Royal Enfield has given tubeless wire spoke wheels to the new Himalayan 450. These are available as optional extras and the manufacturer charges Rs 11,000. New owners can pay this amount at the time of booking the bike. The update comes almost a year after the new Himalayan had its market entry. This is remarkably affordable for an upgrade like this, especially when compared to other premium brands.
We Have Been Waiting For This
When Royal Enfield initially launched the Himalayan 450, they promised that tubeless spoke wheels would soon be available. While bikes exported from India included this feature, models sold domestically did not receive them due to complications with BIS certification.
This delay left Indian customers with a minor inconvenience, as fixing a puncture on the tubed tyres was difficult due to the Himalayan’s unique tyre sizes. Owners often resorted to using third-party solutions like Outex kits, which were not always ideal. An Outex Tubeless Kit converts a tubed-type rim into a tubeless one, and is more or less a DIY project that can be completed with ease.
The introduction of tubeless rims makes puncture repair easier and more efficient. It also makes the Himalayan 450 comply with international standards, enhancing its convenience and appeal to ADV riders in India.
Pricing Is Astounding!
Royal Enfield’s pricing of the tubeless rims is particularly astounding. At Rs 11,000 a pair, these are far more affordable than those by premium brands like BMW and Honda (mostly on their CBUs), which sell these for over 1 lakh rupees. It could probably be the first time that a bike maker has priced these so low.
However, it’s important to note that this price is only available if the rims are added to a new bike through Royal Enfield’s Make It Yours (MIY) configurator. If purchased through a dealership, the price increases to Rs 12,424.
These tubeless rims will be available for purchase starting October 3, giving existing and new Himalayan 450 owners a chance to upgrade. Unfortunately, these are not compatible with the older Himalayan 411. Owners of that motorcycle get no luck this time.
Which Variants Get Tubeless Tyres?
For international markets, the Kamet White variant of the Himalayan 450 comes standard with tubeless wheels, while other colour variants offer them as optional extras. In India, however, the tubeless rims are only sold as optional add-ons across the entire Himalayan 450 range. No variant gets it as standard equipment.
As of now, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is priced between Rs 2.85 lakh and Rs 2.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai). With the wire-spoke wheels with tubeless tyres in place, the prices rise to 2.96- 3.10 lakh (ex-showroom). The addition of tubeless spoked rims not only enhances the bike’s practicality but also reinforces its position as a capable and budget-friendly adventure tourer and off-roader.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: A Quick Look At It
The new Himalayan is Royal Enfield’s first motorcycle to use a liquid-cooled engine, called the Sherpa 450. This engine churns out 39.47 bhp and 40 Nm. The motorcycle offers performance and handling that we would love. It comes with a brilliant suspension setup consisting of front USD forks and a linkage-type rear mono-shock. It gets 200 mm of travel at both the front at rear. This motorcycle manages to impress on both roads and terrains.
The Himalayan 450 is also a motorcycle that you can throw around corners and come out fast. It also offers ample occupant comfort- in fact, brilliant for the rider and decent for the pillion. It gets decent kit levels and comes with features like a digital console and dual-channel ABS.
