Just yesterday, Benelli surprised media by bringing its retro-styled 400cc bike – the Imperiale 400 – to India at quite an attractive ex-showroom price (Rs 1.69 lakh). Costing just Rs 15,000 more than the Royal Enfield Classic 350 (Rs 1.54 lakh) and Rs 14,000 more than the Jawa Forty Two, the Benelli Imperiale 400 is expected to shake up this segment.

The Italian bike maker has confirmed that it has received over 500 bookings for the Imperiale 400 (since bookings opened on September 27) and that deliveries for the bikes that have already been booked will begin on October 27.

Said to be a reinterpretation of one of Benelli’s historic models produced in the 1950s, the Imperiale 400 is powered by a 374cc, air-cooled, SOHC, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine that is tuned to produce 21hp and 29Nm of torque.

While the Imperiale’s design is unmistakably old-school, its underpinnings are decidedly modern – it sports a 300mm single disc with a two-piston floating caliper at the front and a 240mm rear disc, with standard dual-channel ABS. Suspension duties are carried out by a 41mm telescopic front fork and pre-load adjustable dual-shocks at the rear.

Do you think the Benelli Imperiale 400 is a proper alternative to the Royal Enfield Classic 350? Let us know in the comments below.