If there’s one Royal Enfield motorcycle that’s made constant headlines in the past year, it has to be the Himalayan 450. Credit here goes to its repeated sightings around the world, all of which have revealed truckloads of juicy details. The latest revelation, however, comes directly from the Indian bikemaker. It has finally revealed when the motorcycle will break cover, and you’d be happy to know the date just a couple of months away.
Royal Enfield Will Reveal The Himalayan 450 In October 2023
That’s right. Royal Enfield has sent out a ‘Block Your Date’ for the end of October 2023. The adventure bike will break cover in Manali, India amidst the Himalayas as an ode to the bike’s name and off-road credentials. The very first Himalayan 411 also debuted in the same city.
An Indian price reveal will follow suit, closely accompanied by an International debut. The 2023 EICMA starts just a week after the Himalayan’s reveal, thus you can expect the 450 in all its glory there. What about America, you ask? Well, that remains unclear, but given the popularity of the ADV, RE should launch it here in the early months of 2024. That’s not too far down the line.
The Himalayan 450 Will Be Royal Enfield’s First Liquid-Cooled Motorcycle
So what will the new Himalayan boast? For starters, an entirely new 450cc, single-cylinder powerhouse. It will come loaded with liquid cooling–a first for Royal Enfield–to promise a sizable jump over the existing Himalayan’s sub-25 horsepower figure. We expect 40 horsepower and 30 pound-feet, enough to give it a strong fighting chance against rivals like the BMW G 310 GS and KTM 390 Adventure. A slipper clutch and six-speed transmission will also be part of the package.
Next, underpinnings. The current Himalayan is the flagbearer of simplicity, thanks to telescopic forks, tube-type spoke wheels, and a simple chassis. But the 450 will be considerably modern. Long-travel upside-down forks and new 21/19-inch spoke wheels (with wider tires) are standard bits here, while the monoshock and chassis have tweaks as well. Let’s just hope the tires are finally tubeless straight from the factory.
The Himalayan 450 Will Boast Plenty Of Modern Features
Like the mechanicals, the Himalayan 450 will have an overhauled feature list compared to the existing model. Spy shots have already revealed all-LED lights, integrated three-in-one tail lamp, and a digital instrument cluster. The latter will likely feature smartphone connectivity as standard, unlike the current model that needs a separate Tripper Navigation pod. We had also spotted a unique switch on 450’s test mule which hinted at the presence of electronic aids (traction control or ride modes).
Last but not least, all these additions will bump the Himalayan’s price. The current model costs $5,449 in America, and we expect the 450 to retail at around $6,500. Though a big bump, the MSRP will still be a good chunk lower than the 2023 KTM 390 Adventure SW. That’ll be a win if you ask us.