The Himalayan 450 has already reached dealerships ahead of its October 2023 debut
In the last year, there have been a gazillion sightings of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Yet, none of them showed the actual motorcycle that would reach your home. And if you’ve been patiently waiting, it’s time for your reward because we’ve now got the first pictures of the production-ready ADV. That too, straight from a Royal Enfield dealership in India.
The images show many clear details of the Himalayan 450. Most notably, the ADV looks bigger and more butch than the current-generation Himalayan. Credit here goes to the new fuel tank that has a bulbous design, unlike the existing motorcycle. The tank also has new crash protection, which appears longer and sturdier than before. Same goes for the up-sized all-LED headlight, motocross-like front fender, and the chunky fork covers down low. The latter should help keep muck away from the stanchion, meaning fewer leaks for the seals.
Besides this, we also get an idea about the bike’s size. The images show the 450 alongside a Meteor 350, and it looks much larger than the cruiser. Whereas, the same can’t be said for the 411. So we expect the new Himalayan to have a class-leading road presence, especially against bikes like the BMW G 310 GS and Kawasaki Versys X-300. We just hope the size doesn’t mean a hefty curb weight.
Another element shown in the leaked images is the cockpit. It comprises Royal Enfield’s first-ever fully digital instrument cluster (possibly a TFT), complete with new switchgear. Yes, the rotary switchgear is still present (for the ignition and light), but a close look reveals new buttons right and left. The former appears to be for switchable ABS, whereas the latter is for charting through the TFT menu.
Interestingly, the bikemaker has skipped out on two crucial elements–adjustable levers and space for RE’s Tripper Navigation pod. Does the latter mean there will be smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation as standard? Well, we hope so, but it’s something only time will tell.
Under the skin lies an all-new 450cc powerhouse with liquid cooling (a first for RE). It’s expected to churn out 40-45 horsepower, sent to the wheel via a six-speed transmission. The engine will sit inside a new chassis (reportedly a trellis structure), sprung on upside-down forks and monoshock. You’d also appreciate the updated 21/17-inch spoke wheels with beefier CEAT block tires. They won’t be tubeless by the looks of it, though.
So when will the new Himalayan debut? Well, RE has already set a date for that at the latter end of October 2023. The Indian launch will take place shortly after, followed by the motorcycle’s global debut at the 2023 EICMA in November. Then, it should reach American shores in the early months of 2024.
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Punya is an avid motorcyclist who’s always up for a ride to the canyons or the racetrack. He insists his riding skills are better than his writing skills, even though he’s worked with some world-renowned automotive websites.
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