Recently, reports of a rally-spec Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 that is likely to be piloted by Indian off-road and enduro motorcycle racer CS Santosh flooded the internet. Now, the Himalayan 450 in the Rally avatar has been spotted again. Reports reveal that the rally-spec bike is not just a lightened version of the standard Himalayan 450 but has comprehensive upgrades to its suspension, brakes and tyres. Furthermore, the engine is also likely to have received updates.
According to media reports, the Himalayan 450 Rally motorcycle seen in the spy shots appears to be in its early days of development. The motorcycle also appears to be purpose built and is not likely to make it to the production line, so one should not get their hopes high, as of yet. Reports reveal that the Himalayan 450 Rally gets off-road tyres as well as longer travel suspension. In addition to this, the braking setup also appears to have received an upgrade to offer more stopping power.
While it looks like the engine is in the stock condition, the brand may have upgraded internal components to squeeze more juice out of the motor. Also, the fuel injection system as well as the engine control unit may have been upgraded to cope with racing speeds and strains. The rally-spec model is also likely to use a more breathable air filter and the only change from the outside is the Akrapovic exhaust system. Speculation is that with all the upgrades the Himalayan 450 Rally is likely to make upwards of 50 Hp of power.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 also appears to have lost all the non-essential parts to lighten its weight. This includes the tank cage, leg guards etc. Also, the instruments cluster could have been repositioned and a rally tower added to the front to hold a road book, a GPS unit, radio and other rally essentials.
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