What To Expect At 2019 EICMA: Royal Enfield

We take a look at what’s in Royal Enfield’s bag of surprises this year for the EICMA

Although Royal Enfield will not make an appearance at the Indian Auto Expo, the manufacturer will have a stall on the other side of the world at the 2019 EICMA. Last year, along with showcasing the 650 twins, the bike maker also displayed a chic and powerful concept motorcycle called the KX. But that was last year, what is Royal Enfield going to bring this year to impress its followers? 

KX Concept Version 2.0:

Last year, Royal Enfield shocked everyone by showcasing an 838cc concept motorcycle, the KX, which was inspired by the original KX from the late ’30s. The talking point of the KX concept was its 838cc, V-Twin air- and oil-cooled motor. In its modern avatar, the one-off KX concept looked menacing due to its fat girder forks at the front, a low stance, and the dark green paint job. Now, there’s no word from the company whether the KX will ever hit the production line or not, but if it did, Royal Enfield might shake up the entire segment just like it did with the 650 twins.

2020 Classic 350: 

Royal Enfield might unveil or give us a teaser of the 2020 Classic 350 at one of the biggest motoring shows. The motorcycle has been spotted in India several times. And it won’t be just a new paint scheme, but the first major cosmetic as well as mechanical overhaul since its inception. The 2020 Classic 350 will get the same retro look and as per the spy shots, it seems like the bike maker has tweaked the design to an extent. Moreover, the upcoming motorcycle will get a new frame and a larger motor to comply with the upcoming emission norms in India. Here’s everything we know about the 2020 iteration of RE’s most successful motorcycle. 

2020 Thunderbird 350X:

The bike maker might also showcase the 2020 Thunderbird 350X. Just like the Classic 350, the 2020 Thunderbird 350X will also get a major overhaul. The updated motorcycle was recently spotted without any camouflage, giving us a clear idea of what the 2020 Thunderbird 350X will look like. For instance, the fuel tank is slightly redesigned, the instrument cluster seems to be new, and so are the seats. A fully kitted-out test mule that was spotted sometime back suggests Royal Enfield could also bring new accessories for the 2020 Thunderbird 350X. We expect the updated Thunderbird 350X to be powered by a new 400cc engine to comply with the new emission norms. 

The Meteor:

Back in May, Royal Enfield had filed a trademark for the name ‘Meteor’ under different classes such as motorcycles, parts and fittings, clothing and more. This gives us a hint that Royal Enfield might be working on a new motorcycle, which could wear the Meteor badge. As of now, there’s little information about the new motorcycle, but we expect it to be based on the 650cc platform. Considering that Royal Enfield will increase the price of the 650 twins once the new emission norms kick in, we expect the bike maker to launch a more affordable version of the Interceptor 650. To keep costs in check, Royal Enfield might equip the upcoming stripped-down version of the Interceptor with a single-pod instrument console, locally sourced tyres and fewer chrome elements. Check out our detailed story on the Meteor. 

The Himalayan hasn’t received an update for quite some time now. So, the manufacturer could bring the 2020 iteration of the Himalayan with new bodywork and tweaked mechanicals. And no, we don’t think it will be the bigger Himalayan 650 that we’ve been craving for so long!

This isn’t the final list of motorcycles that Royal Enfield will bring to the 2019 EICMA; there’s a chance the bike maker may not bring anything and showcase the current lineup instead. But, let’s hope for the best.