The new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 recently broke the covers in India and globally at the EICMA 2023. Slated to go on sale later this month, it essentially means the end of the road for the Himalayan 411. Launched in 2016, the Himalayan 411 created its own cult following with more riders in the country getting a taste of adventure touring.
With the new Himalayan, Royal Enfield claims to have amplified this experience. Let us look at some of the key changes made in the Himalayan 450 over its predecessor.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Old Vs New: Design
The most significant visual update in the new Himalayan is a more rounded fuel tank as compared to a slightly rectangular shaped unit in the outgoing model. As a result, the tank could house 2 additional litres of fuel as compared to the 15-litre tank in the older model. It also translated to more rounded protective bars around the tank.
Split seats in the new Himalayan boast a different contouring and shape in comparison to the ones in the current model. Other visual changes include different side panels, front and rear fenders, and a new beak up front. New LED headlights and indicators add more modern feel to it.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Old Vs New: Underpinnings
Major hardware changes have been made in the new Himalayan. For starters, it gets an all-new twin-spar tubular steel frame with a bolt-on rear subframe and twin-sided swingarms over the archaic half-duplex split cradle frame in the older model. The new twin-spar frame is suspended on Showa-sourced upside down 43mm front forks and a linked type rear mono-shock.
| Specifications | Himalayan 452 | Himalayan 411 |
| Front suspension | 43mm inverted fork, 200mm travel | 41mm conventional fork, 200mm travel |
| Rear rear suspension | Monoshock with linkage, 200mm wheel travel | Monoshock with linkage, 180mm wheel travel |
| Front brake | 320mm disc with 2-piston callipers | 300mm disc with 2-piston callipers |
| Rear brake | 270mm disc with single-piston callipers | 240mm disc with a single-piston calliper |
| ABS | Dual-channel ABS, switchable at rear wheel | Dual-channel ABS, switchable at rear wheel |
| Front Tyre | 90/90-21 Ceat Gripp RE F | 90/90 – 21 Ceat Gripp XL F |
| Rear Tyre | 140/80-17 Ceat Gripp Rad Steel RE | 120/90 – 17 Ceat Gripp XL |
While the front unit offers the same travel, the rear offers 20mm more travel than the previous version. Also it gets larger 320mm front and 270mm rear disc brakes. Both offer the same wheel size but the tyre sizes differ.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Old Vs New: Dimensions
In terms of dimensions, the new Himalayan offers a wheelbase of 1,510mm and 230mm ground clearance, as compared to 1465mm and 220mm, respectively in the previous model. The length, width, and height stand at 2,245mm, 852mm (without handguards), and 1,316mm (without the flyscreen), respectively, making it longer, wider, and taller than the existing Himalayan 411.
| Dimensions | New Himalayan | Old Himalayan |
| Length | 2,245mm | 2,190mm |
| Width | 852mm | 840mm |
| Height | 1,316mm (without flyscreen) | 1,370mm (with flyscreen) |
| Seat Height | 825mm | 800mm |
| Fuel Capacity | 17 litres | 15 litres |
| Kerb Weight | 196kg | 199 kg |
| Wheelbase | 1,510mm | 1,465mm |
| Ground Clearance | 230mm | 220mm |
Fuel tank capacity is now 17 litres– a 2 litre increase– while standard seat height is now 825 mm as compared to 800mm in the outgoing Himalayan. There are other seat height options available with the new Himalayan ranging between 805mm and 825mm.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Old Vs New: Engine
The new Himalayan gets a brand new 452cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that puts around 40 horses and 40 Nm of peak torque. The older Himalayan was powered by a simple 411cc, air/oil-cooled motor that churned out 24.5 bhp and 32 Nm of peak torque. The gearbox in the new Himalayan offers 6-speed ratios with a slip and assist clutch whereas the older Himalayan received a 5-speed gearbox.
| Specs | Himalayan 452 | Himalayan 411 |
| Engine | 452 cc liquid-cooled 4-valve single- cylinder, | 411cc air-cooled (with oil-cooler), 2-valve single-cylinder |
| Power | 40.02PS at 8000rpm | 24.8PS at 6500rpm |
| Torque | 40Nm at 5500rpm | 32Nm at 4000-4500rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed with slip-and-assist clutch | 5-speed |
Royal Enfield Himalayan Old Vs New: Features
The older Himlayan was bare bones in terms of features with highlights such as an analog compass, switchable rear ABS, and USB charging port. The new Himalayan, however, is packed with features like LED illumination, a fully-digital 4-inch circular TFT display with smartphone connectivity and integrated map navigation, music playback, ride-by-wire, two ride modes– Performance and Eco, Type C charging port, and switchable rear ABS.
