Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 due soon

Ahead of its upcoming arrival in Australia, pricing and other details for the highly anticipated Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 have been revealed. Introductory pricing of $8,990 ride away is a $600 increase on the Himalayan 410, with pre-orders for the new and improved LAMS adventure bike given priority when the new model arrives in March (TBC).

Key changes on the Himalayan 450 over the old version include the larger ‘Sherpa’ 452cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, with ride-by-wire throttle and a six-speed gearbox with slip/assist clutch. The original Himalayan ran an air-cooled ‘LS410’ 411cc single, conventional cable throttle control and a five-speed ‘box.

With no impact on LAMS compliance, the new package delivers 29.44kW at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpom, compared to 18.1kW at 6500rpm and 32Nm at 4250rpm.

A high-mount airbox makes for safer water crossings, while the Himalayan 450 also comes with four selectable riding modes. These have yet to be revealed, but overseas reporting suggests the modes are Eco ABS On, Eco ABS Off, Performance ABS On and Performance ABS Off.

The steel twin-spar frame is described as being stronger and stiffer, as well as narrower for better rider comfort and increased manoeuvrability. The front suspension has been upgraded from 41mm forks to 43mm Showa USD units, and while the rear suspension is unchanged, travel has increased from 180mm to 200mm. For the braking the front rotor has increased 20mm to 320mm diameter and the rear disc increased 30mm to 270mm. Calipers are unchanged and switchable dual-channel ABS remains. The wire spoke wheels remain at 21-inch front and 17-inch rear, but there's now a larger 140/80 tyre on the back end (previously 120/90).

Other upgrades include an LED headlight, tail light and indicators, while instrumentation has moved from a cluster of analogue gauges with LCD inserts to a single, full colour 4-inch TFT display with phone connectivity and media control. Additionally, the Tripper navigation system is now standard (previously an extra-cost option).

The new Royal Enfield Himalayan is bigger in most dimensions, starting with a 1510mm wheelbase (previously 1465mm) and an increase in ground clearance to 230mm. A 2245mm x 852mm x 1316mm LxWxH compares to 2190mm x 840mm x 1370mm on the original version. Seat height rises from 800mm to 825mm on the new Himalayan and can be adjusted up to 845mm, while an optional lower seat of 805mm can be lifted to 825mm. Despite the larger engine, increased size and beefed-up cycle parts, kerb weight of the new Himalayan is actually 3kg lighter at 196kg, with a dry weight of just 181kg.

A range of accessories will be available from launch, including crash bars, headlight grille, radiator guard, engine bash plate, a taller screen, top box and hard panniers.

The $8,990 ride away launch pricing applies to the Kaza Brown colour option only, with the two-tone Slate Salt and Slate Poppy Blue options at $9,250 ride away. The Himalayan 450 in premium two-tone Hanle Black is $9,490 ride away. All pricing is backed by a 3-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, with 3 years’ roadside assistance.

See more and pre-order the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 online at: royalenfield.com.au You can also pre-order through your nearest Royal Enfield dealership.