The 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 is a retro standard with authentic styling that recalls the 1940s 500 Valvole Laterali. Benelli took over its own North American importation and distribution for 2024, and the Imperiale 400 is new to the United States. It replaces the Leoncino 500 in the lineup at a lower price of $4899.
The air-cooled, long-stroke 374cc single carries the look. It is an overhead-cam design with a styling hint of pushrods on the right side, and the fuel injector hides behind a cover. A lion decorates the right side of the valve cover.
Power arrives softly off idle, which makes the Imperiale welcoming to new and returning riders. Torque peaks at 21 ft-lbs at 4500 rpm, and the claimed 21 horsepower comes near the 6000 rpm redline. The engine is smooth, and the long peashooter exhaust sounds great. Low 8.5:1 compression lets it run on 87-octane fuel.
The 5-speed gearbox has a long, smooth throw, and a low first gear makes the Imperiale easy to manage at slow speeds and in tight spaces. Kept near redline, it has the power for freeway traffic.
The chassis is pure nostalgia. A double-cradle steel frame holds a 41mm fork and 1970s-style twin piggyback-reservoir shocks. Wire-spoke wheels, 19 inches in front and 18 in back, wear Cordial tires. A sprung rider’s seat smooths the ride, and the passenger gets a separate, generously padded seat.
The riding position is upright and neutral, with a wide, swept-back handlebar for comfort and maneuverability in town. A 300mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc handle braking, and ABS is standard. Analog-style speedometer and tachometer dials flank a thin LCD strip showing gear position and fuel level for the 3.2-gallon tank.
The Imperiale 400 is for riders who value experience over performance. It delivers the feel of a mid-1900s classic motorcycle with modern conveniences, at a list price under $5000.
Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes.
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Aprilia is bringing a scooter to North America, and it’s one designed to appeal to adventure motorcyclists. The SR GT 400 is a mid-size scooter built around a steel motorcycle-style frame, a 399cc single, and off-road-ready hardware. It reaches US dealers as soon as this month. Don Williams and Kelly Callan spent some time riding the Aprilia and were surprised by what they discovered. Is this a real motorcycle or just a good-looking urban scooter?
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Cat McLeod is founder and owner of Leod Escapes, the ultimate tour company for sport-minded motorcycle riders. Cat talks to us this segment about some of his amazing European experiences and tours that include of course, riding some amazing MotoGP tracks on new BMW S1000RRs. If you like what you hear, now is the time to book your trip of a lifetime, so visit LeodEscapes.com to find out more.
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Our guest this episode is Terry Vance, the multiple Motorcycle and Motorsports Hall-of-Famer. Terry is of course the former professional motorcycle drag racer, team owner, and co-founder of the high-performance parts company Vance & Hines. Teejay Adams chats with Terry about his incredible career that includes being the first rider to hit 200 mph in the standing quarter-mile.
Having won this year’s MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers championship with Hayden Gillim riding the Vance & Hines factory Indian Challenger, and with Harley-Davidson’s recent withdrawal, Terry gives us his thoughts on where the series might go from here.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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![2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Buyer’s Guide [Specs, Price]](https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-benelli-imperiale-400-review-28-768x512.webp "2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Buyer’s Guide [Specs, Price]")
