The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is without a doubt the most anticipated motorcycle in 2023.
Ever since rumours broke out of a new liquid-cooled single-cylinder being shoved into the ADV started doing the rounds, motorcycle enthusiasts and especially Royal Enfield fans have been waiting with bated breath.
The bike has now been fully unveiled and all that’s left is its price announcement for the Indian market.
The Himalayan 450 will officially replace the current Himalayan 411. But aside from the new engine, the Himalayan 450 will debut a lot of firsts for the Indian manufacturer.
Design-wise, the 450 is the same ADV-shaped motorcycle from before, but with altered panels and styling for a fresh new look. The new all-digital instrument cluster at the front comes equipped with smartphone connectivity as well as integrated navigation with Google Maps.
The seat height is adjustable between 825mm and 845 mm and RE will provide an optional 805 mm seat as well.
The biggest highlight is the Himalayan’s new Sherpa 450 engine. This liquid-cooled power plant generates a healthy 40 hp of power at 8,000 rpm and 40 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm.
This is a massive 65 percent increase in power and 25 percent increase in torque compared to the Himalayan 411. The bike sits on a new twin-spar frame and suspended by an open-cartridge upside down front fork and rear monoshock, both of which provide 200 mm of wheel travel. Braking comes from a 320 mm disc up front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. Switchable dual-channel ABS comes standard. Transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed gearbox.
The ADV runs on a 21/17-inch front/rear rim configuration. At the moment, RE is shipping the Himalayan with conventional spoked wheels. However, the company is also in the process of certifying its tubeless spoked wheels, which should come standard, most likely by the first quarter of 2024.
The Himalayan is not light on features either. Aside from the instrument cluster, the bike gets all-LED lighting, ride-by-wire throttle, two riding modes and slip-and-assist clutch. Like some premium BMW and Harley-Davidson bikes, the Himalayan’s tail lamp has been integrated with the rear indicators.
Finally, the Himalayan is also lighter than its current-gen counterpart, sitting pretty at 198 kg. Unfortunately, this isn’t as light as some of its competitors on the market, but the Himalayan’s large 17-litre fuel tank makes up for that.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is ready to be fully launched on November 24 at RE’s Motoverse event in Goa. The event itself is a three-day celebration filled with workshops, races, showcases and music concerts. Upon launch, the new Himalayan 450 will replace the 411. Prices are also set to go up from the current Rs 2.16 lakh to Rs 2.60 lakh, ex-showroom.
Even with the increase, however, the Himalayan will still pose a threat to its closest competitors, the KTM 390 Adventure which starts at Rs 3.39 lakh and the BMW G 310 GS at Rs 3.30 lakh.
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