Benelli TRK 502 vs Kawasaki Versys-X 300 vs Kawasaki Versys 650: Spec Comparison
Benelli’s adventure option sits bang in the middle of the two Kawasaki offerings. Which one makes the most sense?
The recently launched Benelli TRK 502 and 502X are interesting propositions for the adventure seeker in India. At a premium of just Rs 30,000 over the Kawasaki Versys-X 300, you are getting a larger 500cc motorcycle. And then, you also end up saving a lot of money than the next option available in the market - the Kawasaki Versys 650. Here’s a small spec comparison to find out which mid-capacity adventure motorcycle makes the most sense.
Design
Now there is no doubt that of the three, the TRK 502 looks the biggest. It is big bulky and gives an impression of a larger capacity motorcycle. The beak section is quite like the Ducati Multistrada with tons of plastic making up the front section. The large dimensions do help its case in a country like India where riders like to be seen roaming around on big bikes.
The Versys-X 300 is the sleekest of the lot. There isn’t much going on with the design of the bike and it looks rather simple among the three. Yet, of the three, it is the least intimidating bike - something that an entry-level adventure bike should be good at.
But it has to be the Versys 650 that has the best proportion-to-cubic-capacity feel. It isn’t overtly large and has a faint sense of familiarity thanks to the fact that it’s a Ninja 650 underneath. We would have liked to see a couple of colour options for the 650 as the black one simply fails to amplify its appeal.
Powertrain
|
Kawasaki Versys-X 300 |
Benelli TRK 502 |
Kawasaki Versys 650 |
|
|
Engine |
296cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled DOHC |
500cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC |
649cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC |
|
Max Power |
40PS at 11,000rpm |
47.5PS at 8500rpm |
69PS at 8500rpm |
|
Max Torque |
25.7Nm at 10,000rpm |
45Nm at 5000rpm |
64Nm at 7000rpm |
|
Transmission |
6-speed |
6-speed |
6-speed |
|
Electronic aids |
ABS |
ABS |
ABS |
As expected, the Versys 650 is the most powerful one here. It pumps out 69PS and 64Nm from a 648cc parallel-twin motor and that should help you out in most situations. And when it comes to engine refinement, this very same motor is one of the creamiest ones that you can get your hands on.
We would reserve our judgment on the TRK 502’s refinement until we ride it, but the numbers aren’t too promising for the bike. The 500cc parallel-twin makes 47.5PS and 46Nm. While there is a sizeable difference in the peak torque figures between the TRK 502 and the Versys-X 300 (25.7Nm), the Italian is making just 7.5PS more than the baby Versys. This fact would bear more prominence as the Benelli is a heavy bike (kerb weight of roughly 235 kilos, 50kg heavier than the 300).
Thus, out on the highway, the Versys 650 would be an obvious choice followed by the TRK 502 as the Italian would be able to sustain highway speeds at a relatively relaxed rpm. The Versys-X 300 does feel a bit stressed once you start going past the 100kmph mark.
Underpinnings
|
Kawasaki Versys-X 300 |
Benelli TRK 502 |
Kawasaki Versys 650 |
|
|
Front Suspension |
41mm conventional telescopic forks with 130mm travel |
50mm upside down forks with 135mm travel |
41mm inverted forks with adjustable rebound and preload with 150mm travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Bottom link Uni-Trak with gas charged shock and preload adjustability, 148mm travel |
Preload adjustable monoshock with 45mm suspension travel |
Off-set monoshock with remote preload adjuster with 145mm wheel travel |
|
Front Brake |
290mm disc |
Dual 320mm disc with ABS |
Dual 300mm petal discs with ABS |
|
Rear Brake |
220m disc |
260mm disc with ABS |
250mm petal disc with ABS |
|
Front Tyre |
100/90 - 19 on spoke wheel |
120/70 - ZR17 on aluminium alloy |
120/70 - ZR17on alloy wheel |
|
Rear Tyre |
130/80 - 17 on spoke wheel |
160/60 - ZR17 on aluminium alloy |
160/60 - ZR17 on alloy wheel |
The 650 as well as the 502 are a couple of notches above the 300 when it comes to the kit on offer. The 300 gets bare-bones conventional telescopic forks and a link-type monoshock. Plus, the braking setup is pretty standard and the IRC dual purpose tyres aren’t really the best.
It is hard to pick between the other two, because both are quite evenly matched. Both get 17-inch alloy wheels, twin front discs with radial calipers and a single-piston caliper on the rear rotor. Both also get USD forks, but the ones on the Versys 650 are fully adjustable. The rear monoshock on the TRK 502 gets preload and hydraulic rebound damping, while the Versys just gets the option to tune the preload settings. Tyre sizes are same, but we would much rather have the Pirelli Angel GTs of the Benelli than the Dunlop Sportmax tyres of the Kawasaki.
Pricing and Verdict
At Rs 4.69 lakh, the Versys-X 300 is ridiculously overpriced, especially now that the Benelli TRK 502 has gone on sale for Rs 5 lakh. And while the 300 performs well out on the highway, it just does not make any sense for an entry-level adventurer. You would be better off with the Royal Enfield Himalayan in that case.
So should you get the TRK 502 over the Versys 650? All things considered, we would much rather put our money on the 650 as the motorcycle should be more manageable in every sense than the Italian. But if money was a constraint or if you do not feel confident about handling the power that the Kawasaki Versys 650 pumps out, the Benelli does make a strong case for itself. We will be riding the Benelli TRK 502 soon, so make sure you don’t miss out on the road test report.
Jehan Adil Darukhanawala
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