2021 Benelli Imperiale 400 0.4L Petrol · WL21 HCX

The Benelli Imperiale 400 presents a stable and reassuring roadworthiness record. The most recent MOT, conducted on 7 July 2025 at 2,489 miles, resulted in a pass, though the tester flagged a rear tyre worn close to the legal limit. This single advisory, following a completely clean pass on 11 July 2024 at 2,179 miles, indicates the motorcycle has been maintained to a standard that prevents serious mechanical or structural failures. The trend is essentially stable, with only a minor consumable item approaching replacement. The mileage pattern tells a clear story of exceptionally low use. Between the July 2024 and July 2025 tests, the odometer advanced by just 310 miles. Over its roughly five-year lifespan, the total recorded mileage of 2,489 miles equates to an average of approximately 498 miles per year. Such minimal annual accumulation suggests the motorcycle has spent extended periods stationary. While this limits wear on the drivetrain and braking components, prolonged inactivity carries its own risks, including flat-spotted tyres, stale fuel, and potential corrosion of internal engine surfaces and brake components. The recurring advisory for the rear tyre is the only defect appearing in the record. The tester's observation in July 2025 that the rear tyre was worn close to the legal limit, after the motorcycle had covered barely 300 miles since its previous test, points to either a tyre of incorrect specification, persistent underinflation leading to edge wear, or a suspension and alignment issue causing uneven wear. A prospective buyer should inspect the front tyre for similar uneven wear patterns and check the wheel alignment and suspension bushes, particularly the swingarm and headstock bearings, which can deteriorate from prolonged standing rather than use. Beyond the advisory, the absence of any corrosion, structural, or mechanical defects across both tests is a positive sign. A physical inspection should still focus on the condition of brake discs and pads for surface corrosion from standing, the integrity of all rubber hoses and seals for perishing, and the exhaust system for internal condensation corrosion. The fuel system and carburetion should also be assessed for varnish or blockages resulting from old fuel, a common consequence of the very low mileage pattern this machine has experienced.