Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has been one of the most popular models in the 450 CC platform and recently Royal Enfield has revealed the Rally Racer version of the model. The Royal Enfield Rally Racer was recently seen for the first time in the Spanish Cuenca rally and spotted at the Swank Rally Di Sardegna in Italy. Some images of the upcoming bike, which is still in its initial phase of development, have been revealed and are going viral on the internet. Looking at the images it is evidence that the Himalayan Rally Racer model has some updates and improvements.
Royal Enfield Rally Racer visual changes
Some of the key visual changes that are visible are the bike looks stripped down with the Royal Enfield rally kit attached, the protective cage around the fuel tank has been eliminated to upgrade the bike’s design as well as reduce weight significantly. Moreover, now the motorcycle features a knobby rally spec tyre which is the best for off-road performance. Since, the bike is oriented for off-road riding it has been fitted with long travel suspension that will enhance handling over rough terrain. Furthermore, the rally tower has been mounted at the front, for keeping necessary rally equipment such as the road book. Meanwhile, rumours suggest that the production version may feature advanced navigation systems like digital GPS.
Other potential addition to the production model include long range fuel tank, higher ground clearance for tough terrain, upgraded lighting system for better visibility in low light conditions, reinforced frame as well as a suspension for added durability, rally-spec accessories like skid plates along with crash bars for protection etc. CS Santosh, a renowned rally racer, was seen riding the Rally Racer version at the international rally competition, which is being used as a testing ground to test the bike’s performance and Santosh is expected to provide useful feedback that will significantly help in the improvement of the final model.
Royal Enfield Rally Racer Engine
It seems like the engine will be upgraded given that the rally bikes need enhanced performance although it looks as if the engine is similar to the Himalayan 450. The engine output is likely going to be 50 hp, whereas the power output of the standard model’s engine is 40 hp with 40 Nm torque. To ensure better control even at low speed, these bikes have been built for high low-end torque. Himalayan 450 is equipped with a 6-speed gear box slipper clutch and ride-by-wire-throttle which will likely be continued in the Rally Racer version.
The rally-spec version will probably have a different suspension as well as braking setup compared to the stock Himalayan 450. One of the most important visible changes in the rally bike is the full-system Akrapovic exhaust, which tells us that the performance will be improved. As per speculation, the Himalayan 450 might participate in future Dakar Rallies, however, no official announcement has been announced by Royal Enfield regarding the same. A more refined version of the rally bike is expected to show up at future rally events as the project develops further.