Benelli launched the Benelli 502 cruiser to the world and at the first site, it looked elegant but the styling was similar to Ducati Diavel. On taking a closer look at it, you can spot many differences and, of course, it is unique and attractive. But is it worth a price(ex-showroom) of Rs 4.98lakhs? Read our review to know about the first of Benelli’s mid-size power cruisers for India!
Benelli 502C: Design And Style
Benelli chose a bike which is considered to be the most modern styled two-wheeler and has added in a few design elements. In the LED headlamp, the DRL shape looks like a mask but functions very well. The silhouette resembles and pillion back rest, the 1,600mm wheelbase are all from Dialvel but the ground clearance is a very decent at 170mm which is not so in Diavel.
Benelli 502C has a chunky 135mm inverted fork up front. The handbars are very wide. The switchgear is satisfactory but the display screen and layout are not up to the standard. The layout and colours are not so mature and it gives a completely different display setup at night. No fancy Bluetooth connectivity and it has a very simple TFT display that shows you very important informations like revs, gear position, speed, engine temp, fuel level, trips and time.
No riding modes. The dual channel ABS does not have any settings and cannot be switched off. The motorcycle has its maximum weight around the mid-section which consists of the 21-litre sculpted tank upon the exposed trellis frame and liquid-cooled motor. The fit and finish is fine and wires are tucked away with the fluid reservoirs placed behind their own panels.
Benelli 502C Riding Experience
The seat is comfortable and gives you the feeling of sitting on a big machine because of the forward-set pegs, the big tank, and wide handlebar. In the riding stance, your arms and feet will be stretched forward and you will feel very relaxed. It gives a decent 170mm of ground clearance. The tiny rear seat is not so admirable but the backrest gives you some support which is a standard fitment.
The bike’s sound gives you a feeling of riding a sporty bike. Fifth and sixth gears are tall. You can get 38kmph in sixth and take it up to 150kmph. In the top cog, 80kmph comes up at 4,000 rpm and 100kmph comes up at 4,700rpm. You can ride the bike at high-speed, the best is around 85-90kmph. Heat dispersion levels are good. You will have fun if you keep the engine at 4,000 revs, but 502C seems to run out the higher you climb up the rev band. The fun slows down at 6,000rpm mark.
Benelli 502C Engine and Performance
The twin-cylinder engine of Beneli 502C was already present in Benelli’s other bikes like Leoncino 500 and TRK 502/X adventure motorcycle. The 47.5hp, 46Nm engine offers a decent performance with respect to the 216kg haul. The sprint from 0-60kph takes 2.81sec, 100kph mark is breached in 6.4sec. The motor also is able to hit 150kph without much effort.
Verdict- Benelli 502
The Benelli 502C fueling and power delivery is good for but for a fast ride, it needs some effort and you should work for it to have fun. It sounds brilliant and looks beautiful in the matte black paintjob. In spite of the high price, it is the winner.
Benelli 502C Key Specifications
Dimensions (L x W x H): 2240 x 950 x 1140
Engine displacement: 500cc
Transmission: Maximum
Power (ps):48
Displacemens:500 cc
Fuel Tank Capacity: 21 litres
Engine cc (Displacement): 500 cc
Maximum Power: 47.5 HP @ 8500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 46 Nm @ 6000 rpm
Number of Cylinders:2
Number of Gears: 6
Ground Clearance:170 mm
Kerb Weight:216 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 21 litres
