Bought one of these in August and did 3000 miles in the following two months. I love it for what it is..even two up with my missus on the back its ok. Suspension a little harsh but I can live with it. Only alteration Ive done is raise the gearchange lever a notch on the splines and Ive fitted a front mudflap as the front wheel throws a lot of grime up because of too short front mudguard. Also added a rear Givi rack which was the only option and very expensive. Ive been a biker all my life. Now 63yrs and this suits me just fine, leaving my modern bonneville for the daughter to ride as its a bit too clinical for me.
I just bought one of these new £3899 OTR (2023 Euro 5) , silver , so far all I can say is it seems excellent. I had a Jawa 350 and RE Interceptor before ( plus about 60 bikes over last 40 years) . Sure you can see some cost saving elements but other parts ,such as the exhaust are fantastic quality for the price. To put things in perspective I paid £50 more for my electric bicycle than the Benelli - so the Imperiale is crazy good value. I looked at the new RE 350 Classic and Meteor and they are nice but I just preferred the Imperiale's looks
I was set on a Hunter or the cb300r but yesterday I saw one of these in a local dealers for £3499 plus otr with a free 4 year warranty. Even if I sell it a couple of years down the line it will have been cheap biking. I spent over £1000 getting my bike fixed and though the last three mots. Just checked and the battery is in a very accessible place for charging. Was a concern for me having battery issues in the past. The cb300r battery is in a terrible place. I might have to go and have a look at one.
@@letni9506 Hi , well the battery on the Benelli is behind the removable ( with the key) right hand side panel - very easy access should it be required. If you can get one for about £3700 OTR it's a steal ..there are a few model differences between older ones (2019-2020) and new models such as Euro 4 vs Euro 5 and the older models have a painted/sticker Benelli logo on the tank ,on 2021- models it's a 3d stick on badge.
These are actually very good. I know someone that has gone across Europe on one with luggage. Had zero problems in 4000 miles. Not a thing. Rides in mostly dry weather. Really enjoys it. 80 top speed.
Bought mine last January. Have an 07 R1 as well, but spend most of my time on the Emperiale. I love it. Like you said it has a nice little bit of torque even at 60 in 5th you can wind it on to 70/80. One thing you didn't mention which I love is the exhaust noise, it sounds great. Everywhere I go you see people looking around to see where the lovely gurgle is coming from. Nice video, very informative. I hate it when reviewers trundle along everywhere at 45/50 and your dying to know what speed it will do and what the excelleration is like etc. Your video explained everything. 👍
I bought the Leoncino Trail but i must say Benelli did a superb job making this bike look old style ! When i tested it i also noticed the rear brakes actually made to look like an old drum-brake . They really made an effort on this one. Lovely for a good old Sunday ride in the country side. Excellent review mate 👍
In India these go faster on the hi way than the Enfields especially on downhill sections as they are not speed limited to just over 70 mph 5/10 mph can make a huge difference on motorways!. Enfield is better at lower speeds but not by much!. Very underrated bike.
Seen a video regarding the speed. Seems they do 90mph on the clock but 80mph measured by gps. 80mph is decent. As fast as I'd want to go on a naked bike. Shame the speedo is out but at least it doesn't under read the speed.
I have one and 2 friends have one as well. Just over 2k on it. No problems from all 3. Very smooth. Have a bullet too. That has a bit more grunt. 500. But the benelli is way smother and more refined. Quality is excellent. Overall a bit better than the enfield. For the money you can.t go wrong. Oh and it starts like my deauville. Instant and reliable. I was a little worried about it being chinese build , but it's built to benelli spec.
Hi Mark, great review and attention to detail as always from yourself. I seriously considered one of these before I bought my Meteor. Certainly wouldn't discount one of these in the future when I come to change the Enfield. Other than the riding position I too was going to ask how it compared to the Meteor but reading the comments you've already answered the question.🙂. Ignore the criticisers about supporting Chinese bikes etc. You give your view and opinion on what you see and how it rides and it's up to us as potential owners to research the rest as a potential purchase. Look forward to future reviews.
Awesome review Mark - concrete stuff! I had the great pleasure of listening to and watching tested by you motorbikes: Benelli and Royal Enfield 350 especially. Thank you, greetings from PL
Now you've gone and done it Mark! I'd missed this review and I had 99% decided on a RE Classic 350, now I'll have to go and look at one of these Benelli's as well before making my mind up! thanks for another great unbiased review and quality video.
Great to have reviews on this type of bike. I am getting on and when i was young the vast majority of motorcycles for everyday riding were 350-500cc. 500’s were considered big bikes. I had lot of pleasure from my honda cb360 and 500’s. This affordable and enjoyable for many. Most modern cars and motorcycles have more performance than the rider/driver. My friend has 500cc RE and has had many many bikes. Still has a few but his himalayan is now His go to everyday ride to get from A to B. I rode my xmax 250 from uk to spain the long way through France. Think it was around 20hp. Cruised at 65-70 all way. A few years later i brought it back the same way.. … all on 20hp. I am currently choosing prob my last motorcycle and have had surgery so just watching loads of vlogs on bikes. Ive had every sort of bike except a cruiser. Some v. Fast some big sports tourers but this time my shopping list is a retro twin style with analog twin clocks not new stuff. Something i can maintain myself, look and ride for pure pleasure. Think the RE interceptor is winning, though love the rebel you tested but looks awful imo. For a Sunday ride or commute, these bikes can provide economical and pleasurable transport. Its funny how our needs change with age. I used to get asked in spain, xmax on uk plates how did u get that here? When i told them, theirvreaction was on a 250? But had i been on my large sports tourer prob been doin 20mph faster. Love your comprehensive reviews, i genuinely think middle sized bikes are getting popular you can see the number of them on the roads and success of R E. Cheers mark sorry for long comment. Love thise twin clocks
@@markpulling12 yeah have watched that, in fact all your reviews. I think not less than a 500cc for me. Loved that rebel 1100dct just not looks. When leg better will be test riding. Cant wait to try cvt. my scooter, no chain, new belt every 12k. Think we ned belt/shaft for us old uns where chain is a pain. Thanks for replying
@@volt8684 Funny how they questioned you riding to Spain on a 250cc bike. I have an old bound book of The Motorcycle, and there is a story of a chap riding all around Europe on a James 98cc Comet in the early 1950s not long after the WW2. I wonder what they would have thought of that ?
