EICMA 2023 : Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric Test Bike Unveiled, Will Ride On 21-inch and 17-inch CEAT Gripp Tyres

Royal Enfield pulled off a surprise by unveiling the new Himalayan Electric prototype motorcycle at the EICMA 2023. Here are the initial impressions which we have drawn from the Himalayan Electric test bike, including its tyre sizes, design details and developments around its powertrain:

• The Himalayan Electric has been on test by Royal Enfield for the last 18 months.
• The Himalayan Electric shares its tyre sizes with the new Himalayan 452 – 90/90-21 at the front and 140/80 R17 at the rear.
• The motorcycle is equipped with a CEAT Gripp RE F tube-type tyre at the front and a CEAT Gripp Rad Steel RE radial tube-type tyre at the rear. 
• The Himalayan Electric prototype is being used by Royal Enfield for testing the powertrain and other internal components. 

Staying true to its commitment to launching its first electric motorcycle within two years from 2023, Royal Enfield showcased the initial prototype of the Himalayan Electric test bike. Currently in its raw form, the Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric will serve as a test bed for the brand’s first all-electric motorcycle, which is supposed to be launched in 2025. 

The Himalayan Electric prototype is being used by Royal Enfield to test the internal components and powertrains, which will be available in the fine-tuned version of the final production-spec motorcycle.

Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric: Tyres & Wheels

For the Himalayan Electric, Royal Enfield has made no changes to the tyre specifications over the recently launched Himalayan 452, as it shares the tyre sizes and standard options available in the latter. 

It means that the Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric also comes with a combination of 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels, with a 90/90-21 CEAT Gripp RE F tube-type tyre at the front and an all-new 140/80 R17 CEAT Gripp Rad Steel RE tube-type tyre at the rear. Among these two tyres, the rear one has a radial construction.

The CEAT Gripp RE front tyre for the Himalayan Electric has proven its prowess in the previous iteration of the Himalayan, while the new CEAT Gripp Rad Steel RE follows in its footsteps in offering uncompromised traction and grip levels on off-road surfaces. Both these tyres offered in the Himalayan Electric feature an angular block pattern for their tread, which helps in holding grip on uneven dry surfaces with its block act-like teeth.

In these tyres, there is an ideal distance between the redesigned tread blocks for easy water evacuation, thus improving its traction on wetter surfaces. The stiffer sidewall of these CEAT Gripp tyres for Himalayan Electric gives it a high-strength load-carrying capacity, further improving the motorcycle’s off-road worthiness.

Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric: Looks & Design

The initial prototype of the Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric displayed at the EICMA 2023 is just a basic design, which will be evolved more in the coming months for the final version of the motorcycle, currently two years away from its launch in the market. 

However, the initial impressions suggest that the Himalayan Electric will be a more off-road-oriented version of the recently-unveiled all-new Himalayan, and bears close resemblance to the electric dirt bike of Royal Enfield’s strategic partner, Stark Future. 

The Himalayan Electric currently has a slim and tall stance, with a rounded headlamp, tall windscreen, golden upside-down front suspension forks and front fender inspired by the new Himalayan. The seat here is an integral part of the tank and flows in a curvaceous manner towards the handlebar. 

The rear part of the Himalayan Electric is minimalist, with the motorcycle having only a flat pannier mount and a compact rear fender, with slim tail lamps mounted on either side, akin to the new Himalayan. 

Royal Enfield Himalayan Electric: Powertrain & Specifications

The Himalayan Electric is serving as a test bed for Royal Enfield, which will make way for the first all-electric motorcycle from the brand. For this plan, Royal Enfield entered into a strategic partnership with a Spain-based electric mobility company named Stark Future. 

Under this partnership, Royal Enfield is developing the electric powertrain and other components for its first electric motorcycle, the raw form of which was displayed in the Himalayan Electric at the EICMA 2023.

Currently, the details of the battery are kept under wraps, but it will be developed in-house by Royal Enfield. On this bike, the battery serves as a structural element of the frame, while the motor and controller are off-shelf components. 

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