A combination of touring films, bike reviews and motorcycle product reviews. The channel has no affiliation to any brand or company and has no sponsors guaranteeing fair unbiased reviews.
Bikes currently owned: Honda Pan European ST1100 Honda NC 750X DCT Benelli TRK 502 X Suzuki V-Strom 250
Riders Clothing: Richa Infinity pro 2 Jacket, Colarado trousers Oxford Montreal 3 textile suit Oxford Montreal 3 gloves, Gerbing XR heated gloves Helmet - Arai tour x, Schuberth C3 basic flip front helmet, Icon Airflite Bullit aramid Jeans, Australian riding gear aramid jeans Oxford aramid super hoodie, Gerbing Premium heated jacket Rev It Discovery H2O boots Raxid casual short motorcycle boots Jet Textile air jacket
I am in two minds the 502X gives you luggage, rear splash shield, full crash bars great value. The 702x luggage no bars, no splash shield but better performance shame really extra cost !
@@Eastsussexbiker Thanks for checking out the channel. I haven't rode the 702 yet, however I hear a lot of reports from people who have upgraded from the 502 commenting the 702 is not as comfortable as the 502 for distance riding and also a lot of people are reporting fueling issues making the 702 jerky at low revs. As I have said, I personally haven't rode the 702 so I cannot confirm any of the statements. Maybe something for you to look into and to look for when test riding both bikes. Ride safe 👍
It’s the western governments (US&UK) tell the public that Chinese goods are poor, but that’s their biggest trading partner in made equipment…. China will make are you anything subject to cost / quality, so at the end of the day they’re not going to invest in an Italian brand and spend a $BN on R&D, Factory, machines just to make rubbish.. The 702 version is a Kawasaki derived engine ER6 so you know it’s reliable… BMWs are made of multiple suppliers, engines are made in the UK (1200/1300) parts are Chinese and Eastern European, the smaller GS’s engines are made in India..
That groundsheet isn't for the garage area, it's to go under the main tent area to protect it from sharp stones and hard ground. If you don't use it there, in time you will wear out the base of your tent and then it will not be water proof. If you use the ground sheet correctly then once that wears thin you replace just the groundsheet. If you really want a groundsheet for the garage area then you can buy them separately although they are expensive for what they are.
Thanks for checking out the channel. The ground sheet is sold as a multi use ground sheet for both uses, as either a footprint under the sleeping area or as a ground sheet for the garage area. Within the garage area there are colour coded attachment points for the ground sheet. Ride safe 👍.
@@BikeRiderReviews yes I know it can be used for the garage but it you do you'll risk wearing out the bottom of your tent far quicker. All tents should be used with a separate ground sheet if you wish to prolong their life. Good practice is still good practice regardless of opinions and ignorance.
Had Bike-Seal in my tubed tyres (Interceptor 650) for almost four years. Have I had a puncture? Don't know. Nothing in the treads. It's like the rope-cutter on my boat's propeller. Never had a fouled prop. Either been lucky, or these products work silently. As I prefer more than one inflated tyre on my bike, I'll stick with the Bike-Seal on the next.
Thanks for checking out the channel. To be honest I don't bother tourqing the rear wheel, I just make sure it's tight by previous experience. I'm sure if you look on line, you will be able to find the correct setting if it is something which bothers you. Ride safe 👍
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. They are both excellent bikes. Take into consideration what the differences are between the two and then make a decision on what is most important to you. A few of the differences are, parts availability, power/speed, ride height, seating position, and the way the bikes handle, manoverability pushing the bike around, fuel range and economy. I'm sure there are other things too. I always recommend test riding any bike you are considering. At the end of the day it will be your personal preference. We are all different and require and enjoy different things from the bikes we ride. Me personally having both bikes in the garage, I always prefer the Benelli to my Honda. Ride safe 👍
Hi I know it was some time since this video went out so realise you might not pick this up. I see this was the last video 6 months ago now but not what you were planning. In previous videos you reported health problems and hope that’s not become worse preventing you from riding and making videos. If it is this, and am not asking for you to disclose this just wanted to wish you well and look forward to seeing future videos.
