Royal Enfield's latest Himalayan has been making headlines, not for the wrong reasons this time. The brand's first foray into the rally scene with a modified Royal Enfield Himalayan at the Swank Rally De Sardegna in Italy is a significant milestone. The latest iteration, powered by the all-new 452cc Sherpa engine, is a testament to the brand's commitment and benchmark adv in the segment. The new Himalayan is also an improvement from their first adventure tourer motorcycle in 2016, which was powered by a 411cc engine.
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Not your Stock Himalayan
The stock bike is no slouch, boasting a potent 452cc engine with 40 hp and 40 Nm. However, we suspect the manufacturer might have also played with the ECU, fine-tuning it for the harsh terrain, further enhancing its capabilities. Other than that, the necessary diet has made some modifications, taking the stock headlights, headlight brackets, and front mudguards. Notably, they retained the stock instrument cluster and tankguards. The front end has a lighter replacement rally light and a larger windscreen, adding to the bike's agility and off-road protection. The motorcycle also has an aftermarket belly sump guard and an aftermarket exhaust fitted to it. However, there are a few more accessories from the catalogue of Royal Enfield genuine accessories (GMA) bolted on, like a radiator guard, black rally dual seat, and rear cover. The motorcycle can be seen wearing more knobby offroad tyres rather than the all-terrain stock tyres. Additionally, the bike is equipped with Kriega bags holding all the essentials.
Sardegna Rally
Salvatore Di Benedetto, the Spanish racer, can be seen sporting Royal Enfield gear from top to toe. Despite this, the Royal Enfield official website has not published any details about the participation in Swank Rally De Sardegna, an Italian Rally held from June 11 to 15. However, Salvatore Di Benedetto has completed the Swank Rally De Sardegna rally successfully, which can be seen as proof of the motorcycle's capability and robust build quality. Regarding the recent turn-off event, the brand made it clear they only recommend genuine accessories, which are also torqued in the right spec. Regardless, many cheap aftermarket accessories that aren't tested for the specific motorcycle, hence, come with a compromised safety.
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