Moto Morini X-Cape 650 vs Benelli TRK 502 – Which one of the two Italian tourers is better?

While middleweight capacity motorcycles have witnessed much more demand in recent times, many of the motorcycles available at the time are priced at the higher end of the market. Amongst them, the two Italian brands – Moto Morini and Benelli – are offering well-priced and decently powerful middleweight adventure tourers.

While Benelli is having its presence for a long time now with the TRK 502, Moto Morini is the newer one with its new X-Cape 650. While the TRK 502 tries to woo the audience with its big-bike looks and characteristic exhaust note, the X-Cape is here to impress people with its more premium styling and higher-spec mechanicals. We compare these motorcycles in every aspect to find out which one of the two emerges as the one to buy: 

Price

The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 has arrived in India with three colour options – while the Smoky Anthracite colour is priced at Rs 7.20 lakh, the other two colours – Carrara White and Red Passion – carry a premium of Rs 10,000. On the other hand, the Benelli TRK 502 is priced at Rs 5.59 lakh for all its colour options, red, white and grey.

(prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, India)

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Engine and Chassis

Both the motorcycles here have liquid-cooled, inline-twin engines, however, the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 has got a much bigger 649cc engine against the Benelli TRK 502’s 500cc engine. The significant displacement advantage works in favour of the Moto Morini X-Cape 650, as it produces much higher power and torque outputs.

The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 and Benelli TRK 502 get the same suspension setups – upside-down telescopic hydraulic forks at the front and mono-shock at the rear. However, despite being a smaller motorcycle here, the TRK 502 gets an edge in the rest of the hardware, with wider radial tyres and larger disc brakes at both the front and rear.

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Dimension

The Benelli TRK 502 might be having a smaller engine in comparison, but it is the one which is longer, wider and taller than the Moto Morini X-Cape 650. It also has a longer wheelbase, larger fuel tank and higher ground clearance, thus making it look visually bigger than the X-Cape 650. All these contribute to its higher kerb weight, which makes it 20 kg heavier than the X-Cape 650.

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Design and Features

Both the motorcycles have got the much-required tall stance of an adventure tourer, though it is the Benelli TRK 502 which has a bigger bike look, while the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 has a cleaner look in comparison. However, the design elements of the TRK 502 make it look more old-school in comparison to the modern and sleek-looking X-Cape 650.

The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 is the one motorcycle here which looks the newer one out of the two, with its dual all-LED headlamps and daytime running LEDs encased within angular housings. Even the side panels, fuel tank and side fairing cowls have a sleek appeal, which adds a greater sense of modernity to the Moto Morini X-Cape 650. The tail section of the motorcycle looks broad while accommodating split seats and ending with a compact LED tail lamp. The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 comes with off-road spec bog block tyres wrapped over black alloy wheels, with the motorcycle getting a stubby side-mounted exhaust pipe.

The Benelli TRK 502, in comparison, impresses with its visual bulk, but it has now started showing off its age. The motorcycle comes adorned with dual halogen headlamps equipped with daytime running LEDs below them. The tall-mounted transparent fairing and beak-shaped additional front fender with air vents integrated into them add more visual bulk to the motorcycle. From the side, the TRK 502 looks more muscular in comparison with the large-looking fuel tank and side body panel extending beyond the front fairing. The low-slung tail section of the motorcycle has a lifted-up design, with it accommodating a larger split seat arrangement. At the back, the Benelli TRK 502 gets a compact rear fender and an LED tail lamp.

Both the motorcycles here get LED turn indicators and pannier holders at the back for additional luggage mounting purposes. However, the newness of the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 can be sensed in its more-premium switchgear and much more modern-looking full-TFT instrument console that offers a host of display information. In comparison, the Benelli TRK 502 gets a part-digital instrument console with an analogue tachometer, which looks dated in this comparison.

Verdict

The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 carries a significant premium over the Benelli TRK 502 – it’s almost Rs 2 lakh more expensive than the TRK 502. However, for the additional premium, the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 offers itself as a more accomplished motorcycle, with more modern styling and features, better build quality and fit and finish levels, a much more powerful and torquey engine and a leaner stance which makes new riders more comfortable than the big and burly TRK 502. On the other hand, the TRK 502 has a good road presence of a big-capacity motorcycle but is not so friendly in terms of the way it rides and handles. As a more polished and well-built product, the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 is the better motorcycle here, and well deserves the premium it asks over the Benelli TRK 502.

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