It is often said that innovation is the only way to go. In fact, in the context of the motorcycle industry, it is precisely this innovation that leads manufacturers to success. And while not all brands are dedicated to technology and performance, needless to say, they all strive to provide a better product to end users.
Recently, we have witnessed a lot of this innovation from Royal Enfield, a brand that focuses on heritage, emotion, and the simplicity of riding. Although it is not a top performance, Royal Enfield has indeed brought its technology into the 21st century, and there is no better motorcycle to do it than the new Himalayan. First revealed in all its glory at EICMA 2023, the new Himalayan marked some firsts for RE. To start with, it is the brand’s first liquid-cooled engine, and one with an impressive power output, with its 40 hp ready to compete with models like KTM and BMW.
The new Himalayan is also the most performance-oriented machine from Royal Enfield to date, with features like ride-by-wire throttle, premium suspension components, and not to mention, a 65% increase in power. In fact, our first evaluation of the new Himalayan revealed that it is a quite versatile machine, capable of handling all types of terrain with relative ease. That being said, it is evident that the Himalayan is not the only motorcycle with the new Sherpa 450 engine – it couldn’t be.
Rumors of a Hunter 450 – a larger sibling to the popular Hunter 350 – have been circulating for some time. A recent post from the Indian publication HT Auto reveals some photos of a Hunter 450 prototype.
It is clearly a departure from Royal Enfield’s classic codes, as it sports modern lines, inverted front forks, sporty-looking alloy wheels, and an overall sporty posture. It is clearly more of a naked bike than a relaxed cruiser, and the bike’s design doesn’t do much to keep that a secret. After all, the Hunter 350 was born to be an agile and easy-to-ride motorcycle, although with a much more relaxed and docile J platform. With the Hunter 450 now within the realm of possibilities, it certainly seems that RE is improving its performance.
After all is said and done, it is important to note that these alleged Hunter 450 photographs are just that – photographs without any confirmation from Royal Enfield as to whether what we are really seeing is a future model or not. Like HT Auto, all we can do at this point is speculate on what this bike might have in store, should it become a reality. However, if previous Royal Enfield releases serve as a reference, it is likely that we will see a new model with the Sherpa 450 engine sooner or later.
