For years, Royal Enfield has been milking their 350cc & 500cc model range, and they have seen no major update in terms of technology. We already know that a new generation of the 350cc motorcycles are already in road test phase, but seems like post the BSVI implementation, the 500cc models could be axed. Given that Royal Enfield now has the 650 Twins in place and the 400cc Himalayan, the current 500cc models might be making little business case.
Currently, both the 350cc & 500cc Royal Enfield engines use push rod systems which will not meet the upcoming emission norms. The brand has already started testing the new 350cc engine which will make it to BSVI and become the new entry-level motor in the brands portfolio. So all of the current motorcycles will be phased out and launched as all-new motorcycles with new engine and respectively revised chassis.
Royal Enfield has not revealed any new motorcycle at the EICMA show in Milan this year, and no bike has made it to their own grand event – Rider Mania 2019 either. So we expect the brand to reveal new motorcycles in the first quarter of 2020.
Currently, the 499cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled motor with 84mm bore x 90mm stroke produces 27.2 BHP of power @ 5250 RPM and 41.3 Nm of torque @ 4000 RPM matched to a 5-speed gearbox. The bikes now get fuel-injection and dual-channel ABS, but this motor will soon become obsolete.