Hello Mark, I watched your review a couple of weeks back and thought it was very thorough. I live in the same area as yourself and I bought my Imperiale back in August. When the weathers good I do take my Imperiale on longer journeys but at the moment I am mainly riding for commuting everyday, a 20 mile round trip, in all winds and weather. So far I am very happy with my Benelli, it has been extremely reliable and very economical, I'm getting 100 miles on 8 quid of fuel. My Imperiale is great fun and easy to ride and I look forward to getting on it every morning at 6am for the journey to work, this is something that I can safely say that I didn't enjoy doing on my last bike, a Triumph America but that bike wasn't really built for commuting! The build quality of the Imperiale is OK, not great but OK, it's not up there with the Japanese stuff but for the cheap price point you can't really complain and I am definitely not complaining. There was only one part of your review that I wanted to pick up on and that is the throttle response when down gear changing in heavy traffic, the throttle response is very 'jerky', this is quite a well known issue with these Imperiale's and I have managed to smooth mine out nicely by taking all of the free play on the twist grip. Anyway all in all I would recommend the Imperiale highly to anyone who like's the retro bike look without the cost of a Triumph. Keep up the good work Mark and I look forward to watching more of your reviews!
@@hibstillidie Hello, yes and yes! Corrosion has been an issue, almost all the shiny parts started to corrode quite early in my ownership, centre of front disc, the 'chrome' grab handles that are situated bellow the pillion pad, the rear shocks, engine casing bolt heads, many of the fixing nuts, bolts and washers and also the rear wheel rim and spokes. I have addressed all of these issues now which included getting a pair of stainless steel wheel rims with stainless steel spokes made which you might think is complete madness but I still think my Imperiale is a great bike to ride. It now has 5500 miles on the clock, I still use it everyday and other than the rust problems the bike has been put together very well. The bike does have its 'quirks' but it has been very reliable and great fun to ride. Read through this thread and you'll find more detail in to what I have done to my Imperiale to sort the corrosion issues out www.benelliforum.com/threads/trying-to-find-fellow-imperiale-riders.32097/ Cheers, Jerry
@@jerrysaunders4341 brill thanks for that comprehensive answer. Rust is my biggest fear as I live on the coast, the beach is literally at the end of my road. Bikes I’ve had in the past have been the more mainstream makes that have held up well when looked after. So I’m apprehensive about Chinese bikes only due to rusting issues. I’ll take a wee look at the thread you sent. Thanks again
Great comment. But made me remember in 2001 I had a rover v6 which cost me exactly the same for 100 miles. Makes me shudder but this is an amazing gem of a bike! I have a 2006 Daytona which I love and had for a very long time. She indoors says I need a smaller bike🙃I’m going to agree and buy one of these and keep the Daytona.I bet I Use it everyday.! 👍🛶
I bought a second hand this summer as my first bike. I really like it. Fast enough for me except on the highway, maybe. It also needs a bit of extra-space to make a U-turn. If you notice that other vehicles cue up behind you, then just go a bit faster. You have to do 60km/h on the clock if you want to do 50 in reality and you have to do 85 on the clock if you want to do 70😀😀
Nice looking bike but I wish they would delete the heat shield on the header pipe. I can't see why this is necessary and it spoils the look of the exhaust. Overall it seems better than I expected, and good value.
The thing I notice about these bikes (R Enfield too) in reviews is their weight. Over 200kg for a single cylinder 400 seems a bit porky to me. I like the centre stand.
I have a Meteor and have had a test ride on the Benelli. I found the handling on to be Benelli to be rather twitchy and the RE is finished to a higher standard.
Hi Mark Martin from Ireland here own 1 for last 2 years 80 to the gallon low torque in 6 ft 1 fits me great abs works great be warned never take off the mirrors cause they are only threaded once and threads no good even to change mirrors also side pads on tank fell off in heavy rain impossible to glue again suspension is soft on back but seat is what you say it plods away all day great in wind rain and narrow roads fine on motorway but if you don't ride it much it takes a while to warm up but on long runs perfect tires brakes after 2 years 5000mls still OK I just changed oil and plugs tightened chain once and greased it nothing else as they say if its not broken don't brake it. Mine has a snatchy throttle but if never adjusted it there's a little play in it my fault great review 6000e new in ireland
I bought one of these in July last year. It has been pretty faultless since. I guess it's aimed at the rider who is happy with themselves and have nothing to prove to their peers. It is super comfortable to ride and a great commuter bike. The fun thing is that people mistake it for a classic bike from the 60s all the time. I have other bikes to ride but often take this one for the fun factor alone!
Good review of a handsome looking retro bike. I don’t understand the problem with bikes from China - I owned a Mutt Motorcycle and it was great, no issues and build quality was very good. Look forward to watching further reviews 👍
I have a Mash Falcone 125 and it's not bad. 2000 km so far and what was wrong is repaired in warranty. I only had to pay 75 euro for the oil and filter and so on. Carolynne my godchild and me are driving it, she is e learning driver for bikes, 26 years old, has her car license for 8 years. I did a tour of 181 km in one day on it and no problem, only uses 2,6L / 100lkm. It's Chinese build.
@@philhesmondhalgh Thanks Phil. Bought a Trident 660, still waiting for the license plate. The Mash was specially bought for that purpose and it's fun to drive on the slow roads. I still have seven Yamaha FZR 1000 Exup and one FZ1 Fazer. Not all the FZR are running bikes but now that I am retired I try to find the time. Yes ten bikes now, you need a hobby isn't.
Just tried one yesterday. My impression was it felt a bit cheaper than a RE. Also it seemed to be an Interceptor sized bike but with a Classic 350 powered engine so felt a bit underpowered for its mass.
Hi Mark, bought mine in March 2021 , Beautiful bike..but here in Malaysia I have to wait the morning or evening ride...too hot over here..! Really a strong, economy and reliable bike..The RE is very much expensive in Malaysia! Cheers bro.... Morzz..
While it's a nice bike, it's still essentially a Chinese bike, and if it comes to this or the Indian built meteor I think I'd go for the royal enfield, not least because they have a much greater connection with the British biking scene, but the benelli is not so much of an historical British bike, obviously its Italian heritage, but my heart is towards the royal enfield, better warranty too
You loyalty is misplaced really, the Chinese have been making small capacity bikes for donkeys years and are very good at it, what means of transport do you think drove the revolution, that's right, small capacity, cheap, reliable and economical bikes.
I was expecting this question ! So close ...but for me in this 20 hp 75 mph category...the RE just wins for me because I like the feet forward laid back cruiser style of the meteor But they are both brilliant and similar quality and performance Cheers mark
Hi ....well they are both very different...the Benelli is a plodder bike with 20 HP for cruising down country lanes...the zontes has 40 HP and is much revvier...for fun I'd go for the zontes .. but personally I've bought the new royal Enfield hunter 350 ....I just wanted a bike to potter about on ...best wishes mark
Good review Mark. Looking at this as a possible second bike. Do you think it could tour and handle decent periods of motorway miles with breaks etc?... And after you tested the meteor which of the two bikes do you think would be the best ride/buy. I'm 5ft7, 30 inside leg and 145 lbs in weight. Thanks Mark.
