Jawa Perak BS6 vs Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6: Specification Comparison
Published On Jul 17, 2020 04:59 PM By Praveen M.for Jawa Perak
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Here’s how Jawa’s latest BS6-compliant bobber stacks up against Benelli’s first BS6 bike on paper
Launched back in November 2019, the Jawa Perak BS6 is all set to reach customers from next week. While it may be the only bobber in its segment, the recently launched Benelli Imperiale 400 comes pretty close as a retro alternative. Here’s how it stacks up against the Italian roadster on paper:
Engine:
Even though the Jawa Perak has a smaller displacement, it is more sophisticated thanks to liquid-cooling and cross port exhaust technology. The BS6-compliant version has been tweaked to produce 1.74Nm more torque and 0.23PS more power than before. On paper, it seems to be no match to the Benelli Imperiale 400’s bigger, albeit relatively less sophisticated long-stroke engine. The six-speed transmission on the Jawa Perak has also been optimised in its BS6 iteration for a better riding experience. Even though the Imperiale 400’s gearbox is a 5-speed unit, the gears are well spaced to ensure the motor runs stress-free on the highway. However, we’ll have to test both the BS6 bikes for a concrete conclusion. At 175kg kerb, the Jawa Perak is a whole 30kg lighter than the Imperiale 400. This should translate to better acceleration and superior handling. More on the weight in the forthcoming paragraphs.
Underpinnings:
While the front suspension is similar on both bikes, the Jawa Perak BS6 gets a unique swingarm construction that’s similar to the ‘swing cage’ unit on the Triumph Bonneville bobber. This allows for a monoshock setup, which theoretically offers a more uniform damping property compared to the twin shock absorber setup on the Benelli Imperiale 400 BS6. Both bikes run on the same spoke wheel sizes but the Perak’s wider tyres should offer added stability and better confidence while cornering.
Dimensions & Features:
The Jawa Perak BS6’s slightly longer wheelbase and meatier tyres should offer better straight-line stability. With a lower seat height and a much lower kerb weight, the Perak should be quite easy to manoeuvre at low speeds compared to the Imperiale. The seat height is accessible for shorter riders too. At 14 litres, the fuel tank is decent enough for long-distance rides.
As far as features are concerned, the Benelli Imperiale gets a gear position indicator in addition to the regular trove of information. The Jawa Perak BS6’s instrument cluster is pretty minimalistic showing only the speed, fuel level and odometer readings. Both bikes get a dual-channel ABS for optimum safety. The biggest advantage in terms of practicality is that the Imperiale 400 gets a standard pillion seat. On the other hand, the Jawa Perak is strictly a single-seater bike because of its unique swingarm construction.
Price & Verdict:
(all prices, ex-showroom Delhi)
Despite packing a more powerful engine, the Jawa Perak BS6 undercuts the Imperiale 400 by Rs 4,500. On the flip side, it isn’t as practical as the Italian retro stallion. Being a single-seater bobber, the Jawa Perak will have a narrower set of audience whereas the Benelli Imperiale 400 will appeal to those who want a retro bike different from the run-of-the-mill Royal Enfield motorcycles or Jawas.