I bought one of these euro 5 spec Benelli Imperiales in 2021. I rode it about all summer long and put it away for the winter time. At the beginning of this month I wheeled it out of the garage and pressed the starter. ( It had been kept dry and the battery had been on charge.) It fired up straight away and rode just how I remember it did, from when I put it away in November. As a bike, it is the perfect easy to ride thing. Not fast, but light to control and the "Smile per gallon factor is just great" It is all of the joy of owning a classic bike, with none of the messing about. I love mine and will most likely keep it a long time.
You may laugh but it's my dream bike. It reminds me bikes that I ride as teenager. Easy riding, don't hurry, going wherever I want without any pressure. I love it.
This was one of the first video I saw when deciding about buying this bike. I finally bought it last summer drove it for 3 and half months and absolutely love everything about it. Ive got it parked in my house in south italy for the summers is just perfect.
My god there is some like myself in the world im the Same never had a new bike either very close but then got the bennelli and very happy out the same setup as yourself have a small screen and saddlebags don't drive at night though no need these bikes are spot on enjoy it and I honestly think is better than the enfield it does exactly what it says on the tin
You mean you sold imperiale 400 and get RE instead? I am new to biking and still contemplating which one is better for me? RE obviously is well established brand while imperiale is new comer. Look wise I much think RE has that " look" and reputation (with finishing issues) ... But slightly more pricy
I have a 500C and an older 350 Bullet , I got the Benelli a couple of weeks ago as I like singles and the classic looks, it's a 70 plate but came out of a collection and only had 6 miles on it, first impressions are it is a better bike than my Enfields with a more modern twist, have to see how it fairs when I've run it in but so far I agree with you on your opinions. You get to a stage in later life when you realise that there's more to riding a bike than seeing how far round the twist grip goes, also these days with the roads full of cameras, traffic and people who can't drive, a bike that will do 100mph in first gear is pointless, plus I want to carry on living if I can, and these style of bikes suit me down to the ground. Build quality on the Benelli could be better as I already have some corrosion on the one of the rear spars around the rear mud guard but I'm going to see if this is covered under the warranty and see about a replacement as it's not just surface rust it's rot under the paint in the metal, but it's a bike built to a budget and I've seen Triumphs with finish issues so it's not really a big deal. All in all, I'm pleased with my one and I can see me keeping it long term unless anything major rears it's head. Agree with you again that obviously the bike hasn't got the Enfield kudos, but I'm lucky enough to have my little collection and I would never sell my Enfields anyway. So yes, all good with the Benelli so far..... watch this space as they say!
Interesting review, thank you! I'm about to buy the new RE Classic 350 (I'll do a test ride tomorrow in the afternoon and decide afterward but in fact, I'm in love already) but I must admit I haven't realized the existence of this Benelli until now. And in many ways, it seems to be very similar. Classic style, air-cooled, small capacity. Nice!
Hi! I have the same dilema... But actually I've heard many reviewers speaking about a RE's better quality. Just search for this on YTB and have a look: Benelli Imperiale 40000 KMs
new subscriber, just found you on exeter riders channel, had a look around , looks like very good content, looking forward to viewing your uploads and commenting, cheers Andy
I haven’t seen one in the flesh but I really like the retro look. Glad you like it and I think it has a bit more ump than the 350 Royal Enfield. I am going to have a look at one in Derby. Good review. Rob Moncrief
Nice report, a blackout sheet over the instruments might do the trick. How many Liters a 100 kms is the consumption with your riding style ? B.r. fr. Germany
The speedo is sometimes up to 12 mph optimistic. But up to 10% optimism is fairly common on both bikes & cars. It's extremely rare for speedos to match GPS. There is a reason that the Benelli is a little slower than the Enfield 500, - no longer in production. The 500 was 27 bhp to the 373cc Benelli's 20.7 bhp. Which is still fractionally up on the Enfield 350. A rule of thumb for the Benelli, going by GPS videos I've watched relative to rpm, - is that the Benelli is geared at 11.4 mph per 1000. So, 3,500 (maximum torque) is 40 mph. & the rev limiter at 7,000 is 80 mph exactly. This is more than adequate for 19 horsepower at the rear wheel, or any reasonable road situations apart from overtaking on motorways. 5,000 is 57 mph, 5,500 (maximum power) is 63, & 6,000 is all but 69 mph, which it will sustain as long as you need. One thing I would add, is that from personal experience of many singles, the Benelli 400 may well be the smoothest vibration free single cylinder engine in existence. I've never ridden any other single that came close. I was astonished. Especially with its original pre 2000 Enfield like 92mm ultra long stroke. It just doesn't vibrate anywhere!