Hi Paul yes it could definitely handle some long rides ... definitely a pottering type bike at 60 ish mph ...they are both great vfm ££ Personally I just prefer the meteor engine and ride quality but the imperialle is a very close second Cheers mark
I have a Royal Enfield Classic 500. A bit more power and torque and a machine as handsome as they come, however this is a very close competitor to it. If I hadn't bought the Enfield one of these would be in my garage. I'm trading in a BMW F800ST for Benelli Leoncino 500, sometimes less really is more. Beautiful bike and another great review. Keep up the good work.
Really good review. Im considering this bike. Trading in my Honda vfr800x crossrunner. I had a Honda CB400T many years ago, slow but simple fun. Along with 60 other bikes in 35 years. One thing I noticed is Benelli decided to give the fuel cap a more modern look. A twist style would have been a nice touch?
@@farouqomaro598 Whilst I don't mind either way, my research confirms Chinese built, then back to pesaro (headquarters of benelli QJ) for quality control, before heading to Europe. 🤔
@@Grahamvfr I think the Chinese are pretty good at making stuff these days. Its a huge country obviously. Maybe we have some outdated views on Chinese quality. I think mostly it's the materials used that people are unsure of. But most bikes are built in India and east Asia these days
@@letni9506 China is great at building things to a defined cost. If Europe wants it cheap, China can make it as cheap, as Europe wants it. The quality will match the specified price. Over a decade ago the products made for upper class domestic market in China were already of very high quality, rivalling Japanese, with a price tag to match, but of brands unknown in Europe, so impossible to sell here at that price. Instead of building brands for European markets from scratch, Chinese companies started buying known European brands to sell their high/higher quality products here. I think this bike is an example of this.
Looks an attractive fun bike. Interesting how tastes change in that Benelli can market a bike that's 50kg heavier, less powerful and slower than a Honda CB72 from 60 years ago. 😀
The clocks look great, the bike overall looks excellent, although when you show a close-up some of the details look very cheap. Benelli reliability and fuel injection have been issues on some of their bikes.
Hi! I'm from Poland . I like your benelli imperiale 400 video. Do you know how the valve clearances on imperiale 400 are adjusted? Is it traditionally with screws or modern with tiles?
Hi dariusz. I've just had a look and can't find any info on this ...I would think they are screw and locknut type I'll ask my local mechanic when I see him Best wishes mark
Was hoping the 530 would appear but no luck. I like this and the RE Hunter but really need just a little more power . These are the same performance as my gn250. The new triumph speed 400 looks the biz though... Good review Mark.
lovely lookin little bike there the is really nice and if they did a 750-800 twin just like that one I would certainly consider owning one Nice one Mark cheers : )
Hi Mark. I like this style of bike... Looking at the RE 350 classic, but this is also interesting. In your opinion, and purely asking as I know you have ridden both, which is the better option? Looks and possibly build on RE better, but Benelli has charm too. Any input welcome amigo. Taa
Hi Anthony the benelli Is a fine bike for the money but I would 100% spend the bit more and get the classic...it's build quality is better and the engine is a peach Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Thank you Sir. I really appreciate the time you have taken to reply to me. Solid advice. I live in Thailand and both are exactly the same price... Super great value here. Again, sincere thanks Mark.
Hmmm.... I'll be honest. My interest in modern Benellis was sparked by the Leoncino 500, but I keep coming across nice reviews of the Imperiale 400... and I think I'm steadily being seduced by that steady, thumping beat of the engine - that and the fact it doesn't vibrate, plus other positive things... and that engine again, which says "I may not set the world on fire, but I'll still be here, going thump, thump, thump, for years to come".
I saw one of these the other day in Chiang Rai. It didn't have a big box on the back. Why does everyone quote N m instead of ft/lb nowadays? Benellis have a good reputation in Thailand. I wouldn't want one, but someone over here has been riding a 500 Leoncino for a couple of years, and it has been faultless. He fairly raves about it. I'd rather have my 390, though. Much lighter. Another very thorough review telling us all we could want to know.
Hi nik ....I actually have decided to get a 390 duke myself for a bit if lightweight fun :) be a while before I get on though It's NM most of the time because that's what is on the manufacturers websites Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Good decision to buy a 390. There are a couple of cheap modifications that transform them. I'll tell you about them closer to the date.
@@1990-t1j thanks nik ....yes I have ridden the 690 duke alot and obviously the bigger ones too .....but just want a little fun bike to wizz on and the 390 is a class leader ... hopefully in the next few months ....I want the 2017 model with orange tank :)
Hi Rob ...royal Enfield meteor is better in every way ...build quality and engine is just that bit nicer ...the Benelli is fine but I'd go for the meteor regards mark
Hi Marcus the benelli is a nice bike and a bit cheaper but me personally I'd go for the royal Enfield it rides so nicely and it's engine is a peach Best regards mark
Good review. Looking at getting one of these, and appreciate you doing dual carriageway driving on it, and not just low speeds around country roads. Nice.
I really like the look of the bike.Enjoyed your comments and I’m going to look at the new Royal Enfield (classic ) as well as the Benelli. Not sure if the Honda 350 is coming to the U.K. and that gets good reviews also. Spoilt for choice I think.
Nice review Mark. In the market for a reasonably priced localish run about with occasional pillion. Down to the Meteor RE and the classic. This could be in the mix. Which one grabbed your heart strings would you buy?😄
Hi, I would like to ask you, after turning on the key should turn on the ABS indicator light and after driving 5km it should go out. On your motorcycle and on mine this indicator light is not on, instead the engine error indicator light is on, but it goes out when you start the engine. I asked about this and was told that the ABS light must be on and the engine error indicator light should go out in a few seconds when the key is on and not only after starting. How do you see it, what is your opinion on it? Thanks a lot for your reply.
@@markpulling12 Hi, that's true, but the ABS light should come on when the key is turned on, but it should go off after the motorcycle is started. Nothing like that happens and there is a possibility that the ABS is not working. The Benelli dealer advised me to visit an authorized Benelli service center and have the motorcycle connected for diagnostics to find out which errors were loaded there and what is wrong. Tomorrow I'm going for a ride, as they say around the chimney, so hopefully everything will be OK, I wish you a nice day.
The brake pedal, side stand and other parts look exactly the same as on my Honda CB125f. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were built in the same factory. I think this bike looks nice, a very new bike that looks proper old. A proper modern classic. 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Adam ....I'd get the Enfield ...much nicer build quality and smoother engine ...not much in the top speed really ..they are both 20 ish HP Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 thanks for the swift reply! My wife has denied me a bike for years. Last one I owned was a 2001 cbr600f. She won't let me have anything fast now we have kids. I was never concerned with speed really though acceleration was welcome up to 70mph at times. I see these bikes as a gateway to biking again. I live in the Peak District now so hopefully it can handle the hills at 60mph.