Thank you for your concern. I'm glad that the channel is still being enjoyed by people and posts like this restores my faith in the bike scene in general. Unfortunately I've experienced some personal problems which has meant the channel has had to be put on the back burner. However I'm now hoping to start making videos again within the next month, so please keep an eye out for them. Once again, thank you for your kind words and ride safe 👍
I've got a Japanese car and people won't work on that and I struggle for parts so that's irrelevant and the same with most vehicles for parts.. all vehicles have their own niggles no matter the make I've had a zontes zt u1 125 to learn on and going to keep it once I get my licence aswell as getting something like the trk702
thank you Sir for the tutorial 🙏🏻 I have a question my friend give me some new oil after he sells his gs1250 the oil is 5w40 motorex boxter 4T, so can i use it for my the trk 502 ?
Hi, oil should be Oil 10W - 50 (synthetic) Jaso - MACCMC g4 3. 21 ltrs for the TRK. The 10W number indicates the viscosity of the oil when the engine is cold and the 50W when the engine is hot. The oil you mention has a lower viscosity. The lower number is important for when you first start the engine from cold, and the higher number for when the engine is running hot. If the oil becomes to thin at running temperature, it is less effective at lubricating your engine.
I've been looking around for motorbikes in the last few months. I was going for a BMW 850 second hand. Few days ago i came across a Benelli by accident and I loved the look of it. I started to watch millions reviews and 99% of them were praising the motorbike. So, i made up my mind and orderd a TRK 702x after visitint a shop here in Ireland. Regarding the fact is Chinese, what is not nowadays? Most of these companies, if not all, have the parts made in China and assembled in their country. I don't see much difference from Benelli. I hope i won't regret buying it. I'll pick it up in few days and I can't wait!
Love your honesty, makes me happy with my purchase, question! After market crash bars look faded and thought they came with bars anyway? It’s a great bike eh!
Yes the bikes come with the lower set if bars and I've added the upper set. The bars have faded over time. But to be fair the bike is used year round in all weather's. They have saved the bike on numerous occasions and there is literally 99% zero rust on them after 5 years of use. Ride safe 👍
Thank you for the honest review. I am looking at a trk702x. Currently riding a bmw r1100rt wich is very reliable to me. But getting older and not liking the knee angle anymore I am looking at a adventure tourer. A GS would be nice but they are über expensive and those engines of the F GS bikes are also made in China. The Benelli is affordable and in these expensive times reasonable and wise to choose. Your review helps me to get trust in the brand. And you are right. No matter wich brand of motorcycle you ride. Ride through salt and anything will rust. I did ride a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and liked that bike a lot and it is a for its displacement a quick bike.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I think the Chinese have really closed the gap now with the standards if manufacturing. People still slag them off, comparing them to GS's and Africa Twins, but you have to keep in mind the price. I think the TRK's at the moment are one of the best value bikes out there. If you are a rider who keeps on top of maintenance and keeps your bike clean, then you should have no problems with a Benelli. Ride safe 👍
Appreciate your video..... But why weren't you comparing prices against factory Benelli accessories.? On my BMW 1250gs I wanted a low seat - abt $900 from BMW - I paid $97 from AliExpress. Looks identical and just got back from 550km day and seat was very comfortable.