Hi, How did you modify the throttle? As mine is feeling loose as well. I bought a 2021 model with the red tank end of summer. I have to admit … I do like it very much. The small capacity is not letting down on the experience once you are moving along the B roads.. not in anyway thinking about cameras. I have fitted heated grips onto mine which did improve slightly on the loose throttle grip. Happy with the bike!!
Follow the cable from the handle bar there is a silver connection just loosen the lock nut and and take up the slack. Leave a little slack then tighten the lock nut
The fact that its manufactured in China is the only reason Im iffy about it. Before anyone judges, I live in South East Asia where the market is over saturated with cheap, Chinese bikes. They change names every half decade. Benelli here used to be Keeway and most of their bikes are redesigned and rebranded and sold back into the market.
I bought one of these euro 5 spec Benelli Imperiales in 2021. I rode it about all summer long and put it away for the winter time. At the beginning of this month I wheeled it out of the garage and pressed the starter. ( It had been kept dry and the battery had been on charge.) It fired up straight away and rode just how I remember it did, from when I put it away in November. As a bike, it is the perfect easy to ride thing. Not fast, but light to control and the "Smile per gallon factor is just great" It is all of the joy of owning a classic bike, with none of the messing about. I love mine and will most likely keep it a long time.
Yes I should have kept it if only life was that simple
You may laugh but it's my dream bike. It reminds me bikes that I ride as teenager. Easy riding, don't hurry, going wherever I want without any pressure. I love it.
About 55 years ago I owned a Velocette 350 Mac. Riding my Benelli brings back those times. It's a time machine! Excellent value for money.
This was one of the first video I saw when deciding about buying this bike. I finally bought it last summer drove it for 3 and half months and absolutely love everything about it. Ive got it parked in my house in south italy for the summers is just perfect.
How lovely.... I really liked it and a big bike for a 400cc
My god there is some like myself in the world im the Same never had a new bike either very close but then got the bennelli and very happy out the same setup as yourself have a small screen and saddlebags don't drive at night though no need these bikes are spot on enjoy it and I honestly think is better than the enfield it does exactly what it says on the tin
Think it's a great bike! Wish we could get them in the States.
Benelli news I manage to sell the bike on and now have the much missed RE Bullet so a good start to the year.
You mean you sold imperiale 400 and get RE instead? I am new to biking and still contemplating which one is better for me? RE obviously is well established brand while imperiale is new comer. Look wise I much think RE has that " look" and reputation (with finishing issues) ... But slightly more pricy
I have a 500C and an older 350 Bullet , I got the Benelli a couple of weeks ago as I like singles and the classic looks, it's a 70 plate but came out of a collection and only had 6 miles on it, first impressions are it is a better bike than my Enfields with a more modern twist, have to see how it fairs when I've run it in but so far I agree with you on your opinions. You get to a stage in later life when you realise that there's more to riding a bike than seeing how far round the twist grip goes, also these days with the roads full of cameras, traffic and people who can't drive, a bike that will do 100mph in first gear is pointless, plus I want to carry on living if I can, and these style of bikes suit me down to the ground. Build quality on the Benelli could be better as I already have some corrosion on the one of the rear spars around the rear mud guard but I'm going to see if this is covered under the warranty and see about a replacement as it's not just surface rust it's rot under the paint in the metal, but it's a bike built to a budget and I've seen Triumphs with finish issues so it's not really a big deal. All in all, I'm pleased with my one and I can see me keeping it long term unless anything major rears it's head. Agree with you again that obviously the bike hasn't got the Enfield kudos, but I'm lucky enough to have my little collection and I would never sell my Enfields anyway. So yes, all good with the Benelli so far..... watch this space as they say!
I swapped it for my current Enfield but I should have kept it..
