In 5 Pics: Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric vs Himalayan 452

Design, hardware, features and more, we dive deep into all of it

[UPDATE: The all-new Royal Enfield Himalayan has been launched in India at a killer price tag, and you can read all about it in our launch report here]

After showcasing the Himalayan 452, Royal Enfield also unveiled the Himalayan electric concept, both of which look quite stunning. So for those who are curious, here’s all that’s different between the two. 

Design

The biggest visual difference is obviously their design. The Himalayan 450’s design is similar to the current Himalayan 411’s. It looks lean and rugged with a retro touch to it. The Himalayan Electric though, goes a bit more retro. There’s no big beak up front and the shape of the side panels make it look more like the Husqvarna Norden 901. Even the windshield seems larger than both the other Himalayans. That said, both look super rugged and ready to handle all the rough stuff you throw at them. 

Hardware 

Both bikes get an inverted fork but the Himalayan Electric’s golden one is a first for a Royal Enfield bike. We could even see Ohlins suspension on a Royal Enfield bike for the first time, for the Himalayan Electric gets an Ohlins gas-charged monoshock. And while the Himalayan Electric’s wheel setup seems to be a 21-/17-inch combination too, its rear tyre seems a fair bit chunkier than the Himalayan 452’s.  

Features

While the Himalayan Electric’s console details weren’t given out, the concept got a rectangular fully digital console that we think could be a TFT unit. The Himalayan 452, on the other hand, gets a TFT too, but a 4-inch round one that does look very neat and nice.

Launch Timeline

OF COURSE the bikes’ launch timelines will differ. The Himalayan 452 will be launched in India soon at a price of around Rs 2.80 lakh, ex-showroom. The Himalayan Electric’s launch, on the other hand, is still quite some time away, for the bike shown at EICMA is still just a testbed for future concepts from Royal Enfield. 

One thing that’s common for both bikes though, is the fact that the boys at ZigWheels want to jump on both and ride them hard through some off-road…sigh!