Royal Enfield Himalayan rally car debuts

The Himalayan Rally car is likely to feature a modified Sherpa 450 engine with 40 bhp and 40 Nm more than the stock bike

Royal Enfield’s 450cc platform has always been popular and has now spawned a rally car model. The first images of the upcoming bike have now surfaced at the Cuenca Rally in Spain. Earlier, enthusiasts witnessed the modified Himalayan 450 at the Swank Rally Di Sardegna held in Italy.

Himalayan Rally Car – Style and Features

It is evident from the images that the Himalayan Rally Car model is in the initial stages of development. The Cuenca Rally in Spain will likely be used as a proving ground to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the bike. Get some valuable feedback by riding this bike with the famous CS Santosh. Based on this, necessary changes can be introduced in the Himalayan Rally specifications.

Currently, the rally-spec Himalayan comes across as a stripped-down version of the Himalayan 450. You can see some accessories from the RE rally kit. The bike comes with knobby rally-spec tires and long-travel suspension. The rally-spec Himalayan 450 is likely to get different suspension and braking setup compared to the regular version.

Pictures show the side stands removed on the stock model. This improves handling and control on off-road trails. A rally tower has been added to the front to store rally necessities such as road books. The production version of the rally-spec Himalayan 450 is likely to come with a digital GPS system with advanced navigation features.

There could also be various other possibilities, such as remote fuel tanks, reinforced frame and suspension, and higher ground clearance. Production models can be equipped with rally-spec accessories such as skid plates and anti-collision bars. The lighting system can be upgraded to ensure improved visibility in low light/dark conditions.

Rally spec Himalayan 450 – Performance

Visually, the engine appears to be identical to the standard Himalayan 450. It also comes with an OEM radiator guard. However, given the harsh conditions a rally bike must endure, the engine will likely receive significant internal upgrades. For example, power output can be increased to more than 50 horsepower.

Rally bikes have high and low-end torque for enhanced control at low speeds. Another common feature is a wide-ratio gearbox designed to accommodate low-speed crawling and high-speed riding. The original version of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 produced 40 hp and 40 Nm of torque and was equipped with a 6-speed gearbox, slipper clutch and ride-by-wire throttle.

It could be several years or more before the rally-spec Himalayan 450 enters production. Before being perfected, the bike needed to be thoroughly tested, including competing in various other rallies. At the 2024 Rallye TT Cuenca, the rally-spec Himalayan 450 was ranked 30th in the category. In the future, enthusiasts can even get a glimpse of the rally-spec Himalayan 450 at the Dakar Rally. Royal Enfield has hinted at this but is yet to reveal official plans.