Month: October 2020

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2020 Benelli TRK 502X

After talking about Benelli’s onslaught last week in three parts on YouTube, here I am reviewing A Benelli motorcycle!

Since I mentioned the upcoming next-generation TRK 502; I think this is the perfect time for me to present to you my latest episode of my ‘Test Test,” the 2020 Benelli TRK 502X!

The TRK 502X is currently Benelli’s flagship bike for the Global market (except in North America & China). There are two distinct models of the TRK, one is the base 502 (I call it the 502S), and this unit the 502X.

The base 502 (502S) is a more road-oriented bike with it’s lower seat height, sport-touring tires, & 17-inch cast-alloy front wheels (like the Versys, Tracer, & Crossrunner).

While this 502X has off-road trekking in mind: with its dirt-ready tires, cross-spoked wheels, higher-mounted exhaust pipe, increased ground clearance, 19-inch front wheels, & optional hard luggage round out the toys on the ‘X’ model.

As of this writing, there’s not much direct competition to the 502X, namely: the Voge (Loncin) 500DS, Bristol (Colove) Venturi 500, the upcoming Cyclone/CSC (Zongshen) RX500, & Honda’s venerable CB500X. How does the TRK 502X stand out in this bunch?

Also, did the North American market really missed out by not importing the TRK series?

 

Guest: Iñaki Jose of Ride N Tandem (https://www.facebook.com/rideandtandem) & Motourismo (https://www.motourismo.ph)

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 Harley-Davidson FLHTK Ultra Limited 107

You can’t get anymore grander than this! The FLHTK Ultra Limited is one of the trifectas of big, luxurious, monster tourers from Harley-Davidson!

With almost all the toys standard on this de-facto couples retreat cruiser, the Ultra makes it one of the icons of American motorcycle culture.

With an innovative yet torquey Milwaukee Eight 107 engine at the helm, it’s a calmer version compared to the ruckus and thirsty 114 version. With so many rivals on this ‘ultra’ luxurious Tourer category with the like like of its neighbor the Indian Roadmaster, the Japanese Honda Gold Wing, and the German BMW K1600 GTL.

Since I’ve already ridden its sibling, the Street Glide 107 on my previous video, how does this living American icon compare?

[NOTE: Of course, I’ve ridden the 2018 model when it was new. By now there were several updates of the Ultra Limited 107 since then.]

Categories
Bite Tests

Bite Test: 2020 Bristol BR 250

There are not many choices when it comes to hipster-ready small 250cc cafe racer type motorcycles out there.

Sure, you might opt for the real deal British-made Norton, but you lack the cash. While some shady Chinese-made bikes may scare you. And the Japanese big-4 aren’t ‘pure’ enough, then why not give this brand a try!?

Bristol is a Philippine-based brand on which sells custom-ordered motorcycles from the Taiwanese firm Herald Motorcycles on which is now known in countries like the UK and in Australia.

This BR 250 along with the Classic 250 are the entry-level models from the Caloocan City Dealer-Distributor company Bristol Group. This BR 250 is their ‘cafe racer’ model, on which it has a clip-on-style handlebar plus other mods that differentiate it from its standard-style brother.

I’m just curious about how does it ride, hows the features, the balance, and does the price justifies its overall quality?

[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2020 Ducati Multistrada 1260 (Base)

Besides the Multistrada 950, the entry-point to the big Multistrada 1200-league is this ‘Base’ model. With stiff competition with KTM, BMW, & Aprilia; this base model receives its latest Testastretta 1262 DVT engine.

Being Ducati, like its Scrambler line; the Multistrada 1200 line of adventure bikes has a plethora of choices that may confuse the casual bike fan. Good thing that Ducati’s website explains their differences clearly.

So how does this compare to its direct rivals like the S1000 XR, 1290 Super Adventure S, Caponord 1200, or even the mild Versys 1000? Will this base model feel like a bargain or a rip-off!?