The Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 project is back on track. The initial idea which was put on hold has now been given a green light, according to reputable sources. The Himalayan 650 which is being developed at Royal Enfield’s UK technology centre is reported to arrive towards the end of 2024.

However, the upcoming bike, when it goes into production, may not be called Himalayan. It could get a new name and won’t probably be a true blue ADV like the Himalayan 411. Instead, the bike will be a soft-roader and will be available in two variants – one with alloy wheels and one with spokes. The alloy wheels variant will be positioned as a sports tourer while the spoke wheels variant will be positioned as an adventure tourer.

The upcoming Himalayan 650 will use a 19-inch front wheel unlike the 21-inch wheel that the Himalayan 411 uses, and a 17-inch rear wheel. Expect a slightly higher seat height and an upswept exhaust setup for better touring capabilities. The bike will offer a decent ground clearance too. Royal Enfield will also give the motorcycle a digital TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity. In terms of riding aids, the bike will come with ride by wire, traction control system and multiple riding modes.

Powering the Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 is likely to be the same 648cc, air-cooled, parallel-twin SOHC engine that does duty in the brand’s 650 twins – RE Interceptor 650 and RE Continental GT 650. The fuel-injected motor delivers 47bhp  and 52Nm of torque, and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox.

In the meantime, Royal Enfield might unveil an all-new 650cc cruiser motorcycle at the 2021 EICMA Show in Italy. The 650cc cruiser is rumoured to be called the Super Meteor 650.