Himalayan 450: images that make you want

We know Royal Enfield for its neo-retro motorcycles, with their old-fashioned charm and flavor of yesteryear. But with its new Himalayan 450 trail, the Indians have decided to enter modernity. A short teaser video revived our interest recently with a Himalayan in subliminal images. As a result, we went to search the internets in search of the elements knowingly leaked by Royal Enfield…

Himalayan newlook

The look of the new trail remains faithful to the style of the previous one, very neo-retro with a round headlight and a long mudguard like a cake shovel in the high position. Moreover, there is a false air of Zero FXE. At the level of the line the motorcycle seems larger, we spot a large tank (larger than the current 15 L) which promises a motorcycle for long road trips and only one in two parts. A small leap of wind, a large handlebar fairly forward, large crash bars and “rally” type footrests confirm its orientation more off-road than on-road. But the real change is elsewhere.

A modern chassis

Gone is the good old double cradle frame, this time Royal Enfield is adept at a steel beam frame with a load-bearing engine. A big change, which should offer a much more dynamic behavior and save weight. Rumor speaks of less than 200 kg on the scale.

The “spyshot” photos also allow you to discover a cycle part that revolutionizes what we knew so far at Royal Enfield. No more tradition with the classic telescopic fork or double shock absorbers on the sides. The Himalayan 450 will be equipped with an inverted fork and a monoshock in the rear central position! What completely change the usual character of the Royal Enfield and offer a machine with more rigorous and incisive behavior. We don’t know its travel or its ground clearance, but the trail should retain all-terrain oriented characteristics, with a 21-inch wheel at the front and spoked rims.

A new liquid engine

The main part is the engine. Not just a rebored version of the 411cc, the single-cylinder is all-new and adopts liquid-cooled technology, a slipper clutch and a 6-speed gearbox. It would produce around 40 hp and 37 Nm of torque, twice the power of the current Himalayan 411 (24 hp).

Finally, this Himalayan 450 could adopt electronics, and that too is like discovering an Ipod in the early 2000s. Full LED lighting and a connected TFT meter are planned. If it is, Royal Enfield will also offer us driving modes!

The Himalayan 450 seems already ready to be produced and to land on the markets. It seems that the EICMA show in Milan at the beginning of November will be the place chosen for its official presentation, with an arrival in Europe for the spring of 2024. It should quickly become the brand’s bestseller, and certainly the bike. the most expensive in the Royal Enfield catalogue, flirting with or exceeding 8000 euros, the price of the Super Meteor 650.