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New Delhi . Royal Enfield has officially launched its new adventure bike Himalayan 440 in the Indian market. The company has designed this bike keeping in mind those riders who want a strong and reliable adventure motorcycle with better engine capacity and modern features. The new Himalayan 440 is positioned below the Himalayan 450 in the company's portfolio. Its starting ex-showroom price has been fixed at Rs 2.29 lakh. Booking of the bike has been started across the country through Royal Enfield dealerships and the company's official website.

The biggest feature of the new Himalayan 440 is its engine. It has a 443cc single cylinder LS440 engine which generates power of 25.4 hp at 6250 rpm and peak torque of 34 Nm at 4000 rpm. In comparison, the old Himalayan 411 had a power of 24.5 hp and torque of 32 Nm. That is, minor but useful improvements have been made in the new bike at the level of both power and torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox which is expected to provide a better cruising experience during long distance riding on the highway.

Mechanically, the platform of the Himalayan 440 is to the Scram 440 but the company has made significant changes to its running gear and suspension to give it the character of a true adventure bike. It has a large 21-inch front wheel, whereas the Scram 440 has a 19-inch front wheel. The large front wheel comes with tubed tires and wire spoke wheels. This is expected to improve the ability of the bike on bad and bumpy roads. Its suspension has also been given a longer travel, which can provide better control and comfort to the rider while off-roading.

Talking about the features, the new Himalayan 440 has a new twin pod setup in place of the four pod instrument console of the old Himalayan 411. Its design looks more clean and modern. Digital analog instrumentation is available in one pod of the bike while Google Maps based tripper navigation is provided in the other pod. The system features turn by turn navigation which can make it easier for riders traveling long distances to find their way. The bike also uses modern switchgear taken from the Scram 440.

In terms of design, the company has kept the Himalayan 440 very close to the identity of the old Himalayan 411. The bike has the same familiar adventure motorcycle's high stance and strong silhouette. That is, while maintaining the liked design of the old model, the company has tried to add more powerful engine and new age features to it.

Overall, the new Himalayan 440 can be an interesting option for those customers who want a bike with a classic Himalayan design, a powerful engine and off-roading capability. With a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 2.29 lakh, it will compete with other options in the adventure bike segment. Now it remains to be seen how much the new Himalayan 440 is liked among Indian riders.