Benelli Imperiale 400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 vs Jawa Standard: Competition Check

Benelli has recently joined the modern-classic bandwagon in India by launching the Imperiale 400. It has entered into the lucrative middle-weight touring segment which is currently dominated by Royal Enfield, particularly by the Classic 350. Meanwhile, Jawa is also trying to re-create a mark in this genre after a long hiatus. While all three of them are enticing enough to lure the classic motorcycle fans, we check out which one is better on paper.

Design 

Staying true to their retro themes, all three bikes have an old school charm as they take inspiration from motorcycles of the olden days. While the Imperiale’s design harks back to its 125cc counterpart from the 1950s, the Jawa Standard’s styling is a reincarnation of the iconic 250 Type A model. Meanwhile, the Classic 350 also retains the silhouette of Royal Enfield motorcycles from the bygone era. 

While the Jawa and Classic 350 sport oodles of chrome around their bodywork, the Imperiale 400 is slightly on the modern side with a blacked-out engine. On the feature front, the Classic keeps it simple with a fully-analogue instrument cluster. Whereas, the Imperiale and Jawa get a small digital display integrated amidst the analogue clocks. Illumination, meanwhile, is provided by conventional bulbs on all bikes. 

Engine

While the Imperiale is powered by the largest displacement motor here, the Jawa boasts of the highest power figures. The latter is propelled by a 293cc, single-cylinder motor which produces 27bhp and 28Nm. As for the Imperiale, it is powered by a 374cc, single-cylinder mill which churns out 20.7bhp and 29Nm. Meanwhile, the Classic 350 is the least powerful with a 346cc motor which makes 19.8bhp and 28Nm. Besides having the punchiest motor, the Jawa is also the only motorcycle to get liquid-cooling with the Benelli and RE doing away with an air-cooled powerplant.

Cycle Parts

Starting with the underpinnings, the Imperiale and Jawa are held on by double-cradle frames with the Classic being based on a simpler single downtube unit. Meanwhile, in terms of braking and suspension, all three contenders are nearly identical. Damping duties are carried out by telescopic forks up front and dual shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is also similar with disc brakes at both ends assisted by dual-channel ABS. However, the Classic and Jawa are available in more affordable single-channel ABS variants as well.

Now, although the motorcycles are closely similar in the hardware department, the Jawa has a marginal upper hand in terms of weight. With a kerb mass of 170kg, the motorcycle is considerably lighter than the Imperiale and Classic which weigh 205kg and 192kg, respectively. What’s more, the Jawa also has the largest fuel tank with a capacity of 14litres as opposed to the 13litre and 12litre units on the Classic and Imperiale, respectively. 

Pricing

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the most affordable offering in this list with a price tag of Rs 1.53 (dual-channel ABS) lakhs. Although it has the least powerful motor and slightly outdated hardware, it has been a popular choice amongst buyers until now. That’s owing to RE’s brand image and its wide service network. On the other hand, the Jawa standard is considerably expensive at Rs 1.72 lakhs (dual-channel ABS) but it’s still an enticing package for its powerful motor and lighter weight. The brand is also expanding its dealership reach aggressively but the waiting period for the bikes is around six-eight months.

Now, the Imperiale 400 sits close to the Jawa Standard at Rs 1.69 lakhs which makes it the most affordable offering from Benelli in India. Also, considering a premium brand that Benelli is, it has a decent dealership reach across the country which makes the Imperiale 400 an attractive proposition. 

(All prices are ex-showroom)