Benelli 502C fits into a category of bike roughly referred to as an urban cruiser suitable for learner and novice riders.
It arrives in Australian showrooms at $9790 ride away with a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance in gloss black, “Coniac Red” or matte black.
Urban cruiser
If you think we have invented the term “urban cruiser” check out these competitors:
- Harley Street 500 $9995 ride away
- Honda CMX $8299 (+ORC)
- Kawasaki Vulcan S 649cc $11,750 ride away
- Royal Enfield Rumbler 350 $5790 +ORC
- Suzuki Boulevard S40 $7990 (+ORC)
- Yamaha Bolt C $8699 (+ORC) (Note: This is a 900cc bike and not a LAMS bike, but it’s still a competitor in this field)
Honda CMX 
Harley Street 500
Kawasaki Vulcan S 
Royal Enfield Rumbler 350
Suzuki Boulevard S40 
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
It’s a popular class and the best seller is the Honda, followed by the Harley and the Kawasaki.
The first of these urban cruisers was the Yamaha Bolt C which is probably also the most stylish … until now.
Benelli’s Italian-designed and Chinese-made model is beautiful.
After all, it seems to be designed along the lines of a small-capacity Ducati Diavel with a similar trellis-style frame, floating seat, remote rear fender, bellypan and stubby twin single-sided mufflers.
It features forward foot controls which are adjustable like the Vulcan S, wide handlebars, moderate-height 750mm seat and distinctive LED headlights.
The Benelli 502C is powered by their in-line 500cc liquid-cooled twin with 35kW Of power at 8500 revs and 45Nm of midrange torque. The engine is mated to six-speed gearbox.
The generous 21-litre tank should allow these urban cruisers to stray far from their urban environs.
Benelli 502C tech specs
- Price: $9790 ride away
- Engine: 500cc in-line twin, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, 4 valves , DOHC
- Bore x stroke: 69 x 66.8mm
- Power: 35kW @ 8500rpm
- Torque: 45Nm @ 5000rpm
- Emissions: Euro 4, CO2 96g/km
- Economy: 4.2Lt/100km
- Transmission: Multidisk wet clutch, 6 speeds
- Frame: Trestle steel tubes and plates
- Suspension: Upside-down 41mm forks, 125mm travel; swingarm with central shock absorber, spring preload adjustable, 50mm travel
- Brakes: twin 280mm floating disks with 4-piston calliper; 240mm disc, piston floating calliper; ABS
- Tyres: 120/70 – ZR17” M/C 58W; 160/60 – ZR17” M/C 69W
- Seat: 750mm
- Wheelbase: 1600mm
- Wet weight: 217kg
- Tank: 21Lt
- Length: 2280mm
- Width: 940mm
- Height: 1140mm
- Warrant: 2 years, unlimited kilometre, roadside assistance
- Colours: gloss black, “Coniac Red” or matte black.