QUOTE(lowpro @ Jul 14 2018, 06:17 PM)
I think Benelli can actually shave more weight off the bike. They just need to use better materials in construction but then again, better materials usually mean higher cost. With the need to go up against the establishment, and also to see cost benefit analysis. I guess that's why they decided to go with what they have today...and that is, to undercut the competition because they don't have the brand strength in price and give more goodies but sacrifice in the way of how the bike is constructed.
Maybe the next generation will come with more hi-tech materials to shave weight but that largely depends on the take up of this current model where they sell on price advantage and loaded up with goodies. So, more people buy now, they will most probably up their game for the next model. If nobody takes up, they may need to go back to the drawing board
I agree to some extend bro, already the bike weight 235kg (wet), !but! lets think for a moment and please hear my thoughts and my 5cents. Okay, for me lets consider about the standard accessory that contributed to its weight, can't we agree the crash bar, side/top box bracket and wind breaker frame could easily be least 20kg?, imagine if the CB500X added the same brackets and crash bar the weight will be similar, the Italian and Chinese designer/engineers would have calculated this prior releasing their product wouldn't they?
, and for the materials so far used in constructing the bike is on par with any close competition, and further investigation on GOOGLE
that Benelli(QJ Chinese current owner) use BMW as a benchmark to R&D their product, you can see the similarity of the TRK 502 with the BMW GS variant.
Lastly about the brand is already very well establish just that the perception on asian market is on the low sides, many competitions could not compete in terms of standard package the TRK 502 offered and price i do not need to elaborate if you compared. The close competition namely the CB500X. Many complained that the gimmick for the local distributor for Honda is withholding the ABS brakes to come as standard and make believe the ones with ABS comes as a premiums package only, perhaps they should ditch the old marketing habits and start giving the necessary accessory as a standard as what Benelli is practicing for our local market.