Page 8 - Australian Motorcycle News (January 2020)
P. 8
the know
IT HAPPENED SINCE LAST ISSUE
CHINA’S
BIGGEST-CAPACITY,
HIGHEST-SPEC
China MOTORCYCLE
EVER!
changes BENELLI 1200 TOURER
gears WAY BACK IN 2016 we revealed been swapped for a chain and a
design drawings from China that
double-sided tubular swingarm
design, very much like that of the
showed a 1200cc triple-cylinder
tourer under development by
Benelli’s parent firm Qianjiang. old Benelli Tre-K 1130.
In terms of spec, the engine
The image here comes from the
Once known for cheap bike’s Chinese type-approval now measures 1209cc and makes
precisely 100kW. That’s exactly the
commuters, the People’s documents, meaning it’s on same output as BMW’s R 1250 RT –
surely the closest direct rival to the
the verge of production,
Republic is shaping up to be a and the same paperwork QJ1200 in terms of size and styling.
The power is put to the ground via
includes a host of technical
major player in manufacturing details, too. a 190/55 ZR17 rear tyre, while the
The earlier design images of
front is a typical 120/70 ZR17.
for a global audience the bike showed a police-spec Bosch 9.1MP ABS is fitted as
machine. That’s not unusual in standard, according to the type-
China, were a contract to supply approval, and the document
CHINA’S NEW-MODEL backers, China is throwing the country’s security forces can lists the QJ1200’s curb weight
market is up five percent off its old reputation of small, mean thousands of guaranteed at a hefty 338kg – around 50kg
(see following news cheap motorcycles. sales. The new photo, despite more than a BMW R 1250 RT.
pages) and its motorcycle Our industry sleuth Ben being disappointingly low- The stated 1550mm wheelbase
manufacturing industry is Purvis has the scoop on the resolution, clearly shows the shows it’s a long bike, too, on a
going gangbusters. latest developments that QJ1200 in civilian form. par with Yamaha’s FJR1300; the
The styling has also been
Fuelled by joint ventures will see big-bore Chinese tweaked, with changes to the BMW is 65mm shorter between
the axles.
with big-name European motorcycles being produced side panels, and in a big technical At 220km/h, the QJ1200’s top
brands and flush with cash and exported for the first alteration to the original design the speed is about where you’d expect
from wealthy industry time. HAMISH COOPER BMW-style shaft drive and single- from a bike with its combination of
s d i t d
TRK502 a European sales hit –
The TRK502 is prov
third best-selling bike
TWEAKED it nearly matched the H
Africa Twin and BMW
It’s clear that every b
the paperwork’s image
FOR 2021 – Benelli has submitte
both wire-wheeled an
alloy-wheeled version
fitted. So this might be
NEW PAPERWORK ALSO reveals – has aluminium lugg
significant updates to Benelli’s standard on future models. It
popular TRK502 adventure also has Brembo brake calipers
bike. The latest prototypes rather than the Benelli-branded
have ditched the tubular steel ones of the current machine.
swingarm for an aluminium Since Benelli has only Benelli is bringing
unit, which will be stronger and recently released the 2020 some avante
also give the hefty TRK502 a TRK502, these are 2021 garde styling to
handy weight reduction. prototypes. BP its TRK 502
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE A BOL T FROM THE V OL T
LITTLE IS THE 34 ALTERNATING 54
NEW LARGE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Flat out on Honda and Benelli tiddlers Coming soon to a power outlet near you
→ →
