2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Overview [15 Fast Facts]

Benelli is being reintroduced to America for 2024, because the Chinese language-owned Italian-heritage model is taking on the importation and distribution of its bikes. That has resulted in a reshuffling of the Benelli lineup, which included the lack of the Leoncino 500 that we grew to know and love in a long-term check. Changing the Leoncino 500 twin is the less-expensive ($4899 MSRP) and extra authentically retro 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 single. Whereas it’s not a brand new mannequin for the marque, it’s new to the USA, and meaning we had been anxious to check it. We weren’t positive what to anticipate, so take a break and discover out what this Italian-designed and Chinese language-built retro bike presents a up to date motorcyclist.

1. As a lot a styling train as something, the 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 seems to be the half. A variety of bikes get the “retro” tag. A few of them are solely vaguely retro, together with the Yamaha XSRs and the Kawasaki RS fashions, whereas a motorbike just like the Kawasaki W800 does ship the Nineteen Sixties look with out batting a watch, although at twice the worth (and displacement) of the Imperiale. In between, you’ve got fashions from Royal Enfield and Moto Guzzi to spherical out the retro style. It’s straightforward to argue that the Imperiale 400 brings extra styling authenticity to the showroom flooring than any of its opponents. In some ways, the Imperiale recollects the Nineteen Forties 500 Valvole Laterali, which is a wonderful place to start out.

2. The styling works as a result of the engine doesn’t look trendy. That air-cooled, long-stroke thumper delivers the styling mojo from which the remainder of the bike feeds. Sure, it’s an overhead cam design, although it has a styling trace of pushrods on the proper facet. The gas injector is hiding behind a canopy, and also you’ll need to look previous the unit building—not laborious to do, actually. Additionally, the header sports activities a shielded catalytic converter and oxygen sensor. The liquid-cooled DOHC powerplant on the Leoncino 500 compromised its retro bona fides, placing it in the identical neo-vintage styling class because the Yamaha XSRs and Kawasaki RSes. That’s not the case with the Imperiale 400.

3. The 374cc thumper places out some energy, although not the place you’d anticipate on the powerband. Opposite to its long-stroke, single-cylinder structure, the Imperiale 400’s motor must rev to supply energy. Off idle, the ability may be very gentle, and the throttle response is lazy at finest, making it welcoming to new or returning riders. To get round with any authority, you need to rev the motor as much as its modest 21 ft-lb torque peak at 4500 rpm, simply 1500 rpm earlier than redline. If you happen to don’t rev it up when the stoplight turns inexperienced, you and the 452-pound Imperiale might be swallowed by the four-wheelers surrounding you. Happily, when you’re beneficiant with the throttle and useful with the shift lever, you will get off the road with sufficient gusto to flee the thundering herd behind you.

4. Regardless of needing to run close to the redline to make its claimed 21 horsepower, the motor is nice and buttery. You may anticipate a retro-styled single to be completely satisfied to vibrate your fillings. It’s so clean that you need to control the devoted analog-style tachometer, because it’s straightforward to blow proper previous the 6k redline with out noticing when accelerating away from visitors. There have to be a counterbalancer lurking in there someplace, however technical particulars from the Benelli Q.J. manufacturing unit are laborious to return by.

5. There by no means is way in the best way of throttle response from the thumper. Using the 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 is about conserving momentum and revs up. You possibly can lug the motor when you like—it runs effective at low rpm—however will probably be sluggish. Revved up, it’s by no means quick, but it surely will get you round city. It’s price noting that the sound of the motor and lengthy peashooter exhaust is improbable. Using the Imperiale is a satisfying auditory expertise.

6. The five-speed gearbox will get the job executed for the Imperiale 400. The transmission behaves properly. The lengthy throw of the graceful transmission makes you a extra deliberate rider, conserving within the spirit of the bike. Missed shifts aren’t a problem, and the powerband is simply huge sufficient to work with a five-speed cluster. First gear is sweet and low, making the Imperiale straightforward to handle in tight confines and at sluggish speeds. The clutch pull is barely heavy, and predictably lacks help or slipper capabilities—no shock there. Nonetheless, all-day rides in city areas are doable, as you don’t need to shift all that a lot, and slipping the clutch is pointless.

7. The chassis is extra nostalgic than the engine. The Imperiale has a double cradle metal body with a typical fork and Nineteen Seventies-style twin piggyback reservoir shocks. The seating place is upright, pure, and impartial—precisely what you need for city rides. The handlebar is huge and swept again excellent for consolation and maneuverability. The passenger will get a separate, generously padded seat. If you happen to really feel like dressing the half, you’ll look as retro on the Imperiale because it does.

8. Whenever you first get on the 2024 Benelli Imperial 400, you’ll query the suspension. The fork loses about half its 4.7 inches of journey once you get on, and the motion has noticeable stiction, whereas the shocks don’t appear fascinated with transferring. Earlier than hitting the beginning button for the primary time, we had been extremely skeptical concerning the journey high quality. Towards all odds, nonetheless, it really works! The low energy and its gentle supply are a giant assist, as the graceful motor places nearly no calls for on the chassis. The key weapon of the Benelli is the sprung driver’s seat. It makes an enormous distinction. As dangerous because the fork appears at a cease, it’s not an issue when underway, and the sprung seat is a superb help for the shocks. We’d guess the wire-spoke wheels assist some, too.

