ROAD NEWS
BENELLI DEBUTS TRK800
Benelli has followed up its popular LAMS approved TRK502 range with a new 800 model that brings added power and premium technology to the Benelli adventure touring family . Set to start making its way into the world in the second half of 2022 with an as yet undetermined price point ( however , we expect it to likely be sub- $ 15,000 ), the TRK800 will likely go head-to-head with the likes of the CFMOTO MT800 , rather than the premium offerings from Europe and Japan . At its centre is Benelli ’ s 754cc parallel-twin engine and six-speed gearbox , a unit which debuted with the 752S roadster . Power isn ’ t jawdropping by any means with 76.2hp at 8500rpm and 67Nm at 6500rpm claimed by Benelli , but this should slot in against the bike ’ s potential competition in the affordable middleweight adventure tourer category - namely Suzuki ’ s DL650 . The TRK800 keeps its styling reminiscent of the 502 models , but has evolved somewhat . Benelli says that the new model “ evolves in style with the intention of making some of the elements present in the 500 version iconic , such as the front end and the front mudguard , which here are more tapered and dynamic , the doublearched headlights , which in the
TRK800 we find full LED with DRL , and the muscular nature of the bike , which is expressed here with a new proportion of volumes .” It ’ s an interesting looking bike and once again it ’ s hard to not draw comparisons with Benelli ’ s more premium Italian cousins from Borgio Panigale ... The chassis is based on a tubular trellis frame with a high-strength steel plate . Dry weight is a rather hefty 226kg . That means a wet weight somewhere above 240 once the full 22-litre fuel load and other fluids are added into the mix . Benelli claims that the bike ’ s ergonomics have been carefully considered down to the smallest detail , to easily accommodate both rider and passenger even with side and top cases . The suspension is supplied by Marzocchi with a 50mm fork up front offering adjustable rebound , compression and spring preload while sporting 170mm travel . The rear end features a centrally mounted monoshock with preload and hydraulic rebound damping . The TRK800 definitely sits more on the road end of the spectrum with its short wheel travel , and this is further reinforced by the wheel choice , a 19-inch front wheel matched to a 17- inch at the rear . Braking comes from Brembo with a dual 320mm diameter semi-floating disc setup on the front matched to four-piston calipers , with a 260mm diameter disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear . There ’ s not a lot to say about what electronics the TRK800 is running at the time of writing , with Benelli only confirming that the dash is a TFT unit . We assume ABS and TC will be standard features .
24 KIWI RIDER