Royal Enfield has been doing well by bringing out new bikes regularly. They've got a bunch of options in the 350cc and 650cc segments, but now they're focusing more on their new 450cc platform. After the Himalayan 450, the next bike expected is the Hunter 450, probably coming out later this year, around festival time.
What can we expect from the Hunter 450?
Well, Royal Enfield is hoping to repeat the success they've had with the Hunter 350. That bike's been a hit because of its cool design, a mix of old and new styles, and how well it rides. It's the second best-selling Royal Enfield bike right now, just behind the Classic 350 and the new Bullet 350. The Hunter 450 is likely to have the same good stuff that made the Hunter 350 popular. People who want a bit more power might go for the bigger Hunter 450.
In terms of looks, the Hunter 450 will borrow a lot from its smaller sibling, the Hunter 350. A recent test model had a round headlight and mirrors, a circular display for information, a single seat, and a protective plate for the engine. The fuel tank design is similar to the Hunter 350, but different from the Himalayan 450. The back of the bike looks like the Himalayan 450 too, with the brake lights built into the indicators. This makes the back of the bike look cleaner and a bit lighter. They have used LED lights which are brighter and last longer.
No fancy USD forks
While the Himalayan 450 has special upside-down forks at the front, the Hunter 450 has regular ones. They have added special covers to the forks to make it look sportier and help with off-roading. The Hunter 450 has a comfy, upright riding position, and the seat is probably going to be about 800 mm high and this should make it easier to handle, even for shorter riders.
The display on the Hunter 450 looks a lot like the one on the Himalayan 450. It's a 4-inch screen that shows all sorts of info in a simple way and you can even use Google Maps for navigation.
Hunter 450 specs and how it performs
The Hunter 450 has a single shock absorber at the back and disc brakes at both ends. They'll probably include ABS as standard. Powering the bike is a 452cc liquid-cooled engine called the Sherpa. It makes about 40 PS of power and 40 Nm of torque, and it's got 6 gears. Royal Enfield might tweak the engine a bit to make it better for city riding.
In Royal Enfield's lineup, the Hunter 450 will sit below the Himalayan 450. It'll be the most affordable 450cc bike they offer. They haven't picked a final name yet, but "Hunter 450" sounds pretty good, right?