Hi Steven tough choice as they are both great ....think I'd go for the meteor firstly because I like the cruiser style and position and the meteors build quality is even up a notch now from the previous good RE models cheers mark
hi mark. after watching your review i bought one of these i have been really impressed it is lovely to ride and very economical. the only problem i've found was it needed a mud flap on the front mudguard .
Thanks for this beautiful review. That's a lovely classic bike. I'm really thinking about trading my NC 750 X for one of this...Or a RE 350 Classic....
Sadly owning the Chinelli Imperiale you learn many things about this machine, now the winge! Speedo reads 40 actual your doing 30, suspension is crap, vastly oversprung with next to no damping, and poor fueling! I kept mine for 1500 miles but in the end through in the towel, the Imperiale is poor compared to a friends Meteor in a price and size comparison.
Thanks for the update John ...yes most Chinese speedos over read quite a bit ...that's why I kind of emphasized "indicated speed ' in the video Regards mark
@@johnrocker2986 I.ve not measured it. But it is over. Most are. Think this is a couple more than normal. Mind I.ve had bmw.s with repeatedly failing speedo.s. 😁 known fault on old k.s
But these bikes aren't short- or -medium-height-people-friendly; even if you lower the seat height, it still would be an intimidating deal for guys of average height; between 5.4 and 5.6. It is much heavier than Enfield. This ensures better riding stability, though. This has to be and is a better deal than Enfield in terms of smoothness of the ride and suspension, so you can drive this at least 50 miles nonstop at a stretch. This has to be one bike which says what it does and does what it says. And for the price you pay, it truly is worth it.
@@markpulling12 Keep up the good work on these great videos , if Benelli wanted to sell these in Australia/New Zealand they would sell very well , a perfect bike for our roads . Like you say the RE Meteor killer , the Meteor's are selling very well here
I have one, very impressed so far...does everything it says on the tin, no faults and lovely to ride.
Thanks Andy sounds great 👍
Got my brand new MT03 for the same price...
@@shardlake that's a great price !
Have you had the first service yay Andy
@@Eastsussexbiker did it myself, genuine filter and top quality oil !
I've watched this video multiple times. I finally bought my own last night. Rode in the rain going home. Fun first experience.
I"ve had one of these for about 2 years now, recently fitted new rear tyre and aftermarket rear shocks and the bike is completely transformed now.👍
Bought one of these in August and did 3000 miles in the following two months. I love it for what it is..even two up with my missus on the back its ok. Suspension a little harsh but I can live with it. Only alteration Ive done is raise the gearchange lever a notch on the splines and Ive fitted a front mudflap as the front wheel throws a lot of grime up because of too short front mudguard. Also added a rear Givi rack which was the only option and very expensive. Ive been a biker all my life. Now 63yrs and this suits me just fine, leaving my modern bonneville for the daughter to ride as its a bit too clinical for me.
Thanks ...glad it's going well ,:)
Nice review Mark, it's good that you are not doing only the mainstream brands but everything that you can ride. Thanks Mark.
Thanks Jay ...I really enjoy these non mainstream brands they are fun !
Cheers mark.
I just bought one of these new £3899 OTR (2023 Euro 5) , silver , so far all I can say is it seems excellent. I had a Jawa 350 and RE Interceptor before ( plus about 60 bikes over last 40 years) . Sure you can see some cost saving elements but other parts ,such as the exhaust are fantastic quality for the price. To put things in perspective I paid £50 more for my electric bicycle than the Benelli - so the Imperiale is crazy good value. I looked at the new RE 350 Classic and Meteor and they are nice but I just preferred the Imperiale's looks
I was set on a Hunter or the cb300r but yesterday I saw one of these in a local dealers for £3499 plus otr with a free 4 year warranty.
Even if I sell it a couple of years down the line it will have been cheap biking.
I spent over £1000 getting my bike fixed and though the last three mots.
Just checked and the battery is in a very accessible place for charging. Was a concern for me having battery issues in the past.
The cb300r battery is in a terrible place.
I might have to go and have a look at one.
@@letni9506 Hi , well the battery on the Benelli is behind the removable ( with the key) right hand side panel - very easy access should it be required.
If you can get one for about £3700 OTR it's a steal ..there are a few model differences between older ones (2019-2020) and new models such as Euro 4 vs Euro 5 and the older models have a painted/sticker Benelli logo on the tank ,on 2021- models it's a 3d stick on badge.
Hey Mark. Would a different silencer make it sound nicer?
These are actually very good. I know someone that has gone across Europe on one with luggage. Had zero problems in 4000 miles. Not a thing. Rides in mostly dry weather. Really enjoys it. 80 top speed.
Bought mine last January. Have an 07 R1 as well, but spend most of my time on the Emperiale. I love it. Like you said it has a nice little bit of torque even at 60 in 5th you can wind it on to 70/80. One thing you didn't mention which I love is the exhaust noise, it sounds great. Everywhere I go you see people looking around to see where the lovely gurgle is coming from. Nice video, very informative. I hate it when reviewers trundle along everywhere at 45/50 and your dying to know what speed it will do and what the excelleration is like etc. Your video explained everything. 👍
Thanks Paul
I bought the Leoncino Trail but i must say Benelli did a superb job making this bike look old style ! When i tested it i also noticed the rear brakes actually made to look like an old drum-brake . They really made an effort on this one. Lovely for a good old Sunday ride in the country side. Excellent review mate 👍
Thanks James yes funny enough I looked at the rear wheel and thought it was a drum brake at first !
Cheers mark
Good evening Mark , thankyou for an excellent review with NO intrusive music and NO waffle 🤝
In India these go faster on the hi way than the Enfields especially on downhill sections as they are not speed limited to just over 70 mph 5/10 mph can make a huge difference on motorways!. Enfield is better at lower speeds but not by much!. Very underrated bike.
Seen a video regarding the speed. Seems they do 90mph on the clock but 80mph measured by gps.
80mph is decent. As fast as I'd want to go on a naked bike.
Shame the speedo is out but at least it doesn't under read the speed.
I have one and 2 friends have one as well. Just over 2k on it. No problems from all 3. Very smooth. Have a bullet too. That has a bit more grunt. 500. But the benelli is way smother and more refined. Quality is excellent. Overall a bit better than the enfield. For the money you can.t go wrong. Oh and it starts like my deauville. Instant and reliable. I was a little worried about it being chinese build , but it's built to benelli spec.
Thanks Charlie sounds great 👍
Hi Mark, great review and attention to detail as always from yourself. I seriously considered one of these before I bought my Meteor. Certainly wouldn't discount one of these in the future when I come to change the Enfield. Other than the riding position I too was going to ask how it compared to the Meteor but reading the comments you've already answered the question.🙂. Ignore the criticisers about supporting Chinese bikes etc. You give your view and opinion on what you see and how it rides and it's up to us as potential owners to research the rest as a potential purchase. Look forward to future reviews.
