The Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 was discontinued in late 2023, when the significantly more sophisticated Himalayan 450 took its place. However, the added technological complexity also meant that the 450 was considerably more expensive than the bike it replaced, leaving many riders longing for the 411’s simpler, more straightforward character. The new Himalayan 440 is Royal Enfield’s answer to that demand. While it retains the same DNA as the original Himalayan, it brings a number of meaningful updates nearly a decade after the first-generation bike made its debut.
New Himalayan 440 vs Old Himalayan 411: What stays the same?
The core philosophy and most of the cycle parts carry over unchanged
The Himalayan 440 retains its split-cradle frame architecture from the 411, along with the same 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheel combination. Suspension travel is also unchanged, with 200mm at the front and 180mm at the rear, as is the 220mm ground clearance and the 800mm seat height. In character and purpose, these are the same motorcycle.
New Himalayan 440 vs Old Himalayan 411: Engine and gearbox
The new Himalayan uses the same engine as the Scram 440
The most significant change on the Himalayan is to do with the powertrain, with the bike now using the same powerplant as the Scram 440. The original Himalayan was powered by a 411cc, air/oil-cooled, single-cylinder unit producing 24hp at 6,500rpm and 32Nm at 4,000rpm. The 443cc unit on the new bike makes 25.4hp at 6,250rpm and 34Nm at 4,000rpm – 1.4hp and 2Nm more.
This new engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox, unlike the 411, which used a 5-speed unit, with revised ratios throughout. The additional gear should make highway cruising more relaxed and touring more comfortable over long distances.
New Himalayan 440 vs Old Himalayan 411: Braking
Gets improved braking hardware and dual-channel switchable ABS
On paper, the braking hardware on the Himalayan 440 seems identical to what the 411 had to offer, with a 300mm disc at the front, 240mm rear disc, and dual-channel ABS. However, Royal Enfield mentions that the hardware now comprises new two-piston Bybre floating calipers with larger pistons, delivering improved braking performance. The dual-channel ABS system is switchable, so you can disengage the rear ABS.
New Himalayan 440 vs Old Himalayan 411: Features and equipment
Gets LED headlight and Tripper navigation among other features
The 440 gets a new LED headlight, and the digital-analogue instrument cluster setup has been updated. It loses the tachometer from the original but gets the brand's Tripper navigation pod for turn-by-turn navigation. Another notable addition includes a USB Type-C charging port. The Himalayan has always been about long-distance adventure travel and unsurprisingly, the brand is offering a long list of accessories that you can add to the bike, including protection like engine and knuckle guards, as well as luggage like a top box and official panniers.
New Himalayan 440 vs Old Himalayan 411: Price
The Himalayan 440 is priced at Rs 2.29 lakh, making it a substantial Rs 79,000 more affordable than the Himalayan 450’s starting price. In fact, when the Himalayan 411 was discontinued in 2023, it was priced between Rs 2.15 lakh and Rs 2.30 lakh. That makes the new 440’s pricing even more impressive as three years on, it costs virtually the same as its predecessor while offering a more powerful engine, better brakes and several other practical upgrades.
Stephen Raj Antony
Ved Janve