Hi, thanks for checking out the review. I think at the time, a lot of the accessories shown were not available from Benelli, however yes its a good idea to compare where possible. Ride safe 👍
I have a TRK 502 and would like to reduce the rpm's. I mainly drive urban. Someone suggested changing to 14/44 on the non X version as with the 15/42 on the non X version, you will really struggle to get under away. The 15/42 is only suitable on the X version IF you don't load your bike up with a fully set of panniers, top box and a pillion. Which sprockets would you recommend? Thanks
Is the TRK 502 reliable and are parts easily available? Would you recommend the X version? And which sprocket would you recommend on the 502 and 502X for urban riding and occasionally highway riding? Thanks
Thanks for checking out the review. My bike has been very reliable. Parts are not as easily available as the big name brands where you can just walk into a dealership and get them off the shelf, however a quick search on ebay or the Internet will usually get you what you need. As I have only ever owned an x version I can only comment with accuracy for that model regarding the sprocket. I would definitely upgrade the front sprocket to 15T. I have test ridden the none x version, and it is geared differently to the x as standard, so I can't really comment on what would be best for that bike. If you take a look on my channel, I have an in-depth review titled TRK the truth where I cover all questions in detail. I also have a video where I change out the front sprocket to 15T and show the real world difference in the revs and performance. Ride safe 👍
I have a TRK 502 and would like to reduce the rpm's. I mainly drive urban. Someone suggested changing to 14/44 on the non X version as with the 15/42 on the non X version, you will really struggle to get under away. The 15/42 is only suitable on the X version IF you don't load your bike up with a fully set of panniers, top box and a pillion. Which sprockets would you recommend? Thanks
Having reviewed all the Benellis and the CF Moto and Voges on my channel I’ve come across my fair share of “Chinese shit” comments so it’s great to see a long term assessment like this which destroys those urban myths….many thanks…subscribed 👍🏻
Thank you mate. I'll take a look at your channel. I think in the coming years, a lot of people are going to be eating their words, just like when the Japanese bikes first entered the market. Ride safe 👍
Really enjoyed the review. Thankyou! I am probably more focused on riding the street to get to offroad so a dual sport probably fits me best, but I much prefer the look of yours and it is great to get a detailed review to give me the confidence that I don't need to get a big engine bike to get great looks and something a bit easier to handle and a crazy good price. Thank you, again.
Well maybe you can be help me out. After reviewing the vast number of videos out there on the bike, I started to look at what was in my market -Finland. What I found was very interesting. Firstly and quite shockingly, a lot of second hand TRK are sold within the first 1-4 yrs of ownership with a max of 10-12,000 km on the clock. The question is why??? Is there a problem that no one is willing to say about this bike once it hits 10,000km? Just want to know as it worries me.
Hi, thanks for checking out the channel. I haven't heard of any kind of problems at that mileage point or any other mileage point to be fair. The majority of feedback I hear for the TRK is very positive, especially when it comes to reliability. The only thing I think of is maybe it has to do with being a mid range bike. A lot of people have the TRK as a first bike or even a first adventure bike as they are well priced and not overly powerful. I think a lot of people move on to the bigger bikes like BMW GS or Triumph tigres. Another thing to consider is price depreciation. Unfortunately, the Benelli brand doesn't hold its value well in the second-hand market, so it may just be people selling at that point due to this. I hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
Thanks for checking out the channel. I've not ridden the 702 yet, so I can't really say. However, as with any bike, you really should test ride it first. Ride safe, and if you make a purchase, let me know how you go on. 👍
Can anyone tell me about spares availability for Chinese bikes? I anecdotely know of a horror story regarding unavailability of some spares. It's holding me back from buying a mid weight Chinese adv bike.... though I admit their bikes look amazing value.
Hi, thanks for checking out the channel. To be honest, it is a bit hit and miss with availability in the UK. However, as the TRK is such a massive seller in Europe, parts are usually readily available there. So it isn't so much a problem of not being able to get the parts, it's just you may have to wait a little longer for delivery. To be honest I haven't really had any real problems up to yet. I mainly use ebay or a generic Web search to get parts. MOTO GB are dismal. Ride safe 👍
Over 40000 km on a 18 502. Engine has been amazing. It out in sun and rain allot. Looking it's age. Pain in a&#@ to do airfilter. Bike is solid for the coin. Comfy and very reliable
Benelli trk 501x or Honda Nc750x ? Benelli 2021 used full accessories, but Honda Nc750x 2023 manual transmission brand new, if I go with Benelli, I will save 3000$ , please advise me.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I can not realistically advise you. They are two very different bikes. The main thing I would take into consideration is what you want to use the bikes for. If it is touring, I personally prefer the Benelli. However, if you are comutinng on busy roads, then I think the Honda is better. Consider your own riding ability and physique. The Honda is easier to ride and push around. Also, consider the availability of dealerships and parts if that is something important to you. Honda has a far better dealership. Resale value may be important to you. Again, the Honda will hold value better than the Benelli. For my circumstances, I prefer the Benelli, but remember we are all different people. What may be best for me might not be for you. Ride safe 🙏
@AhmedSaad-xz5tv I think the Benelli has a more comfortable seating position but the Benelli is very heavy to slow manoeuvre and heavy to get on and off the stand. The Honda is more manageable at slow speed and getting on and off the stand. You really need to test ride both bikes as that is the only way you will know which suits your needs best. On a medical note, I would recommend you spend more time recovering from your surgery before riding. Ride safe 👍
26:24 or possibly you should have said "the modern day name brand bikes are good" as there is still some lower quality Chinese bikes around but the likes of Cfmoto, Voge, Benelli, and even as you say the Chinese engine KTM are very good nowadays 😊
9:02 have you considered xcp rust blocker or their clear coat which is better than the acf-50 in the Bennetts extensive testing 😊 seem shed loads of people just seem to go to acf-50 by habit.
