Surprise, Surprise! Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 Incoming

Are we surprised? Absolutely NOT! The biking community has been asking for a 650cc, twin cylinder Himalayan ever since the original 650cc twins were launched. The Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 gave us hope that there could be a bigger Himalayan in the works, but that dream died down rather quickly and then the Himalayan 450 made an appearance. So, with a faster and possibly more hardcore off-roader already in the pipeline why is Royal Enfield working on a bigger Himalayan?

Royal Enfield’s 650cc platform is heavy and wide. Off-roading requires lightness and agility, which is a bit out of the 650cc platform’s comfort zone. The recently showcased Super Meteor 650 is a classic example. At 241kg, it is a staggering 39kg heavier than the Interceptor 650. For perspective, a Meteor 350 is 191kg kerb.

So then, if we assume it won’t be as focused in going off-road, what will the big Himalayan 650 be good for? Better sense points at touring, something to rival the likes of the Kawasaki Versys 650. And, why not? The value proposition of these 650cc engines will really shake up Kawasaki India’s off-beat pricing strategy for sure.

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The strategy makes sense for one more reason other than what we just discussed and that is, for those seeking hardcore off-road fun, the Himalayan 450 should serve them nicely, while its bigger brother would satiate the needs of a different set of enthusiasts.

We expect the Himalayan 650 to be unveiled by early 2025, although whether it would bear the name “Himalayan” is something to ponder.