It is often said that innovation is the only way forward. In fact, in the context of the motorcycle industry, it is precisely this innovation that leads manufacturers to success. And while not all brands are dedicated to technology and performance, it goes without saying that they all strive to deliver a better product to end users.
Recently, we’ve seen a lot of this innovation from Royal Enfield, a brand that focuses on heritage, emotion and the simplicity of riding. Although it’s not top performance, Royal Enfield has indeed brought its technology into the 21st century, and there’s no better bike to do that than the new Himalayan. Unveiled for the first time in all its glory at EICMA 2023, the new Himalayan marked a number of firsts for RE. For starters, it’s the brand’s first liquid-cooled engine, and one with impressive power, with its 40 hp set to take on the likes of KTM and BMW.
The new Himalayan is also Royal Enfield’s most performance-oriented machine to date, with technology such as throttle-by-wire, top-quality suspension components and, not to mention, a 65% increase in power. In fact, our first assessment of the new Himalayan revealed it to be a very versatile machine, capable of tackling all types of terrain with relative ease. That said, it’s clear that the Himalayan isn’t the only bike with the new Sherpa 450 engine – it couldn’t be.
Rumors of a Hunter 450 – a bigger sister to the popular Hunter 350 – have been circulating for some time. A recent post by the Indian publication HT Auto reveals some photographs of a prototype Hunter 450.
It’s clearly a departure from the classic Royal Enfield codes, as it boasts very modern lines, inverted front forks, sporty-looking alloy wheels and an overall sporty stance. It’s clearly more of a naked than a relaxed cruiser, and the bike’s design doesn’t do much to keep that a secret. After all, the Hunter 350 was born to be an agile and easy-to-ride bike, albeit with the much more relaxed and docile J platform. With the Hunter 450 now within the realm of possibility, it certainly looks like RE is improving its performance.
After all is said and done, it’s important to note that these photos of the alleged Hunter 450 are just that – photos with no confirmation from Royal Enfield as to whether or not what we’re actually seeing is a future model. Like HT Auto, all we can do at the moment is speculate what this bike might have in store, should it become a reality. However, if Royal Enfield’s previous launches are anything to go by, we’re likely to see a new model with the Sherpa 450 engine much sooner rather than later.