- New Himalayan 650 spotted testing
- Gets 650cc parallel-twin engine
- Likely to be revealed as a concept at Motoverse 2024
A few days ago, we told you about project ‘R2G’ which is a 650cc Himalayan based on the Interceptor platform. Today, for the first time, a prototype of this Himalayan 650 has been spotted testing.
From the picture, it is clear that the road test of the Himalayan 650 has commenced. This highly camouflaged test mule was rumoured to be spotted around Royal Enfield’s plant near Chennai. The bike was seen running the company’s R&D test plate, making us believe it is an official RE test mule.
It is clear that the Himalayan 650 project is in the advanced stage of testing as the spotted bike looks quite production-ready. The cycle parts around the bike, even though hidden, look as if it is ready to hit the production line. However, it is still not clear the type of frame Royal Enfield has used on it. But the rear side of the bike was a bit exposed and that showed a bit of the trellis frame. The engine is from the Interceptor – a 650cc parallel-twin unit which makes 47bhp and 52Nm of torque.
A few other things like USD forks upfront, side-swept exhaust, split seats and spoked-wheels are seen on this test mule. Interestingly, the front suspension looks like it has adjustment settings – maybe for preload, compression and rebound. The overall styling of the motorcycle looks new, but it is too early to talk about the aesthetics. But the rear section does have a lot of inspiration from the Himalayan 452.
In terms of product positioning, the Himalayan 650 is likely to become the most expensive in the line-up, with a starting price of around Rs 3.8-4 lakh (ex-showroom).
