Benelli has released a teaser for the new Benelli TRK 800 adventure tourer, arguably its most important launch amid a slew of new models revealed between itself and its Chinese owners QianJiang over the last 12 months.
The TRK 800 is the larger, more powerful spin-off from the good value TRK 502, a model that has proven a big hit on the mainland, not least in its native Italy where it has dominated the sales charts in 2021.
Talk of a larger version with more off-road capabilities have been swirling for some time, not least after QJ Motor revealed its own TRK-like version on the 800cc platform that also underpins the Leoncino.
However, following the success of the smaller TRK, Benelli has since been back to the drawing board to refine its own offering with the teaser video posted to its social media channels suggesting a revised, svelter design compared with its rugged younger brother.
Assuming it uses the same engine as the QJ SRG750, the Benelli TRK 800 should be good for around 80hp. Though expected to offer solid off-road ability, the TRK 800 will be pitched more as an adventure tourer, putting it up against another fellow Italian rival, the Moto Guzzi V85TT, while netling between the market leader, the Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 9.
Though Benelli is a bit-part player in the UK, its fortunes have soared since QJ Motor assumed control and began pumping substantial investment into the historic company.
With Chinese-manufactured mechanicals beneath as well, the TRK 502 has found favour by straddling the classes - being more powerful than many rivals below or more manageable than rivals above - as well as offering competitive prices that undercut the Honda CB500X and rival the less powerful Royal Enfield Himalayan.
