The protagonist of this video review is the new one Benelli 502C. Ho iniziato a provarla prima del lockdown ma ho potuto terminare il mio test – stavolta ho fatto meno dei consueti 1000 km – soltanto dopo la riapertura. Ma bando alle ciance… Eccola!
What a bike it is?
The Benelli 502C, as can easily be seen from the name, it's a 500 bicilindrica di impostazione “cruiser” ma che in fondo in fondo ha un animo un po’ sportivo. That is, she is a stroller who focuses everything on style, relaxed driving, and enjoyment.
The engine is now Benelli's workhorse. Let's talk about the same unit as Leoncino and TRK, a frontemarcia by fifty spirited and thrifty horses. Like the sisters, even the 502C could be the first model of a family characterized by this style and driving setting.
I find the positioning of the Benelli 502C interesting. In the cruiser segment, in fact, the medium displacements had practically gone extinct. After the glories of Honda Shadow and Yamaha Virago in the nineties no one has collected that legacy and cruisers have become synonymous with cubes in four figures.
Soltanto Honda con la sua CMX500 Rebel – che guarda caso è sempre bicilindrica frontemarcia, always 500 cc e con un motore sempre di derivazione più “stradale” – presidia questo segmento ma lo fa con uno stile più classico. The Benelli 502C, instead, si ispira alle power cruiser che vanno di moda ultimamente e in particolare è impossibile non notare il riferimento stilistico alla Ducati Diavel della quale sembra essere la sorellina “smart”.
How it is made?
Compared to the Leoncino we are faced with a lower and longer bike, with a short saddle that leaves the rear wheel cantilevered and a massive tank of well 21 litri (which combined with the low fuel consumption of this engine allows for globe-trotter autonomy). I refer to the Leoncino because it is technically the one closest to Benelli and the one we know best. But there are also many common elements with the new one 752S which will also soon be the protagonist of a test.
Like all the Benelli of the new course, it is an Italian-Chinese recipe. Designed in Pesaro and built in Wenling in China in the factories of Qianjiang group, brand owner since 2016 and author of an interesting relaunch operation.
This means that we are faced with a certain but not at all miserable economic motorbike. Economies of scale and some renunciations in terms of manufacturing, high-quality materials and top-level components, allows Benelli to offer a good package at an attack price.
In evaluating the Benelli 502C, in fact, It is essential to always keep in mind the price at which it is offered: 5.990 Euro.
Alla luce di questo non possiamo non considerare che è “curata più di quanto si pensi”: mighty fork from 41 mm (without adjustments), double front disc brake from 280 mm with four-piston caliper and radial connection, led front light, Pirelli Angel ST original equipment. The plastics have a simple painting but appear well coupled, the display is totally digital and changes color and graphics automatically when in the dark. Quest’ultima è una trovata “simpatica”, but that personally I don't like much because it creates a little one (It's useless) sense of disorientation every time it happens.
How you are riding?
Fitted. In the sense that the positions that can be taken are not many: longitudinal movement is limited by the size of the saddle, very short as well made and shaped, with a very wide handlebar and advanced platforms. Per quanto mi riguarda non è la posizione più comoda del mondo perché costringe a stare con le gambe e le braccia protese e il busto un po’ inclinato in avanti. Però so che molti gradiscono questa impostazione “americana” e la trovano rilassante. Which in effect is when you walk on the straight.
When the curves begin, however,, the advanced platforms become a boredom. And it's a real shame because as I will say later, the Benelli 502C is a lot of fun in mixed racing.
The saddle is located in 75 cm from the ground (3 cm in meno del Leoncino) and therefore allows stable support even for the most short-lived. As for the passenger, instead, it's best to leave it at home unless you're going to be hated.
As you drive?
As already mentioned, the Benelli 502C is a very fun and easy cruiser to drive between the curves where you constantly get to scrape the footrests. On the one hand, you feel like a big bender, on the other, it cannot be concluded that the advanced platforms have obvious limits in this regard.
The engine (48 CV a 8500 rpm and 46 Nm a 6000 giri) è pleasantly elastic. As a monster in the video, it shoots quite well even in the sixth under two thousand laps. The services are more than adequate to enjoy it on provincial and state roads and to deal with some short stretches of the motorway if necessary.
Il cambio è un po’ corto e lo si usa spesso, but allows you to always have the engine ready. Consumption is considerable: anche tirando un po’ si sta sempre comunque sopra i 20 km / l and autonomy goes great i 400 km!
Pleasant sound and a lot good braking, especially at the front. Given the type of bike would need something more behind.
Discreta la forcella che tende un po’ all’affondamento se si fa qualche staccata più irruenta, while less positive is the opinion on the rear mono which absorbs very little.
What I like and what I don't like?
I like the engine: piacevole, rubber band, consumption park. I undoubtedly like the price, very inviting for a bike that overall is fine and I like braking.
I don't like advanced platforms, the saddle too short and the rear monoshock.
To the council?
I recommend the Benelli 502C to those who love to drive in relaxation, allowing themselves the luxury of a few nice folds, to those who love the power cruiser look but don't like to pass out and to those who maybe want to make the category jump from a cruiser 125. I certainly do not recommend it to anyone who is always in a hurry (although I can assure you that respectable averages are held) and to those who often make the highway.
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