The recently launched Himalayan, sometimes informally referred to as the Himalayan 450, serves as the successor to the initial Royal Enfield Himalayan 411, unveiled in 2016. Royal Enfield recently revealed the pricing for their latest adventure motorcycle at the Motoverse flagship event in Goa. The introductory price for the entry-level variant, named Base and available in the exclusive color Kaza Brown, starts at ₹2.69 lakh.
The middle-tier variant, named Pass, is priced at ₹2.74 lakh and comes in two color options – Slate Himalayan Salt and Slate Himalayan Blue. The highest-tier variant, named Peak, is priced at ₹2.79 lakh for Kamet White and ₹2.84 lakh for Hanle Black.
The only distinction among all the variants lies in the color; there are no mechanical or electronic variations among them.
The recently unveiled Himalayan, unofficially referred to as the Himalayan 450, serves as the successor to the initial Royal Enfield Himalayan 411, introduced in 2016. It is expected that the older model will be phased out following the introduction of the new one in showrooms.
The new Himalayan, developed from the ground up since 2017, shares not a single bolt with its predecessor, incorporating numerous firsts for the manufacturer. It features a novel single-cylinder engine named the Sherpa 450, with a displacement of 452 cubic centimeters, liquid cooling, Dual Overhead Cams (DOHC), an aluminum bore, and a slightly short stroke—all representing firsts for Royal Enfield. The innovative motor is 10 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, generating 40 PS of peak power and 40 Nm of peak torque, with a focus on a flat torque curve for usability at both low and high revs.
Royal Enfield introduces a more advanced Ride-by-Wire system, replacing the cable-actuated throttle. This enables the motorcycle to feature two riding modes—Performance and Economy—with the option to deactivate ABS on the rear wheel in both modes.
The engine is coupled with a six-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch. Capable of reaching speeds of approximately 150 kmph, the motorcycle is expected to deliver a fuel economy of around 28 kmpl, equipped with a 17-liter fuel tank theoretically providing a travel range of about 450 kilometers.
Similar to the earlier Himalayan 411, the wheel sizes remain at 21 inches for the front and 17 inches for the rear. In this iteration, the wheels are constructed from aluminum, with an upcoming option to switch to tubeless spoked rims. The rear tire width has increased from 120 mm to 140 mm, and the bike is equipped with CEAT dual sport tires specially developed for this model.
Significant upgrades extend to the suspension, with the new bike featuring stiffer Showa upside-down front forks while retaining the same 200 mm travel at the front. At the rear, the suspension travel has increased from 180 to 200 mm. Ground clearance has experienced a slight boost, rising from 220 mm to 230 mm in the new model.
With extensive changes, Royal Enfield has managed to shave 3 kg from the previous bike, resulting in a kerb weight of 196 kg for the new Himalayan.
The advancements in the new motorcycle are evident, surpassing its predecessor. However, the market’s response to the pricing of the Himalayan 450, relative to other motorcycles in the same price segment, remains to be seen.