Home Bike News Benelli Benelli Imperiale 400 gets the highest booking response for the company
Benelli Imperiale 400 gets the highest booking response for the company
Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy
Benelli Imperiale 400 was launched in India back in late October this year. Benelli's entry in the retro cruiser segment increases the complexities for rivals such as Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Jawa. While Classic 350 sales have taken a beating due to slowdown, Jawa has been troubled with delayed deliveries.
In all this, Benelli India has managed to find its footing, where booking orders for their new Imperiale 400 is concerned. The newly launched motorcycle has already recorded over 4,000 bookings. This is the highest booking orders received by Benelli India for any motorcycle they have launched till date in the country.
The new Benelli Imperiale 400 is presented in three colour schemes of red, black and silver. The red and black colour schemes are priced higher by Rs.10,000 as compared to the silver variant and bookings are opened at all company dealerships in India and on the company website for a down payment of Rs.4,000.
Benelli Imperiale 400 being a retro styled bike gets distinctive rounded shaped halogen headlamp, twin pod analog instrument cluster and wide handlebars. It is also seen with a tear drop shaped fuel tank which gets thigh pads for better grip, split seating and chrome exhausts. It rides on 19" wheels in the front and 18" spoke wheels at the rear fitted with 110/90 and 130/80 section tubed tyres.
Where dimensions are concerned, the Imperiale 400 measures 2,170mm in length, 820mm in width and 1,120 mm in height with a wheelbase of 1,440 mm and seat height of 780mm. Ground clearance is at 165mm, kerb weight is at 205 kgs and fuel tank is of 12 liter capacity.
The Benelli Imperiale 400 is powered by a 374cc, single cylinder, air cooled, SOHC engine which is now BS IV compliant but which will be updated to meet the stringent BS VI emission norms ahead of the 1st April 2020 deadline. It produces 20.6 bhp power at 5,500 rpm and 29 Nm torque at 4,500 rpm mated to a 5 speed gearbox.
Suspension and braking are via 41 mm telescopic fork in the front and preload adjustable dual shock absorbers at the rear and 300mm single disc with twin piston floating calipers in the front and 240mm rear disc with dual channel ABS.
This retro bike comes in with a 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty which are offered as standard. The company is also introduced complimentary service for first 2 years along with an Annual Maintenance Contract.
The new Benelli Imperiale 400 competes with the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Jawa bikes in India. It is the company's 7th product to be introduced ever since Benelli restarted operations in association with Mahavir Group.
Market conditions appear to be favourable for Benelli, especially considering the fact that customers have shown immense interest in new product launches. While existing products have been hit by slowdown, new products seem to be immune to the on-going downtrend in Indian auto sector. It will be interesting to watch the battle lines being drawn by these retro cruisers in the coming months.