Benelli Imperiale 400 vs Jawa: Performance, Mileage Compared

The numbers have their say as these two retro roadsters go head to head

We were mighty impressed with the Jawa as there is a great disparity in the real-world performance between the revived Czech roadster and the evergreen Royal Enfield Classic 350. While the Jawa is the sportier of the two bikes, it might just have its work cut out as Benelli has introduced its retro roadster, the Imperiale 400. So, should the Jawa worry?

Also Read: Benelli Imperiale 400 vs Jawa vs Royal Enfield Classic 350: Road Test Comparison

Acceleration:

The Jawa is significantly lighter and has more power on tap from its relatively smaller-capacity engine. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the Jawa is the quicker bike off the two by more than three seconds. The Imperiale 400’s extremely linear power delivery means that it is slow to get up to speed. However, it feels extremely stable at triple-digit speeds.

Roll-on acceleration:

Thanks to the strong mid-range performance from its 293cc liquid-cooled motor with short gearing  the Jawa is a zippy bike. Again the Imperiale 400’s flatter torque curve means the motorcycle gains speed as quickly as the Jawa. 

Braking:

One of the major shortcomings of the Imperiale 400 is its braking department. Despite disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS, the Imperiale 400 offers very poor braking performance. There is very little feedback with inadequate biting force. Plus, with the extra kilos on board, the Benelli takes even longer to come to a halt than the Classic 350.

Fuel efficiency: 

Both motorcycles have similar highway fuel efficiency. But when it comes to range, the two extra litres of fuel onboard the Jawa means you can extend your saddle time by a considerable margin. Even in the city, the Jawa has the more fuel-efficient motor.