Awesome review Mark - concrete stuff! I had the great pleasure of listening to and watching tested by you motorbikes: Benelli and Royal Enfield 350 especially. Thank you, greetings from PL
Now you've gone and done it Mark! I'd missed this review and I had 99% decided on a RE Classic 350, now I'll have to go and look at one of these Benelli's as well before making my mind up! thanks for another great unbiased review and quality video.
Save your time if you like the looks of your recent purchase.
Great to have reviews on this type of bike. I am getting on and when i was young the vast majority of motorcycles for everyday riding were 350-500cc. 500’s were considered big bikes. I had lot of pleasure from my honda cb360 and 500’s. This affordable and enjoyable for many.
Most modern cars and motorcycles have more performance than the rider/driver.
My friend has 500cc RE and has had many many bikes. Still has a few but his himalayan is now
His go to everyday ride to get from A to B.
I rode my xmax 250 from uk to spain the long way through France. Think it was around 20hp. Cruised at 65-70 all way. A few years later i brought it back the same way.. … all on 20hp. I am currently choosing prob my last motorcycle and have had surgery so just watching loads of vlogs on bikes. Ive had every sort of bike except a cruiser. Some v. Fast some big sports tourers but this time my shopping list is a retro twin style with analog twin clocks not new stuff. Something i can maintain myself, look and ride for pure pleasure. Think the RE interceptor is winning, though love the rebel you tested but looks awful imo. For a Sunday ride or commute, these bikes can provide economical and pleasurable transport.
Its funny how our needs change with age. I used to get asked in spain, xmax on uk plates how did u get that here? When i told them, theirvreaction was on a 250? But had i been on my large sports tourer prob been doin 20mph faster.
Love your comprehensive reviews, i genuinely think middle sized bikes are getting popular you can see the number of them on the roads and success of R E. Cheers mark sorry for long comment. Love thise twin clocks
Thanks for the great comment ...check out the RE meteor aswell :). Best regards mark
@@markpulling12 yeah have watched that, in fact all your reviews. I think not less than a 500cc for me. Loved that rebel 1100dct just not looks. When leg better will be test riding. Cant wait to try cvt. my scooter, no chain, new belt every 12k. Think we ned belt/shaft for us old uns where chain is a pain. Thanks for replying
@@volt8684
Funny how they questioned you riding to Spain on a 250cc bike. I have an old bound book of The Motorcycle, and there is a story of a chap riding all around Europe on a James 98cc Comet in the early 1950s not long after the WW2. I wonder what they would have thought of that ?
Hello Mark, I watched your review a couple of weeks back and thought it was very thorough. I live in the same area as yourself and I bought my Imperiale back in August. When the weathers good I do take my Imperiale on longer journeys but at the moment I am mainly riding for commuting everyday, a 20 mile round trip, in all winds and weather. So far I am very happy with my Benelli, it has been extremely reliable and very economical, I'm getting 100 miles on 8 quid of fuel. My Imperiale is great fun and easy to ride and I look forward to getting on it every morning at 6am for the journey to work, this is something that I can safely say that I didn't enjoy doing on my last bike, a Triumph America but that bike wasn't really built for commuting! The build quality of the Imperiale is OK, not great but OK, it's not up there with the Japanese stuff but for the cheap price point you can't really complain and I am definitely not complaining. There was only one part of your review that I wanted to pick up on and that is the throttle response when down gear changing in heavy traffic, the throttle response is very 'jerky', this is quite a well known issue with these Imperiale's and I have managed to smooth mine out nicely by taking all of the free play on the twist grip. Anyway all in all I would recommend the Imperiale highly to anyone who like's the retro bike look without the cost of a Triumph. Keep up the good work Mark and I look forward to watching more of your reviews!
Thanks Jerry sounds great
Cheers mark
Hi. Just wondering if you still have the bike? Also if it’s faced any issues mainly in build quality and/or rusting issues?
@@hibstillidie Hello, yes and yes! Corrosion has been an issue, almost all the shiny parts started to corrode quite early in my ownership, centre of front disc, the 'chrome' grab handles that are situated bellow the pillion pad, the rear shocks, engine casing bolt heads, many of the fixing nuts, bolts and washers and also the rear wheel rim and spokes. I have addressed all of these issues now which included getting a pair of stainless steel wheel rims with stainless steel spokes made which you might think is complete madness but I still think my Imperiale is a great bike to ride. It now has 5500 miles on the clock, I still use it everyday and other than the rust problems the bike has been put together very well. The bike does have its 'quirks' but it has been very reliable and great fun to ride. Read through this thread and you'll find more detail in to what I have done to my Imperiale to sort the corrosion issues out www.benelliforum.com/threads/trying-to-find-fellow-imperiale-riders.32097/
Cheers, Jerry
@@jerrysaunders4341 brill thanks for that comprehensive answer. Rust is my biggest fear as I live on the coast, the beach is literally at the end of my road. Bikes I’ve had in the past have been the more mainstream makes that have held up well when looked after. So I’m apprehensive about Chinese bikes only due to rusting issues. I’ll take a wee look at the thread you sent. Thanks again
Great comment. But made me remember in 2001 I had a rover v6 which cost me exactly the same for 100 miles. Makes me shudder but this is an amazing gem of a bike! I have a 2006 Daytona which I love and had for a very long time. She indoors says I need a smaller bike🙃I’m going to agree and buy one of these and keep the Daytona.I bet I Use it everyday.! 👍🛶
I bought a second hand this summer as my first bike. I really like it. Fast enough for me except on the highway, maybe. It also needs a bit of extra-space to make a U-turn.
If you notice that other vehicles cue up behind you, then just go a bit faster. You have to do 60km/h on the clock if you want to do 50 in reality and you have to do 85 on the clock if you want to do 70😀😀
Nice looking bike but I wish they would delete the heat shield on the header pipe. I can't see why this is necessary and it spoils the look of the exhaust. Overall it seems better than I expected, and good value.
Nice video and great motobike. I have the Benelli Imperiale 400 - black color, greetings from Czech republic.
always like your reviews Mark, they hit the nail on the head ,everything you need to know, and nothing you dont
The thing I notice about these bikes (R Enfield too) in reviews is their weight. Over 200kg for a single cylinder 400 seems a bit porky to me. I like the centre stand.
Yes Clive I guess it's because they don't tend to use as much lightweight alloy and plastics as the Japanese bikes ...just a thought 💭
@@markpulling12 I think It is due to the high use of steel instead of aluminium.
Steel is real
My thoughts too but once your"e underway it feels quite nimble and the weight is an advantage on motorways and dual carriageways or if its windy.
