Royal Enfield has made its rally racing debut at the Swank Rally de Sardegna in Italy. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 with rally-spec modifications and piloted by Salvatore Di Benedetto took part in the rally wearing Royal Enfield branded gear leading us to believe that the brand might have took part in the rally officially. However, Royal Enfield has not yet announced its participation in the Swank Rally de Sardegna.
Royal Enfield – Rally De Sardegna
According to pictures shared by Salvatore Di Benedetto on his social media profile, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 at Sardinia appears to have been modified to make it lighter than standard. Obviously, parts that that are not absolutely required for racing have been deleted. However, as per rally regulations the motorcycle still needs the headlamps and tail lamps. But, the stock headlamp unit has been replaced by a lighter rally-spec setup. In addition to this, the Himalayan 450 also gets a rally style windscreen and brackets to hold the road book.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – Modifications
Powering the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 comes with a “Sherpa“ 452cc liquid-cooled engine. The single-cylinder engine produces 40 PS of power and 40 Nm of torque. The engine comes with a 6-speed gearbox and assist and slip clutch. The engine could have been tuned to produce more power as well as the pictures reveal a n aftermarket performance exhaust. However, the enhanced power output is not know. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 also gets rally-spec knobby tyres to help it gain traction on the gravelly terrain. The Himalayan 450 also features other accessories specific to racing. The suspension setup could also have been tuned to tackle the off-road event, however, the changes are likely to be internal. The bike is also seen with an aftermarket radiator guard and an engine sump guard to protect it from rocks.
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