. The X version also has adjustable rear compression and rebound damping as well as preload adjustment, while the base model has preload adjustment only. Both use 50mm USD forks and 320mm brake discs, but the street-oriented TRKL702 has radial calipers, compared to the axial design of the X. Both models weigh 235kg wet, including a full 20 litre tank of fuel.

TRK variants

The TRK model will also be produced in a larger 800cc, mid-size 500cc and the smaller 250cc variants.

TRK 800

The new TRK 800, uses the same 754cc twin-cylinder, four-stroke liquid cooled engine as the Leoncino 800, with 76.2 hp (56 kW) at 8500 rpm and a torque of 67Nm at 6500 rpm, with double overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder. The Benelli TRK 800 will be available at Benelli dealerships starting from mid-2023.

TRK 502

TRK 502 is an ideal motorcycle for new and experienced riders alike. The engine is the 500cc liquid-cooled four-stroke twin-cylinder engine, with electronic fuel injection, double overhead cams and 4 valves. Its maximum power is 47.6 hp (35 kW) at 8500 rpm, with torque of 46Nm at 6000 rpm. The TRK 502 will be available late 2023 in dealerships in white, blue, glossy forest green and anthracite grey.

TRK 502X

Queen of mid-sized tourers, TRK 502 X is the two-wheeler with an aggressive and captivating look, the adventure version of the 500cc crossover, with 19 ”spoked wheels at the front and 17” at the rear, made to travel without borders. TRK 502 X will be available in dealerships starting from late 2023 in white, yellow, blue and anthracite grey.

TRK 251

Agile and easy to handle, the TRK 251 is the small entry-level bike aimed at new riders who are looking to get into the world of adventure riding. The single-cylinder 249cc, 25.8hp, four-stroke engine is liquid cooled, with double overhead camshaft timing system and electronic fuel injection. The TRK 251 comes in white, black, yellow and grey.

TNT500

Benelli’s next significant new model is the Tornado Naked Twin 500 (TNT500). Based around the same 500cc parallel twin used in the Leoncino 500, the TNT is a naked streetbike with aggressive styling, particularly in the form of a novel pair of stacked headlights that break from the norm by having the upper one mounted ahead of the lower one. These lights are flanked by unusual DRLs that are shaped into three-dimensional panels, essentially making the whole nose of the bike glow when its running.

With 35kW and 46Nm, the TNT500 isn’t a high-performance machine but it fits neatly into Europe’s A2 licence category, which is a similar concept to LAM bikes in Australia, but with a hard 35kW limit on peak power. Like other modern Benellis, the TNT500 is to be made in China by Qianjiang, and features kit including upside-down forks and Benelli-branded radial four-pot brakes. Weighing in at 199kg wet, with 14 litres of fuel in the tank, it’s heavier than rivals like Honda’s CB500, but with a low 784mm seat it should be easy to handle for the inexperienced riders that are its target market. Later on, Benelli is expected to use the same chassis and engine in a fully-faired Tornado 500 sports bike, too.

BKX250

Benelli’s final two new models at EICMA are the BKX250 and BKX250S, a duo based on a 19kW, 250cc, DOHC single-cylinder engine. Like the TNT500 they use staggered, stacked, square headlights between three-dimensional, glowing DRLs for a distinctive new family face. Sharing the same engine and chassis, the BKX250 is a baby adventure bike with wire wheels and a near-vertical front screen, while the BKX250S is a street-scramber-style version with different side panels, 17in alloy wheels and no fairing at the front.

The TRK702 models are due to reach dealers in early 2023, with the BKX250 machines joining them in the middle of the year. The TNT500 is due to come in the second half of 2023, and no prices have been announced yet.

Keep an eye out at your local Benelli dealership.

WORDS // BEN PURVIS