Royal Enfield Hunter 450 Spotted Testing Ahead of India Launch; Shows Round Headlight, Alloy Wheels and More

Royal Enfield, one of the most popular two-wheeler makers in the country, plans to add several new motorcycles to its portfolio. Among these new offerings is the highly anticipated Royal Enfield Hunter 450, designed particularly for urban commuting. The bikemaker launched the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in November last year specifically for the Indian market, catering to an audience with a penchant for adventure motorcycling. Recently, the upcoming Hunter 450 was spotted doing rounds on Indian roads. Although an official launch date has not yet been revealed yet, the upcoming bike is expected to go on sale by the end of this year. Price-wise, the Hunter 450 is likely to be less expensive than the Himalayan 450. Now, let us take a closer look at the details revealed by the latest spy shots of the bike.

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Royal Enfield Hunter 450: Key Details

The spy photos indicate that the Hunter 450 will feature alloy wheels, which means tubeless tyres. Notably, a set of tubeless tyres is also included with the Himalayan 450. The most recent spy images show a monoshock at the back and telescopic forks with fork gaiters at the front. The forthcoming Hunter 450, like the Himalayan 450, is also likely to discard the conventional central round stop lamp in favour of turn indicators, which house the stop lamps. For braking duties, the bike will have discs both at the front and the rear. Although there will be a dual-channel anti-lock braking system, it is not yet known if it will be switchable. Moreover, to shield the underbelly from harsh speed breakers, the test mule was also equipped with a bash plate.

Royal Enfield Hunter 450: Engine Specifications and Market Rivals

Coming to the mechanical components of the model, the new Hunter 450 will likely have the same single-cylinder liquid-cooled 450cc engine that powers the Himalayan 450 but, perhaps, with a bit of modification to make it suitable for the roadster. The unit is expected to be mated to a six-speed gearbox, just like the Himalayan. The maximum power and torque output figures will stand at 40bhp at 8,000rpm and 40Nm at 5,000rpm, respectively.

In terms of direct rivals, it will go up against the likes of the KTM 390 Duke and Triumph Speed 400 in the domestic market.

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Royal Enfield Hunter 450: Features and Launch Timeline

The bike has a roadster form with foot pegs positioned in the middle and an easily accessible handlebar, making the riding posture of the bike comfortable for both everyday commuting and long-distance riding. The headlamp, turn indicators, and tail lamps have been borrowed from the Himalayan 450. It is unclear if the circular instrument cluster is an analogue unit from the Shotgun 650 or the one offered with the Himalayan 450. The bike may also get features like ride-by-wire, a fully digital instrument panel with smartphone connectivity, navigation, SMS and call alerts, and full LED lighting.

This new Royal Enfield product should aid the firm in solidifying its position in the 350–500cc class when it is launched in the second half of 2024. As mentioned before, it is expected to be the most reasonably priced model in the 450cc line-up, and it will be positioned beneath the Himalayan 450.

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