I have a Meteor and have had a test ride on the Benelli. I found the handling on to be Benelli to be rather twitchy and the RE is finished to a higher standard.
Thanks Nicola yes the build quality on the meteor is up a level from their other models
Cheers mark
I like the music intro, its very relaxing. Just like the nature of the bike, relaxing.
Thanks Jojo ...that was the plan :)
Hi Mark Martin from Ireland here own 1 for last 2 years 80 to the gallon low torque in 6 ft 1 fits me great abs works great be warned never take off the mirrors cause they are only threaded once and threads no good even to change mirrors also side pads on tank fell off in heavy rain impossible to glue again suspension is soft on back but seat is what you say it plods away all day great in wind rain and narrow roads fine on motorway but if you don't ride it much it takes a while to warm up but on long runs perfect tires brakes after 2 years 5000mls still OK I just changed oil and plugs tightened chain once and greased it nothing else as they say if its not broken don't brake it. Mine has a snatchy throttle but if never adjusted it there's a little play in it my fault great review 6000e new in ireland
I bought one of these in July last year. It has been pretty faultless since. I guess it's aimed at the rider who is happy with themselves and have nothing to prove to their peers. It is super comfortable to ride and a great commuter bike. The fun thing is that people mistake it for a classic bike from the 60s all the time. I have other bikes to ride but often take this one for the fun factor alone!
Thanks Greg glad it's going well 😊
Good review of a handsome looking retro bike. I don’t understand the problem with bikes from China - I owned a Mutt Motorcycle and it was great, no issues and build quality was very good. Look forward to watching further reviews 👍
Thanks Phil yes I like these too ...as long as you keep on top of them with maintenance they are fine .:)
I have a Mash Falcone 125 and it's not bad. 2000 km so far and what was wrong is repaired in warranty. I only had to pay 75 euro for the oil and filter and so on. Carolynne my godchild and me are driving it, she is e learning driver for bikes, 26 years old, has her car license for 8 years. I did a tour of 181 km in one day on it and no problem, only uses 2,6L / 100lkm. It's Chinese build.
@@Jay_Speed the mash bikes look cool 😎
@@Jay_Speed Brilliant! Happy motorcycling to you and your Godchild 👍
@@philhesmondhalgh Thanks Phil. Bought a Trident 660, still waiting for the license plate. The Mash was specially bought for that purpose and it's fun to drive on the slow roads. I still have seven Yamaha FZR 1000 Exup and one FZ1 Fazer. Not all the FZR are running bikes but now that I am retired I try to find the time. Yes ten bikes now, you need a hobby isn't.
Just tried one yesterday. My impression was it felt a bit cheaper than a RE. Also it seemed to be an Interceptor sized bike but with a Classic 350 powered engine so felt a bit underpowered for its mass.
Hi Mark, bought mine in March 2021 , Beautiful bike..but here in Malaysia I have to wait the morning or evening ride...too hot over here..! Really a strong, economy and reliable bike..The RE is very much expensive in Malaysia! Cheers bro.... Morzz..
Hi morzz thanks ... greetings to Malaysia ...wish it was warm here it's 5c at the moment !! Cheers mark
While it's a nice bike, it's still essentially a Chinese bike, and if it comes to this or the Indian built meteor I think I'd go for the royal enfield, not least because they have a much greater connection with the British biking scene, but the benelli is not so much of an historical British bike, obviously its Italian heritage, but my heart is towards the royal enfield, better warranty too
Thanks Kevin ☺️
You loyalty is misplaced really, the Chinese have been making small capacity bikes for donkeys years and are very good at it, what means of transport do you think drove the revolution, that's right, small capacity, cheap, reliable and economical bikes.
@@onecookieboy china makes most of the things we have in our homes these days aswell ! :) Lol
@@markpulling12 Unfortunately.
@@stevepalmer5670 Most Chinese made appliances / vehicles etc are better quality than that of other countries nowadays .
Another thorough review. Excellent stuff.
Push comes to shove, and both similar money - would you go for this or the RE Meteor? ☺
I was expecting this question !
So close ...but for me in this 20 hp 75 mph category...the RE just wins for me because I like the feet forward laid back cruiser style of the meteor
But they are both brilliant and similar quality and performance
Cheers mark
For a low budget or beginner rider this or the Meteor would make for great transportation. Excellent review as always.
Cheers Nathan yes they are both great value ☺️
Nice review, just found one for £2700 from 2021/4k km and im getting it to keep in south Italy :)
Sounds great thanks Dino :)
A nice looking bike. So, between this and the Zontes GK350, which would you choose and why?
Hi ....well they are both very different...the Benelli is a plodder bike with 20 HP for cruising down country lanes...the zontes has 40 HP and is much revvier...for fun I'd go for the zontes .. but personally I've bought the new royal Enfield hunter 350 ....I just wanted a bike to potter about on ...best wishes mark
Hi mark nice intro music class and awesome review as always
My pleasure Jim
Nice thoroughly reviewed. Hello from Greece!
Good review Mark. Looking at this as a possible second bike. Do you think it could tour and handle decent periods of motorway miles with breaks etc?... And after you tested the meteor which of the two bikes do you think would be the best ride/buy. I'm 5ft7, 30 inside leg and 145 lbs in weight. Thanks Mark.
Hi Paul yes it could definitely handle some long rides ... definitely a pottering type bike at 60 ish mph ...they are both great vfm ££
Personally I just prefer the meteor engine and ride quality but the imperialle is a very close second
Cheers mark
I have a Royal Enfield Classic 500. A bit more power and torque and a machine as handsome as they come, however this is a very close competitor to it. If I hadn't bought the Enfield one of these would be in my garage. I'm trading in a BMW F800ST for Benelli Leoncino 500, sometimes less really is more. Beautiful bike and another great review. Keep up the good work.
Many thanks Kevin 😊
Really good review. Im considering this bike. Trading in my Honda vfr800x crossrunner. I had a Honda CB400T many years ago, slow but simple fun. Along with 60 other bikes in 35 years.
One thing I noticed is Benelli decided to give the fuel cap a more modern look. A twist style would have been a nice touch?
it seems like a pretty solid motorcycle, i want to own one... and kept it through generations
Great review Mark!. Re other comments: It's Italian Benelli, built in China, just like Triumphs built in Thailand and Yamahas built in France.
Thanks graham
They are still built in Pesaro, Italy despite the Chinese takeover
@@farouqomaro598 Whilst I don't mind either way, my research confirms Chinese built, then back to pesaro (headquarters of benelli QJ) for quality control, before heading to Europe. 🤔
@@Grahamvfr I think the Chinese are pretty good at making stuff these days.
Its a huge country obviously. Maybe we have some outdated views on Chinese quality.