this is my 11th bike, own four ducatis (who also use chinese components as do triumph, royal enfield and now even Harley Davidson) a Royal Enfield Scram 411, Harley Sporster 1200, 2 Monster 795s 2 scramblers (nightshift and café) MV Agusta Brutale 800, MV Agusta Brutale 1090, a Diablo 650 parallel twin custom cafe racer from k speed custom Thailand, a Yamaha XSR, and this Benelli 502X. There are worse bikes at twice the price. To illustrate how initially untrusted brands can become the oreferred brand: LG Tvs used to be viewed as c r a p, now they dominate the market and are known for their high quality screens for a much lower price than a sony or a samsung. China, used to make bad quality stuff, now, since the western manufacturers contracted China to build their engines, China has learned to make very good reliable motors.. which is why the western brands also choose China to make their engines. You would be surprised how many famous bespoke bikes use a Chinese engine, according to their minimum standards… I live in Thailand so we know a Chinese engine has less chance of blowing up than a bsa.
Hi thanks for checking out the channel. You are spot on with what you say. It absolutely amazes me the amount of people who are completely bias and prejudice against the Benelli quoting because it is Chinese. What amazes me more is that the same people are riding around on bikes which are made of a large amount of Chinese components and they are total ignorant of the fact. I think this is the best time to buy Chinese manufacturer bikes as we are in the period where they are offering good products at a reduced price to break into the market. I think in the years to come, the stigma of Chinese bikes will drop and the prices rise. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Well after seeing your vid I bought the 40w system & it works just a you described. I had been having issues for ages with the battery going flat but not been able to ride that often. The system took the battery from unable to start the bike to starting every time and letting me know what the battery condition was. Thanks for the video. Money well, spent.
"No rust issue"... 18:03 washer and bolt from the right side wind deflector: rusted and decoloring the transparant plastic. 😅 19:09 weld where subframe joins togheter: rust and cracked paint.
WOW, great criticism. Just a thought, can you show me a bike, that remains in show room prestine condition after being used daily, 7 days a week for over 5 years, all year around including winter in the UK on salted roads, covering high mileage road trips? I think everyone who knows anything about owning motorcycles in the UK will understand the general message I was conveying about the bike. I always welcome constructive criticism on my channel when appropriate, but mate, really. If you feel my video or videos are misleading, please feel free to scroll on by. Ride safe 👍
@@BikeRiderReviews Well yes I can, my '99 Bmw GS has no rust, and I know at least I am using it in all seasons, including riding on salt roads. I watched your video because I'm interested in the bike and was hoping for the best. In my comment i was merely stating the obvious: by the time that bike reaches the age of my old beemer it will be well rusted, unfortunately.
@vixr350r Thank you for your reply. I think you must have an exceptional GS. Last December, i was working as a motorcycle instructor. I was covering around a 1000 miles a week and around the Edinburgh area like much of the country it was constant horrendous weather, snow, ice, and rain for the whole month. Two of the other instructors rode BMW GS bikes. Each night, the bikes were foam bathed and jet washed. I can honestly say they showed the same wear and tear and rust levels as my TRK. I have been riding bikes for a very long time, and I understand that you can keep any bike in pristine condition given enough time to meticulously clean it after every ride. My bike is not treated in this way. Yes, it is hosed down with fresh water after a ride and cleaned with a foam bath / sponge, and jet was once a week. My bike is a daily commuter and work horse. I have absolutely no doubt that if I was to spend more time cleaning the bike after each ride, it would remain totally rust free and pristine. As for rust on the weld on the subframe that was dirt. I'll put a close up on my next upload to the channel. In the video I have not tried to hide anything or pull the wool over anyone's eyes. I showed the bike in its entirety. If that's the impression you got from the video, then accept my apologies. However, I have to disagree with your implication that in time to come, the bike will be rusted away. In my opinion, the TRK is no worse or better than my other bikes I've owned, including Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Ride safe 👍
I don't believe my bike to be exceptional. It just has no rust and i haven't owned it for long now, yet it was fabricated in 1999. Anyway, good to hear you are very assured about the rust on the benelli. This gives me more confidence to go and test ride one soon, but still don't like to see rusted bolts on a bike that young. If only they used a better material, or i'd have to replace a lot of bolts after buying.. Also there's quite a few benelli owners (not necessarily trk502) that complain about rust. I'm definately not trying to say these bikes are bad quality, since i'm actually interested in them, but yet have to be convinced about the build quality. Looking forward to another review from this bike in a couple of years.
