Benelli / QJMotors TRK 502X: the non-updated version. Photo: Benelli

If you want to look up the chute to see what updates might be coming to the Western motorcycle market, apparently the key is to glance East. Sometimes you’ll see the future there.

The Chinese-built Italian marque Benelli falls in this category, at least with its newest small adventure bike, the TRK 502X. While Benelli/QJMotors’ version of its 502X released to the European market remains the same as last year’s, the Chinese-market 2022 TRK 502X sees some really nice upgrades.

First, the chassis and the engine remain the same. That means no matter what market the bike originated from, parts shopping won’t be too much of a pain. It’s still a 500cc parallel twin that puts out just under 48hp. The sale price of the bike, too, refreshingly, has not budged.

Yes, QJ gives the Chinese bike Bold New Graphics for 2022. That’s sort of a given. Further, it gets a slight aesthetic update, retaining, of course, its LED lighting. It’s also available in three new colors.

The biggest difference in the 2022 502X is its swingarm. The Chinese market bikes sport a cast aluminum swingarm instead of the steel tube swingarm its slightly older brothers drag around. That change offers a moderate weight reduction (around 8lbs, or 3.6kg, about the weight of your big dirt riding boots). Also, QJ has updated the bike’s spoked wheels. Now, instead of a center spoke line, the spokes attach at the periphery. This means tubeless tires, and that’s a boon for the folks that generally don’t air down their tires for gnarly dirt rides. Those wheels also get tire pressure sensors, a great feature seen mostly on much more expensive machinery.

To display the readout of those sensors, the bike now shows off a full-color TFT dash display. And controlling that? QJ has improved the feel of their switchgear and buttons.

Speaking of buttons, the bike also comes with heated grips.  Intentional Redesign, Or Catch As Catch Can?

The front brake master cylinder and system also sees a full redesign. Whether that’s a result of intentional redesign or the need to do a bit of supplier switcheroo in these times of supply chain difficulties, we do not know.

While we cannot yet get our hands on any pictures of the Chinese market 2022 Benelli/QJMotors TRK 502X at all, we trust that if you are interested in the Benelli you’d appreciate the info before the aesthetics, in case you need to time a purchase. And we further hope, those of you with access to said Chinese market, could maybe pop into a QJMotors showroom and end the suspense for all of us, in the comments.