I think mostly it's the materials used that people are unsure of.
But most bikes are built in India and east Asia these days
@@letni9506 China is great at building things to a defined cost. If Europe wants it cheap, China can make it as cheap, as Europe wants it. The quality will match the specified price. Over a decade ago the products made for upper class domestic market in China were already of very high quality, rivalling Japanese, with a price tag to match, but of brands unknown in Europe, so impossible to sell here at that price. Instead of building brands for European markets from scratch, Chinese companies started buying known European brands to sell their high/higher quality products here. I think this bike is an example of this.
Looks an attractive fun bike. Interesting how tastes change in that Benelli can market a bike that's 50kg heavier, less powerful and slower than a Honda CB72 from 60 years ago. 😀
The clocks look great, the bike overall looks excellent, although when you show a close-up some of the details look very cheap. Benelli reliability and fuel injection have been issues on some of their bikes.
looks a nice bike , noticed the made in china sticker didnt stay on for long !!! lovely colour . nice review .
Many thanks 😊
Great review mark, this is similar to my Suzuki tu250x…I do like the looks of these classic style bikes .
Be well, looking forward to the next review!
Many thanks tom
Hi! I'm from Poland . I like your benelli imperiale 400 video. Do you know how the valve clearances on imperiale 400 are adjusted? Is it traditionally with screws or modern with tiles?
Hi dariusz. I've just had a look and can't find any info on this ...I would think they are screw and locknut type
I'll ask my local mechanic when I see him
Best wishes mark
Thank you and wait for info
Love the styling! Thanks!
Who makes the engine ? Is it not the same one as the Jawa ? The mirrors seem to be good.
Hi Jay it's made by Chinese giants
Qianjiang cheers mark
Nice looking little machine but what's the deal with the heat shield on the down pipe, it looks terrible..
Was hoping the 530 would appear but no luck. I like this and the RE Hunter but really need just a little more power . These are the same performance as my gn250. The new triumph speed 400 looks the biz though... Good review Mark.
good review! I use my Benelli to commute and topspeed is adequate; all in all very satisfied! where did you purchase the support for the topcase?
Sorry don't know it's a demo bike ..I'll ask next time im in the shop :)
lovely lookin little bike there the is really nice and if they did a 750-800 twin just like that one I would certainly consider owning one Nice one Mark cheers : )
Thanks Malcolm
Hi Mark, looks like a nice wee bike for a lazy Sunday ride. Any chance you could get your hands on the MT-01to review?
Thanks Craig I'll keep a look out for the mt. 01
Hi Mark. I like this style of bike... Looking at the RE 350 classic, but this is also interesting. In your opinion, and purely asking as I know you have ridden both, which is the better option? Looks and possibly build on RE better, but Benelli has charm too. Any input welcome amigo. Taa
Hi Anthony the benelli Is a fine bike for the money but I would 100% spend the bit more and get the classic...it's build quality is better and the engine is a peach
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Thank you Sir. I really appreciate the time you have taken to reply to me. Solid advice. I live in Thailand and both are exactly the same price... Super great value here. Again, sincere thanks Mark.
I own one Imperiale 2021. At Portugal.
Changed the rear suspension.
It's a good value for the money.
Could be more faster...
Hmmm.... I'll be honest. My interest in modern Benellis was sparked by the Leoncino 500, but I keep coming across nice reviews of the Imperiale 400... and I think I'm steadily being seduced by that steady, thumping beat of the engine - that and the fact it doesn't vibrate, plus other positive things... and that engine again, which says "I may not set the world on fire, but I'll still be here, going thump, thump, thump, for years to come".
absolutely agree with you re the clocks, much superior to the lcd things. Is the odometer in kilometres or miles?
Hi Steve it's in miles :)
It's got to be in miles to fit British regs , you would only get kilometres showing on an import .
You can switch it from kilometers to miles and vice versa by one of the buttons on the dash.
Great fair review as always Mark. A lot of bike for the money. Does it have ABS or are the brakes linked ?
Hi John thanks ...no this has abs :)
I saw one of these the other day in Chiang Rai. It didn't have a big box on the back. Why does everyone quote N m instead of ft/lb nowadays? Benellis have a good reputation in Thailand. I wouldn't want one, but someone over here has been riding a 500 Leoncino for a couple of years, and it has been faultless. He fairly raves about it. I'd rather have my 390, though. Much lighter.
Another very thorough review telling us all we could want to know.
Hi nik ....I actually have decided to get a 390 duke myself for a bit if lightweight fun :) be a while before I get on though
It's NM most of the time because that's what is on the manufacturers websites
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Good decision to buy a 390. There are a couple of cheap modifications that transform them. I'll tell you about them closer to the date.
@@1990-t1j thanks nik ....yes I have ridden the 690 duke alot and obviously the bigger ones too .....but just want a little fun bike to wizz on and the 390 is a class leader ... hopefully in the next few months ....I want the 2017 model with orange tank :)
Great review! Also test drove it but went for a Bonneville T100. That top box on the Benelli, who does that? 😂
Thanks for the comment 🙂
You probably should've gone with the rocket 3.
Looks like a love child of a W650, SR500 and CB125
The main competitor to,this,is the Enfield meteor I believe. Which one is the better bike in your opinion?
Hi Rob ...royal Enfield meteor is better in every way ...build quality and engine is just that bit nicer ...the Benelli is fine but I'd go for the meteor regards mark
Very nice review. This is lovely bike for a small price. I love it
Totally agree
Hi mark what is the difference between classic 350 vs imperiale 400? Which do you think is better
Hi Marcus the benelli is a nice bike and a bit cheaper but me personally I'd go for the royal Enfield it rides so nicely and it's engine is a peach
Best regards mark
@@markpulling12 very nice information. I will go with the RE 350. Thank you very much
You have a very nice review. Very informative and interesting content
Just bought my RE CLASSIC 350 GREEN 💚 thank you Mark for inspiration
Good review. Looking at getting one of these, and appreciate you doing dual carriageway driving on it, and not just low speeds around country roads. Nice.
I really like the look of the bike.Enjoyed your comments and I’m going to look at the new Royal Enfield (classic ) as well as the Benelli.
Not sure if the Honda 350 is coming to the U.K. and that gets good reviews also. Spoilt for choice I think.
Nice review Mark. In the market for a reasonably priced localish run about with occasional pillion. Down to the Meteor RE and the classic. This could be in the mix. Which one grabbed your heart strings would you buy?😄
Hi easy answer the classic:)
Much nicer build quality to the benelli worth the extra money...or the meteor for extra comfort
Best regards mark
@@markpulling12 yep you read my heartstrings lol. Am drawn to that too. Will test ride both soon when new demos arrive at my dealer. 👍 safe riding.
