Royal Enfield has four different engine platforms in its stable, and with the exception of the 443cc single-cylinder engine, all of them underpin multiple models. That will change soon, though, as we have learnt that the company is working on a new-age Himalayan 440, codenamed D4G. This bike will serve as a spiritual successor to the original 411 and is likely to be launched in the latter half of this year.
- Expect styling to be faithful to the original Himalayan 411
- Engine and chassis will likely be similar to the Scram 440
- Likely to be priced in the Rs 2.40 lakh-Rs 2.60 lakh ballpark
All prices are ex-showroom, Chennai.
RE Himalayan 440: What should you expect?
Will be an amalgamation of the Scram 440 and the original Himalayan 411
The Himalayan 411 marked an inflection point for Royal Enfield and was a clear departure from its archetypal bread-and-butter neo-retro models. In the seven years it was on sale, the 411 carved out a niche for itself as an affordable and rugged machine. While the new Himalayan 450 was undoubtedly faster, more sophisticated and feature-rich, it was also a tall and heavy machine that cost significantly more, which didn’t make it as approachable as its predecessor.
This is exactly what the Himalayan 440 should be able to address, in theory at least. A reason for the Himalayan 411’s approachability was its low 800mm seat height. The Scram 440, too, has a low 795mm perch, and you can expect the reborn, simpler Himalayan 440 to continue in that same vein.
The Himalayan 411 was a simple machine, and the 440 is likely to carry forward those traits. Expect switchable ABS and the Tripper navigation pod to be carried forward from the Scram on the Himalayan 440 but not features like riding modes and traction control. Similarly, the new 440 could have familiar oddball styling like the original Himalayan 411, though with different colours and graphics. It is also likely to have the same LED headlight seen on all Royal Enfield bikes of late.
Coming to the mechanical bits, expect the 443cc single-cylinder air/oil-cooled engine and the 6-speed gearbox to be carried over from the Scram 440. Expect output figures to be largely identical to the Scram’s (25.4hp and 34Nm of torque), with perhaps a small variance. For reference, the Himalayan 411’s engine made 24.3hp and 32Nm of torque and came mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
The chassis, too, is expected to be very similar, but in keeping with its more adventurous intent, the Himalayan 440 is likely to use longer-travel suspension. For reference, the Himalayan 411 used to have 190mm/180mm (F/R) of travel. Expect a 21-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear wheel – like on the 411 – shod with tubed dual-purpose tyres. It is unclear whether Royal Enfield will offer cross-spoke rims that permit tubeless tyres, considering the Himalayan 440’s expected, more affordable pricing.
Currently, the Scram 440 is priced from Rs 2.23 lakh to Rs 2.31 lakh, and the Himalayan 450 costs Rs 3.06 lakh to Rs 3.37 lakh. Somewhere in between those two models is where the Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 is likely to be positioned when it launches around the second half of this year.
With inputs from KETAN THAKKAR