9. Though a bike like this might have been thought of a sportbike within the Nineteen Forties, it isn’t within the 2020s. We ventured out onto Mulholland Drive within the Hollywood Hills—a favourite check floor for the sporting efficiency of urban-focused bikes. The Imperiale 400 engine doesn’t need to be rushed, so it’s not like you may push the chassis laborious. So, all of it works collectively for a enjoyable journey throughout the hilltops whereas individuals in tour buses level their fingers at you, questioning when you’re a star out for a journey on a collectible classic bike.
10. The Cordial tires are pleasant sufficient to take the Imperiale to its cornering limits. Nonetheless, you’ll be taught a scary lesson there: the footpegs are mounted. We are able to’t bear in mind the final time we rode a motorbike that didn’t have spring-loaded footpegs, although touching down on the proper drags the muffler defend lengthy earlier than the footpeg. Oddly, all the footpeg equipment looks as if a poorly executed afterthought, with a single low-cost pressed-steel mount for each pegs that runs below the body, to which it’s rubber-mounted—perhaps that rubber mounting saved the day when touching the proper peg right down to the pavement. Pushing down on the footpegs at a cease leads to flex you may see and really feel—not good.

11. Though it’s not quick, the 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 works on the freeway. So long as you retain the thumper spinning close to its redline, it has the ability to deal with freeway visitors. You simply need to keep in mind that you don’t have a lot in the best way of acceleration in your arsenal. The Cordial tires additionally impress on the freeway, as they’re hardly ever upset by rain grooves or seams—one thing we don’t at all times see with the 19-/18-inch wheel combo and the obtainable tires.

12. Braking on the Imperiale is ample. Though the Benelli isn’t particularly quick, it does go freeway speeds, and generally it’s worthwhile to decelerate shortly, even when you can’t speed up quickly. Whereas the entrance 300mm disc brake and outsized caliper have a picket really feel, stopping energy is ok round city. If it’s worthwhile to decelerate in a rush, add the 240mm rear disc to the method—it makes a giant distinction. Collectively, deceleration is suitable, although not spectacular. ABS is commonplace, although it’s not straightforward to instigate with the less-than-powerful brakes.

13. The match and end of the 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 are typically of top of the range. There’s little doubt the bike seems to be good from a distance. Get shut, and also you’ll discover the mediocre plastic switchgear. The graphics on the tank and facet covers are stickers, not paint—once more, it’s one thing you received’t discern till you scrutinize the bike. The Benelli branding of the handlebar clamp and grips is a pleasant contact, the tank pads are cool, and we love the lion on the proper facet of the valve cowl. We already lined the dreadful footpegs. You may discover a bar connecting the tail lighting meeting and body. We’ve seen pictures of the Imperiale with fashionable studded leather-based luggage mounted on the bars. We hope Benelli brings them in as an adjunct. As standard, the Benelli has a handy switchblade-style key.

14. The twin clocks are nice, although the bigger numbers are km/h and the tiny numbers mph—not that you need to fear a lot about dashing. You’ll be stunned how usually you’re taking the tach needle into the purple above 6000 rpm. Between the analog-style clocks is a skinny LCD strip. It helpfully shows the gear place and gas degree within the 3.2-gallon tank. The engine has low compression at 8.5:1, so we efficiently ran 87 octane gas.

15. The 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 had me dreaming of doing the Bike Cannonball endurance run. Sure, I do know it’s restricted to bikes constructed earlier than 1933. Nonetheless, when using the Imperiale, you get that feeling of using a genuinely classic bike, albeit with out the attendant worries about one thing going mistaken. Whereas we didn’t have the Imperiale lengthy sufficient to evaluate its reliability, it has earned a superb fame in abroad markets. The Imperiale 400 isn’t a bike for everybody; it’s a distinct segment machine. Nonetheless, if you would like the experience-over-performance ambiance of a mid-1900s traditional bike with the reliability points sorted out and trendy conveniences, this might be your go-to journey with an inventory value below $5k.

Pictures by Kelly Callan

RIDING STYLE

• Helmet: Arai Basic-V
• Hoodie: Roadskin Easyrider II w/ Roadskin CE Degree 2 armor
• Gloves: Joe Rocket Briton
• Denims: Roadskin Taranis Elite
• Boots: Joe Rocket Outbreak

2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Specs

ENGINE

Sort: Single-cylinder

Displacement: 374cc

Bore x stroke: 72.7 x 90mm

Most energy: 21 horsepower @ 5500 rpm

Most torque: 21 ft-lbs @ 4500 rpm

Compression ratio: 8.5:1

Valvetrain: SOHC; 2 valves

Fueling: EFI

Beginning: Electrical

Cooling: Air

Transmission: 5-speed

Clutch: Moist multiplate

Last drive: Chain

CHASSIS

Body: Double-cradle metal

Entrance suspension; journey: Non-adjustable 41mm fork; 4.7 inches

Rear suspension; journey: Spring-preload adjustable shocks; 2.2 inches

Wheels: Tube-type wire-spoke

Tires: Cordial

Entrance tire: 100/90 x 19

Rear tire: 130/80 x 18

Entrance brake: 300mm disc w/ two-piston caliper

Rear brake: 240mm disc w/ two-piston caliper

ABS: Customary

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

Wheelbase: 56.7 inches

Seat peak: 30.7 inches

Gasoline capability: 3.2 gallons

Curb weight: 452 kilos

2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Worth: $4899 MSRP

2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Overview Photograph Gallery