Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 vs Himalayan 411: Differences Explained

Even though they share the name, how similar or different is the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 from the old one?

[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 the much-anticipated specifications reveal of the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 452, riders would be eager to know not just the new features but also the key differences the new model has when compared to the long-running Himalayan 411. Let’s take a look at the differences through this comparison.

Design and Chassis

The Himalayan 452 uses a twin-spar steel tubular frame while the Himalayan 411 uses a half-duplex split-cradle frame, developed with Harris Performance, a UK-based performance parts manufacturer owned by Royal Enfield. Design-wise, both bikes exude spartan, go-anywhere vibes. That said, while the Himalayan 411 has several boxy lines, the Himalayan 452 has matured gracefully with smooth, coherent design lines all over the bodywork. As a result, it looks sleeker and more muscular than the Himalayan 411.

Engine:

The Himalayan 452 is the first Royal Enfield bike to be powered by a liquid-cooled engine. The Himalayan 411, on the other hand, was the first Royal Enfield bike to get a counter-balanced engine. Royal Enfield had also recently revealed that the Sherpa engine (the the Himalayan 452 has) offers not only more torque, but it’s available at a much wider rev range. The Himalayan 452 comes with riding modes.

Underpinnings:

The new Himalayan 452 gets more advanced suspension, complementing the new chassis and powerplant. A more powerful engine commands better stopping power too, hence Royal Enfield has used bigger brakes. 

Even the rear tyre is fatter, and comes with a steel radial construction that ensures greater cornering confidence thanks to its flexible sidewalls (as compared to conventional tyres). There’s also a chance that the Himalayan 452 might get spoked tubeless tyres as an add-on accessory in the future. 

Features:

The Himalayan 452 gets a USB Charging Port, 4-inch circular TFT display with smartphone connectivity and integrated map navigation. The Himalayan 411, meanwhile, gets a semi-digital instrument cluster and owners can get turn-by-turn navigation by getting Royal Enfield’s tripper navigation module. While the Himalayan 411’s console had all the crucial information, including a digital compass, Royal Enfield has taken a step even further with the Himalayan 452’s more advanced TFT unit.

Summing up, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 is a generational leap over the existing Himalayan 411. And all these upgrades of course mean that the Himalayan 452 will be relatively costlier, with prices expected to start from Rs 2.80 lakh (ex-showroom). For reference, the Himalayan 411 starts from Rs 2,15,900 (ex-showroom Delhi). The Himalayan 452 will likely be launched in the coming weeks