2019 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Italian Style, A2 Budget
The 502 C is Benelli's take on the mid-size cruiser: a 500 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin with 47 hp and 33 lb-ft in a steel trellis frame, wrapped in a long, low, raked-out stance. What sets it apart in its class is how much visible motorcycle you get. Radial front brakes, wavy discs, an LED headlight and a color TFT display are all standard, and ABS is the one electronic rider aid on board. The engine is the real surprise, though: it's unusually refined for this class, with smooth low-end pull that suits lazy cruising. Lots of show, and something behind it.
On the road it's far more agile than the stance suggests. The 160-section rear tire and a well-balanced chassis make it easy to flick around, and it stays settled when the pace goes up. The 5.5 gal (21 L) tank and 56 mpg give it real range, and running costs stay low. It's for you if you want cruiser looks and a friendly, undemanding ride. The caveats are plain: 478 lb (217 kg) on 47 hp means you won't be in a hurry, the gearbox can jump out of first into neutral when you accelerate hard out of a tight corner, and the exhaust hanger weld looks rushed. A fair deal.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 47 hp (35 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 33 lb-ft (45 Nm) @ 5,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 500 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Seat height | 29.5 in (750 mm) |
| Wet weight | 478 lb (217 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 gal (21 L) |
| Fuel economy | 56 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Lighting
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats at club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the 502 C the pattern is clear. Owners are warm about how it rides and what they paid, while the complaints are scattered and personal rather than a shared list of faults.
The most common praise is about confidence. Riders describe precise steering and grip that holds up even on wet roads, and smooth, clean fueling that makes the bike easy for newer riders to manage. The light clutch and a gearbox that shifts smoothly, with a neutral that is easy to find, come up again and again. Owners also feel they got a lot of motorcycle for the money.
The gripes are individual rather than widespread. Riders with smaller hands say even the adjuster can't bring the brake and clutch levers close enough. Some find the seat turns hard after a couple of hours, and at highway pace the windblast with no screen gets tiring. A few owners mention slow parts deliveries and a thin choice of accessories.
Gearbox jumping out of first gear
When accelerating hard out of tight corners, the gearbox can spontaneously jump from first into neutral. This has been reported in press tests and sometimes noted by owners as a clunk when engaging first.
Engine stutter around 4000rpm
One owner reported an intermittent engine stutter or hesitation at around 4000 rpm, possibly related to fuelling or ignition mapping. Not widely reported.
Hurried welding on exhaust hanger
The welding on the exhaust hanger is visibly rushed and detracts from an otherwise good overall finish.
Where this Benelli 502 C pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 502 C is actually built for.
Of the three riders here, you're the closest match, thanks to the tank range and calm highway manners. But 47 hp, no cruise control and no luggage system make loaded two-up crossings a stretch.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
It has the stance and a pleasant rumble, but this is a smooth 500 cc parallel twin with an Italian badge. If brand ritual and big-twin sound are your point, it only gets you partway.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
The calm rhythm and easy handling suit small-town road trips. The look is modern cruiser with a TFT and LED headlight, though, not classic. A partial fit if retro style matters most.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
