Kawasaki Meguro S1 versus Benelli Imperiale 400

Result

It's wonderful that Kawasaki is launching such a machine in 2025. She preaches renunciation with every fiber of her existence in such a skilful way that one is almost ashamed of ultra-modern and complicated motorcycles. The Meguro S1 reminds us of what motorcycling is all about: the beautiful sound from a beautiful exhaust of a beautiful, air-cooled single-cylinder that hangs freely visible in a beautiful motorcycle. Clear case - > that's only for aesthetes and slow drivers. Info for nervous stokers: Please move on, there is nothing to see here. At least not for you.
 
The test machine was made available to us as part of the Kawasaki weeks at Motorradtest.de of Heller & Soltau . This Kawasaki dealer is located in beautiful Sankt Michaelisdonn in Dithmarschen. If you want to take the demonstrator of the Meguro S1 for a test drive there, we recommend a relaxed trip to Meldorf Harbour. There a little coffee and pastries and then leisurely back to Heller & Soltau - life can be so wonderful!

Result

That's how beautiful retro bikes can look. But not only look, but also feel. This credo applies to the Benelli Imperiale 400 from A to Z, because the developers in Pesaro/Italy apparently took a very close look at how the old Benelli Imperiale looked in the 60s. Only Royal Enfield can do this so consistently trimmed to classic, apart from the Kawa W800.

The performance of the Imperiale is of course very manageable, you should be aware of that. If you get involved, you get the total deceleration of a lovingly designed machine that you could also put in your living room. At this price, one or the other potential buyer should also think about buying it as a second bike. Probably no one will regret that, especially for the evening round or the trip to the ice cream man the Imperiale is ideal - and you are guaranteed to be asked on site how old the machine is and who has already restored it!