Royal Enfield is working on a new liquid-cooled 450cc engine platform that will underpin as many as five new bikes down the road. While the Himalayan 450 has been spied multiple times before, both overseas and in India, this time around, it's the naked roadster based on this same engine that has been spotted testing.
- Gets same-sized cast alloy rims at both ends
- Monoshock at the rear, new swingarm
- Stubby exhaust muffler, all-LED lighting
Royal Enfield 450cc roadster: details
While the bike features a spartan amount of bodywork, a few design elements can be made out. The styling is very akin to a neo-retro roadster, with a near-upright upper body position for the rider and a gentle bend for the legs to reach the footpegs. The swooping round tank meets what seems to be a large single-piece seat. Lighting is LED all around. The turn signals too resemble those of the Himalayan 450, with the rear units featuring a built-in tail-lamp.
Considering this is an all-new liquid-cooled engine, it isn’t too much of a stretch to assume it will be nestled inside an all-new chassis as well. The exhaust system can be seen clearly too, with a stubby end-can, much like the Hunter 350. Where it differs from the Hunter 350 (and other RE models) is that it uses a monoshock at the rear compared to the twin shock absorbers. A telescopic fork is on duty at the front. The swingarm too appears to be a brand-new unit and has a slight kink to it where it meets the main chassis.
The cast-alloy rims appear to be of the same sizes at both ends and feature a unique design. What can also be made out is that they are shod with CEAT rubber. The front and rear disc brakes appear to be large in diameter and since ABS rings are present at either end, this bike will likely come equipped with dual-channel ABS.
This test mule is also shod with a couple of luggage options such as a rear base plate (presumably for a top box) and saddle stays on both sides, indicating that Royal Enfield will also roll out an array of accessories when this bike is launched.
All said and done, the launch of this motorcycle seems to be quite some time away, considering what has been spied appears to be an early prototype, judging from the rough finish, the absence of an instrument console and exposed wiring.
What do you think this upcoming roadster from Royal Enfield will be called? Let us know in the comments section below.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
