Starting with the seating triangle, the Imperiale 400 offers a plush and commanding stance. The seat height is set at 780mm which makes it easier to rest both feet on the ground (my height is 5’6”). Meanwhile, the foot-pegs are centre set and the handlebar is a single-piece wide type, all contributing to likeable ergonomics may it be within the city or out on the highway. The rider seat is sprung underneath while the seat cushioning is soft yet firm, good enough to ride for 2-3 hours at a stretch before taking a break, which is ideal.
The main highlight about this motor is the absence of any bothersome vibrations. Besides the small buzz felt on the handlebar, regardless of the speed the bike is ridden at, it never gets intrusive. In fact, except for the handlebar, there are hardly any vibes felt at the foot-pegs or the seat.
Another quality of the motorcycle worth applauding is its handling. The steering setup feels direct and planted when attacking corners. So good, that we ended up scraping the footpegs on not just one but multiple occasions while cornering. And yes, at crawling speeds the bike’s weight does creep into the picture, but with more time spent on the saddle, it should be manageable. Even the heat emitted by the engine isn’t felt much except for the exhaust which can be noticed in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The exhaust note on the Imperiale 400 might not have the typical thump that’s available on Royal Enfields. Instead, it is muffled but still has a deep tone that makes it refined and quite enjoyable. And, as for ride quality, thanks to the slightly firmer suspension setup, road undulations and potholes get ironed out pretty well. Coming to the brakes, there is good progression available to modulate the braking force however the initial bite, especially from the front, could have been better.
In terms of speeds, the Imperiale 400 is capable of achieving a top speed of 130kmph without much hassle. However, the sweet spot to cruise in comfort is between 90-100kmph which is perfect, given the road infrastructure.