Hi, I would like to ask you, after turning on the key should turn on the ABS indicator light and after driving 5km it should go out. On your motorcycle and on mine this indicator light is not on, instead the engine error indicator light is on, but it goes out when you start the engine. I asked about this and was told that the ABS light must be on and the engine error indicator light should go out in a few seconds when the key is on and not only after starting. How do you see it, what is your opinion on it? Thanks a lot for your reply.
The both the engine and abs lights should be off while riding
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Hi, that's true, but the ABS light should come on when the key is turned on, but it should go off after the motorcycle is started. Nothing like that happens and there is a possibility that the ABS is not working. The Benelli dealer advised me to visit an authorized Benelli service center and have the motorcycle connected for diagnostics to find out which errors were loaded there and what is wrong. Tomorrow I'm going for a ride, as they say around the chimney, so hopefully everything will be OK, I wish you a nice day.
@@vladimirlojka3740 ok yes the abs should come on then go off when riding hope you get it sorted
Best wishes mark
The brake pedal, side stand and other parts look exactly the same as on my Honda CB125f. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were built in the same factory. I think this bike looks nice, a very new bike that looks proper old.
A proper modern classic.
👍🏻👍🏻
Cheers luke
Beautiful classic styled bike.
I have to admit, that's a nice looking bike, back to the 70 s era. Good price too
Thanks Phil ... really nice to ride ... bargain price too :)
better bike than i thought , nice colour tank ;
Thanks Simon yes great bike for the money :)
So this or the royal enfield 350 classic? It seems this is a bit better at motorway speeds? Build quality is similar? This is cheaper...
Hi Adam ....I'd get the Enfield ...much nicer build quality and smoother engine ...not much in the top speed really ..they are both 20 ish HP
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 thanks for the swift reply! My wife has denied me a bike for years. Last one I owned was a 2001 cbr600f. She won't let me have anything fast now we have kids. I was never concerned with speed really though acceleration was welcome up to 70mph at times. I see these bikes as a gateway to biking again. I live in the Peak District now so hopefully it can handle the hills at 60mph.
I’d trade in the wife. 🤣
Benelli bella moto e bel video. Sembra anche a abbastanza veloce e soprattutto comoda. Grazie mille Marco
Great review mark but what bike is better this one or the RE meteor??
Hi Steven tough choice as they are both great ....think I'd go for the meteor firstly because I like the cruiser style and position and the meteors build quality is even up a notch now from the previous good RE models cheers mark
hi mark. after watching your review i bought one of these i have been really impressed it is lovely to ride and very economical. the only problem i've found was it needed a mud flap on the front mudguard .
Thanks great bike
Best regards mark
Thanks for this beautiful review. That's a lovely classic bike. I'm really thinking about trading my NC 750 X for one of this...Or a RE 350 Classic....
Wish they would bring to the US! Such an underserved market here!
Great review, wonder what it would be like 2 up.
According to the Italian Facebook group for the bike, not great not terrible :)
Mark, does it come auto transmission as an option? Thanks.
Hi Gino no sorry manual only :)
@@markpulling12. Thank you.
Good intro music choice Mark too. Can I ask who it is?
Hi I can't quite remember but I Shazamed it and it comes up with Lee money easy does
Best regards mark
@@markpulling12 I thank you 👍😁
Looks an ideal candidate for a bobber project!
Better residual with an Enfield??
Nice, like a scaled down version of the Kawasaki W800.
Not seen one here in the colonies as yet.
Thanks Peter 😀
loosely based on an Enfield?
seems a bit more power then the meteor 350?
I think it had a few more mph top speed felt similar in the midrange
Thanks Tony
its more ccs.
Nice little bike. Good review.
Thanks alot ken :)
Sadly owning the Chinelli Imperiale you learn many things about this machine, now the winge! Speedo reads 40 actual your doing 30, suspension is crap, vastly oversprung with next to no damping, and poor fueling! I kept mine for 1500 miles but in the end through in the towel, the Imperiale is poor compared to a friends Meteor in a price and size comparison.
Thanks for the update John ...yes most Chinese speedos over read quite a bit ...that's why I kind of emphasized "indicated speed ' in the video
Regards mark
Yes speedo does over read. I can live with that. Mine is euro 4 and fuelling is perfect.
@@zedcharlie in this day and age technology should achieve realism anything less is not acceptable and possibly breaks UK law?
@@johnrocker2986 I.ve not measured it. But it is over. Most are. Think this is a couple more than normal. Mind I.ve had bmw.s with repeatedly failing speedo.s. 😁 known fault on old k.s
@@zedcharlie70mph on clock = 59/60 on GPS it's so far out owners dont realise how slow the Chinelli is.
Just share my build, change the aftermarket exhaust & rear sprocket to 42. Now my imp goes 158kmh/95miles, feels good.
Thanks that's quick !
@@markpulling12 depend on wind resistance 😂 but if slight downhill, it goes.
@MR.Uzumaki, where did you purchase the aftermarket sprocket?
very nice bike, but one thing is wrong: rear suspensions aren't suspensions...must be changed
Regarding visuals this one very much reminds me on the Royal Enfield Classic 350.
Hello Mark,
Are Spoke weels (tubed tyres) safe?
Hi yes they are very safe no problems. :)
Thank you
Good report I have one still running it in there is nothing bad to say about it. Good report Mark
Thanks yes these are great bikes
Such good vfm cheers mark
A beautiful bike mark and has always a great review.
Thanks James 😊
But these bikes aren't short- or -medium-height-people-friendly; even if you lower the seat height, it still would be an intimidating deal for guys of average height; between 5.4 and 5.6. It is much heavier than Enfield. This ensures better riding stability, though. This has to be and is a better deal than Enfield in terms of smoothness of the ride and suspension, so you can drive this at least 50 miles nonstop at a stretch. This has to be one bike which says what it does and does what it says. And for the price you pay, it truly is worth it.
Nice looking bike if your into your retros !
Thanks Nicholas :)
Theres another one in classs here in India. The Honda CB350 H'ness. Lovely one.
Thanks Thomas yes wish that would come to the uk :)
Would you do a review of the Benelli TNT125 aswell, please.
Hi I have it's on my channel 😊
Best regards mark
@@markpulling12 yeah I saw it later. Thanks.
Thats a nice looking bike ! well done Benelli !
Thanks Brian 😁
@@markpulling12 Keep up the good work on these great videos , if Benelli wanted to sell these in Australia/New Zealand they would sell very well , a perfect bike for our roads . Like you say the RE Meteor killer , the Meteor's are selling very well here
@@Beanerds thanks Brian I'll probably get a meteor one day ...love that bike :)
It's not a Benellie
@@toddcott9510 WTF ? It says ' Benelli ' on the tank ! take you negative attitude and ' GO AWAY ' !
It looks like a nice bike.