Good review 👍🏼.... I'm thinking of buying one next year, so I'll be following your channel to see how you find it.... Cheers👍🍻🍻🍻🍻
Thanks Mr Tink 😉
You could buy mine it won’t be doing much now unless I through caution to the wind
Buy one my friend you won't regret it
Interesting review, thank you! I'm about to buy the new RE Classic 350 (I'll do a test ride tomorrow in the afternoon and decide afterward but in fact, I'm in love already) but I must admit I haven't realized the existence of this Benelli until now. And in many ways, it seems to be very similar. Classic style, air-cooled, small capacity. Nice!
Hi! I have the same dilema... But actually I've heard many reviewers speaking about a RE's better quality.
Just search for this on YTB and have a look:
Benelli Imperiale 40000 KMs
I hope you bought the RE as they are really good I tried one recently loved it.
new subscriber, just found you on exeter riders channel, had a look around , looks like very good content, looking forward to viewing your uploads and commenting, cheers Andy
Hi Andy thanks for your comment good to have you aboard
Those mirrors look better than the RE ones. I have ridden many RE's and those round mirrors just do not show enough for me. I use my mirrors a lot.
I haven’t seen one in the flesh but I really like the retro look. Glad you like it and I think it has a bit more ump than the 350 Royal Enfield. I am going to have a look at one in Derby.
Good review.
Rob Moncrief
Excellent down to earth review
Glad you liked it
Nice report, a blackout sheet over the instruments might do the trick. How many Liters a 100 kms is the consumption with your riding style ?
B.r. fr. Germany
I get 85/90 mpg uk. So approx 3ltr 100km? 👍
I think its around 75/80 mpg
Great video and nice motobike, thank you.
Thank you too!
what is the minimum CC allowed in expressway in your country?
Are you sure it's faster then a bullet 500? I watched videos of imperiale doing 130 or 120kph, but when measured by gps it was like 15kph off.
I was running this in at the time. GPS is always slower I thought ?
The speedo is sometimes up to 12 mph optimistic. But up to 10% optimism is fairly common on both bikes & cars. It's extremely rare for speedos to match GPS.
There is a reason that the Benelli is a little slower than the Enfield 500, - no longer in production. The 500 was 27 bhp to the 373cc Benelli's 20.7 bhp.
Which is still fractionally up on the Enfield 350.
A rule of thumb for the Benelli, going by GPS videos I've watched relative to rpm, - is that the Benelli is geared at 11.4 mph per 1000.
So, 3,500 (maximum torque) is 40 mph. & the rev limiter at 7,000 is 80 mph exactly.
This is more than adequate for 19 horsepower at the rear wheel, or any reasonable road situations apart from overtaking on motorways.
5,000 is 57 mph, 5,500 (maximum power) is 63, & 6,000 is all but 69 mph, which it will sustain as long as you need.
One thing I would add, is that from personal experience of many singles, the Benelli 400 may well be the smoothest vibration free single cylinder engine in existence. I've never ridden any other single that came close.
I was astonished. Especially with its original pre 2000 Enfield like 92mm ultra long stroke. It just doesn't vibrate anywhere!
I’ve still got the ole gal wrong time to sell to be honest but I do have some one interested
Hi, How did you modify the throttle? As mine is feeling loose as well. I bought a 2021 model with the red tank end of summer. I have to admit … I do like it very much. The small capacity is not letting down on the experience once you are moving along the B roads.. not in anyway thinking about cameras.
I have fitted heated grips onto mine which did improve slightly on the loose throttle grip.
Happy with the bike!!
Follow the cable from the handle bar there is a silver connection just loosen the lock nut and and take up the slack. Leave a little slack then tighten the lock nut
@@Eastsussexbiker Easy fix. Thanks very much.
good
The fact that its manufactured in China is the only reason Im iffy about it. Before anyone judges, I live in South East Asia where the market is over saturated with cheap, Chinese bikes. They change names every half decade. Benelli here used to be Keeway and most of their bikes are redesigned and rebranded and sold back into the market.
I regret selling mine now
Can anyone tell me what size headlight visor a benelli 400 clasic would need?
Best thing is to have a google see what you can find mine was just a fly screen
Nice. A poor man's Kawasaki W series. Will it sit at a genuine 60 on the motorway? The speedo lies outrageously.
I never had it long enough to check as was running it in