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So the Benelli TRK502 and TRK502X are now available in the USA. The TRK502 is 88 pounds heavier than the Honda CB500X, and costs $700 less. It matches the CB500X in torque, horsepower, and redline values. However, the Benelli's torque hits a full 2000rpm lower in the rev range. (5000 vs 7000rpm)
While 88 pounds is a huge difference, also consider this: The Benelli comes with crash bars, a rear luggage rack, a rear hugger fender mounted to the swingarm, and handguards as standard equipment. That stuff is going to weigh at least 35-40 pounds. So the difference is really only about 50 pounds. Plus it's going to cost about $450 to equip a CB500X in the same manner - just for the parts. That doesn't count shipping nor the time cost to install all that junk. So already the Benelli is $1150 cheaper, and with shop rates pushing $95 an hour, it could easily be 3 hours of labor to install that stuff on a CB500X.
So, it seems rather competitive compared to the Honda. The RX4 (at $5500 delivered) is a better deal, and at 450 pounds including hard luggage is also the lightest of the three. It does vibrate more being a single, and it is also down 7 or 8 horsepower compared to the Honda and Benelli. But the horsepower difference seems to be a wash when you take the weight into account. 518 pounds for the Benelli vs 450 pounds for the RX4 (WITH factory hard bags and topcase!!) will negate any horsepower advantage the Benelli has. The RX4 weighs in considerably less than a similarly equipped CB500X as well.
The big draw for the benelli is going to be the dealer network though. A lot of people are put off by the lack of dealer presence for CSC. Benellis can get warranty repairs and service wherever SSR pitbikes are sold. It seems every third or fourth dealership has a bunch of SSR pitbikes out front these days. So even if you have to drive a long distance to find a Benelli dealer, you can get it repaired close to home. For a lot of people, that'll be worth the extra cost.
Charles.
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