The Himalayan 450 is likely to be the next big launch from Royal Enfield in India.
Published On Apr 30, 2023 07:30:00 AM
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By Autocar India News Desk
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Royal Enfield is undoubtedly one of the busiest motorcycle manufacturers out there and as we’d reported earlier, there are a slew of motorcycles that the company is readying for launch in the coming months. A number of test mules of these upcoming Royal Enfield bikes have been spotted occasionally, giving us a peek into what’s in store.
From a 350cc bike based on the successful J-platform to another addition to the company’s 650cc platform and the much anticipated all-new Himalayan with a liquid-cooled engine (a first for an RE) there’s a lot to look forward to if you are an RE fan. Read on to find out more details.
The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 holds the record for the longest continuous two-wheeler model in production, ever since its inception in 1948. In its current incarnation, the stalwart of RE’s range remains the only model in its 350cc lineup to feature the older, more utilitarian UCE engine, while its contemporaries are powered by the newer J-platform engine. All this is set to change, however, with spy shots of the upcoming Bullet 350 confirming it will receive the same J-platform engine and accompanying underpinnings.
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The Himalayan 411 has been around since 2016 and since then it has established itself as a simple yet capable go-anywhere bike. The company has improved the bike with each update since, however, one of the most regular feedbacks is the demand for more power to further strengthen its mile-munching abilities. To satiate these requests, RE has been working on a larger, more modern liquid-cooled Himalayan 450. This new Himalayan, by the looks of it won’t trade its off road ability for supposedly improved mile-munching ability, since it gets 21-/18-inch wire-spoke rims at both ends and better suspension componentry in the form of a USD fork and monoshock.
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This naked bike is intended to be what the Scram 411 is to the current Himalayan, promising more accessibility with road-biased features such as a lower seat height and smaller, cast alloy wheels. While not much is known about this model, spy pics suggest it uses the same liquid-cooled engine as the Himalayan 450 and features a telescopic front fork (as opposed to the USD fork on the Himalayan 450). The seat is a single-piece unit, which may be set at a lower height than on the Himalayan 450, making it much more accessible to the ground. It also appears to use the same fuel tank. This new bike, when it is launched, will sit below the Himalayan 450, both in terms of price as well as features.
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The Shotgun 650 is expected to follow the Super Meteor 650 to the market and while they should share most mechanicals, the rider triangle is a key area of difference between the two.
The Super Meteor 650 is the more relaxed of the two, with a feet-forward position and a more swept-back handlebar putting the rider in more of a sofa-like seating position. Contrastingly, the Shotgun 650 has mid-mounted footpegs and a shorter handlebar which seats the rider in a more standard and upright position.
The styling is another area where these two bikes differ, with the Super Meteor 650 sporting a more traditional cruiser look with long, swooping fenders and straight twin exhaust pipes that are finished in chrome. The Shotgun 650, on the other hand, has more blacked-out components with slightly upswept dual exhaust pipes and shorter, chopped fenders.
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One of the most popular aftermarket modifications made to the RE Continental GT 650 is the addition of a full-fairing, enhancing its retro racer vibe even further. While this currently isn’t an official accessory or a variant from RE yet, a test mule that was spied with a bikini fairing says it might be a possibility in the future. This test mule was spotted only with a small front fairing but carried mounting points for a full-fairing to be fitted to the bike. Royal Enfield uses a race-prepped, semi-faired version of the Continental GT 650 already in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, dubbed the GT-R 650.
The RE 650cc scrambler is another motorcycle that is expected to join the 650cc portfolio. In the spy images, we observed that it has a two-into-one exhaust with a stubby muffler design not seen on any 650cc model from RE before. It runs on off-road sized (likely 19/17-inch or 19/18-inch) wire-spoke rims and has a USD fork and twin hydraulic shocks.
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Which upcoming Royal Enfield bike has piqued your interest the most? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Expected Price : ₹ 2.60 – 2.70 lakh
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