While the adventure motorcycle space was once ruled by full-sized, liter-plus models, the segment has increasingly been permeated by mid and small-displacement models. And after pulling the cover off of its new range of big-bore TRK adventure bikes, Benelli has now revealed its new entry-level ADV model with the BKX 250.
Designed by the Benelli Style Centre in Pessaro, Italy, the BKX 250 is constructed around a steel trellis frame that’s been paired with an inverted 41mm fork and a mono-shock mated to a progressive linkage — both of which offer 7” of suspension travel. At the heart of the bike is a liquid-cooled 249cc DOHC single-cylinder engine that’s mated to a six-speed transmission and good for 26hp and 15.5ft-lbs of torque. Benefitting from a new cooling system with twin vertical radiators, the engine is fed via a 3.5-gallon tank that affords nearly 250 miles of range between trips to the pump.
Utilizing a 19” front and 17” rear setup, the bike rides on a spoked wheel-set with aluminum alloy hubs that come shod in all-terrain rubber. Braking hardware on the BKX is comprised of a four-pot caliper and a 280mm floating disc up front and a single-piston item paired with a 240mm disc out back. Deviating from Benelli’s existing TRK design language, the BKX sports its own sleek aesthetic that puts a thoroughly modern spin on Dakar-style rally bikes with a set of hand guards and a mini navigation tower set just above a stacked headlight arrangement that’s flanked on either side by a set of DRLs.
While pricing and availability have yet to be revealed, the 2023 Benelli BKX 250 is scheduled to hit dealerships in mid 2023. The BKX adventure bike will also be produced in a 125cc version (the BKX 125) for select markets.
