Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 vs Himalayan 450: Detailed Comparison

Royal Enfield has launched the Himalayan 440 in India. It is based on the Royal Enfield Scram 440, but gets long-travel suspension, spoke wheels, and proper adventure bike stance just like the older 411. Here is how it compares to the more expensive Royal Enfield Himalayan 450:

Design

Royal Enfield has kept the design of the Himalayan 440 the same as the older 411. It gets a muscular metal fuel tank, simple side panels, and a tall stance. All of this together gives the 440 a no-nonsense rugged appearance that is quite likeable. It is available in three colour options: Mustang Brown, Nelong White, and Sela Black, all of which suit the mature vibe of this adventure bike quite well.

On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 looks larger, and much more modern. It has a larger fuel tank, that's also made of metal. Overall the bike looks quite bulky, because of the stance, and things like the high-mounted front fender, and striking looking tail-section. It is available in 6 different colour options: Kaza Brown, Slate Poppy Blue, Slate Himalayan Salt, Kamet White, Hanle Black, and Mana Black. 

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Engine 

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 uses the same air-oil-cooled 443 cc, single-cylinder engine as the Scram 440. It makes 25.4 PS, 34 Nm, and comes paired to a 6-speed gearbox. This engine on the Scram, has been appreciated for being very refined, and providing a strong low and mid-range grunt. This characteristic should make the Himalayan 440 a good option for trail riding, and effortless long-distance touring.

For people who want to travel fast, and want quick acceleration, can consider the Himalayan 450. It uses a 452 cc liquid-cooled engine making 40 PS and 40 Nm, which is a lot more than the 440. As a result it should be much quicker in real-world riding conditions, and also provide better highway performance. 

Underpinnings 

The Himalayan 450 may look larger, but at 196 kg, it is 3 kg lighter than the 440 that weighs 199kg (both kerb). The major difference can be seen in the suspension setup of both of these bikes. The 450 uses a more modern inverted fork setup, while the 440 comes with a conventional telescopic fork. However, both bikes have a monoshock. The 450 offers 200 mm of wheel travel at both ends, while the 440 offers 200 mm wheel travel at the front and 180 mm at the rear. 

Both bikes use a 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheel setup. However the 450 comes with a wider 140-section rear tyre (120-section on the 440). Also, one can opt for the tubeless cross-spoke wheels for the 450 which are available as an accessory. Both bikes get disc brake setup, however the 450 gets larger discs at both ends, with more premium sintered brake pads, which provide for much stronger braking power.

Features

The Himalayan 440 is quite a basic adventure motorcycle when compared to some of its main rivals. It gets an analogue speedometer, with a digital inset to show trip-information, gear-position and more. The brand has also given it a Tripper Navigation pod as standard, for turn-by-turn navigation. That, along with the LED headlight and tail-light, and dual-channel ABS give it a modern touch. 

The Himalayan 450 comes loaded with a circular TFT console that supports smartphone connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, Google Maps mirroring, SMS/call alerts, and OTA (over the air) updates. There is ride-by-wire throttle, ride modes, switchable dual channel ABS and all-LED lights. It still misses out on traction control, but is in a league of its own when compared to the 440.

Price & Verdict

(ex-showroom, Chennai)

The Himalayan 440 is a whopping Rs 70,000 more affordable than the Himalayan 450. Yes, it misses out on modern tech, performance, and hardware. But the bike should offer a no-nonsense off-roading, and touring experience with a strong and refined engine. It is for people who want a simpler bike, which comes ready-setup.

That said, if you are willing to spend the extra money, then the Himalayan 450 is easily one of the nicest adventure bikes available on the market today.