There’s no longer any doubt about the shape or the name. After years of speculation, we finally know, without any margin for error, what the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 will look like. We’ve talked about it so many times, because there’s so much curiosity about a bike that, as the Indian manufacturer rightly points out in its latest teaser, has created a real movement since its debut in 2016, becoming a cult vehicle like few others have managed in recent times. The new Himalayan will be a technical twist, but will retain the same philosophy and spirit of the bike “built from the Himalayas”.
As can be seen in the photographs that have appeared on Royal Enfield’s Instagram profile, the new 452 is precisely the one that has been identified several times in recent months and therefore has a more modern and more flexible shape than its predecessor. You can also clearly see the inverted front fork and, above all, the liquid-cooled radiator. The design is completely different, but the split seat remains and is very low for an enduro. The exhaust is shorter and narrower, the engine has a much more modern look with the cylinder tilted slightly forward and a small engine guard. The characteristic protection bars on the side of the tank remain, but have changed shape, and are now more elegant and dynamic.
On the home page of Royal Enfield India’s website there is an image of the Himalayan seen three-quarters facing with the Himalayas in the background and it shows two pieces of information: the first is “the final test”, which leads us to assume that it is in progress and that we will therefore have even more details soon.
This takes you to a page showing the countdown to November 7, 2023, the date of the official launch of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 in 2024 and the first day of EICMA. Further down, we find the classic form to leave your details and, further down, the same video we showed you above.
But that’s not all, because the data is already circulating on the internet: the exact cubic capacity is 451.65 cubic meters and the power is 40 hp at 8,000 rpm (so obviously it revs higher than the current one, but not at stratospheric speeds). As well as being water-cooled, the new engine obviously has electronic fuel injection, but also two overhead camshafts and four valves. So it’s definitely more modern.
The dimensions and weight have also been disclosed: the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 measures 2,245 mm in length, is 1,316 mm high and 852 mm wide. The wheelbase is 1,510 mm, the unladen weight is 196 kg and the total permitted weight is 394 kg. Depending on the windshield, the height increases to 1415 mm and, depending on the hand protection, the width reaches 900 mm. This means that the new Himalayan 452 weighs around 3 kg less than its predecessor. A good result, although those hoping for a miracle may be a little disappointed. Another very welcome novelty, however, is that the gearbox should have sixth gear, much sought after by those who also use the Himalayan on long journeys.
The new Himalayan is a change not only in appearance, but also in technical essence, as we’ve already told you. Power has been increased, but the charm of the air-cooled single-cylinder has perhaps been lost, what do you think?
We’ll just have to wait a little longer, but what do you think of the new design?