@vixr350r Honestly I've been riding bikes well over 20 years and I've had a lot of different makes of bikes and I wouldn't say the Benelli is any worse than for reliability or rust than any the them. I also have a Honda at the moment and uts true to say some of the components look to be higher quality and things like the welding is neater than the Benelli but I wouldn't say that makes the Benelli of poor quality either. My Benelli gets absolutely hammered mate year in and out, and it's been rock steady throughout. While the Benelli is not the best bike ice owned, it's still an exceptional bike, and if you go on the best bike for money, it's definitely the best. My advice is to take one out for a test ride and have a good close look. I think only that way will you be able to make a decent assessment for yourself.
Hi there, I am planning on getting a 502x this Summer and having looked at your vids, I was wondering if you have a list of accessories and where you got them? It would be super! Thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I hope this helps. Ride safe 👍 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-txo1ve8zHfc.htmlsi=_s7qF4cs6AutLy7L
Thanks for checking out the channel. If your TRK is quite new with low miles on the clock, you may find the vibration lessons as the engine wears in. My bike was quite buzzy at first, but I found that after around 3,000 miles, it really improved. (or perhaps I just got used to it lol). However, there are things you can do to help. The first thing I would do is put a 15t rear sprocket on. This will help to lower the revs at higher speeds, reducing the vibration. You can also look at the seat. There are the netting seat covers that are supposed to help. However, I've never owned one, so I can't vouch for them. You can also get inflatable seat pads such as air hawk seats. I've used these in the past, and they are comfortable. However, consider that they will raise the seat height, which may cause problems if you are already on tip-toes. Another thing to look at could be changes tyres to some that are kess viby. Hope this helps. Ride safe 👍
Hi Kevin, great video. I also have the Benelli, without the x. I too have flexibility issues. Lower limbs an absolute joke. Neurology app in three months. Only recently got the bike as l love the look and the important road presence it gives you, but boy it's a nightmare when wheeling it out of the garage into the gravel. Inside seam of 29 inches doesn't help, but l felt I needed the greater space, as you pointed out, in the seated riding position. Anyway, getting older is..... unfortunately a fact of life. 65 in April and hope to carry on a few years yet. Your videos are good quality and real world so hats off to you for that. Sincerely hope you're getting your physical issues sorted and wish you all the best for the channel and please stay safe on the roads. Kind regards David
Hi, thanks for checking out the channel and your kind words. Unfortunately, we can't halt the tides of time and getting older. As you say, we just have to make the best of it. Due to personal reasons, I have had to take a break from the channel but I hope to resume filming again within the next few weeks. So, hopefully, there will be some new content coming soon. Ride safe 👍
People said that Japanese bikes were crap once, so they flooded the market, done the British bike industry to ceasing all manufacturing, but look at these 'crap Japanese bikes' now, they are ths leaders in the bike industry, with some damn good bikes. These days, people do not realise that a lot of bike parts (as with other vehicles) are made in China, and their industry is getting bigger, so in a few years time, they will be up there with the other bike manufacturers. I think that the company who own Benelli also own Volvo and a few other vehicle companies also.
Thanks for checking out the channel. I have to agree with what you say. I think now is most probably the best time to buy Chinese bikes as they are in the stage of transition where the quality is getting very close to the Western and Japanese counterparts but still at a low price. I believe in the years to come, the stigma of owning a Chinese bike will diminish, and at that point, the prices will increase in line with the other established brands. Ride safe 👍
