Liquid-cooled Royal Enfield 450 Single Spied
DOHC engine in modern roadster seen testing.
By Ben Purvis
December 14, 2022
https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-news/royal-enfield-450-liquid-cooled-single-spy-shots/The bike you see here, was spotted in Spain near the Idiada test facility south of Barcelona, which is a huge testing ground for cars and motorcycles that has long been favored by brands such as Triumph and KTM for its year-round good weather. With many of Royal Enfields’ staff at its UK-based R&D facility having history at Triumph’s factory, situated just a few minutes’ drive away, perhaps it should be no surprise that the company is using the same proving grounds. With no branding or logos, you probably wouldn’t guess that the machine was a Royal Enfield. First, there’s no old-fashioned air-cooled engine, and the styling isn’t overtly retro. It’s a straightforward roadster-style machine with a midsized, modern single-cylinder engine that could as easily be a Japanese or Italian model as one that’s set to be manufactured in India.
It is a Royal Enfield, however, and we understand that the new engine has a capacity of around 450cc. The same motor was spotted earlier this year in England, when Royal Enfield was caught evaluating its next-generation Himalayan adventure bike, which will also use it. In this instance, the more standard style of the bike it’s fitted to, has sparked suggestions that it’s the replacement for the Himalayan-based Scram 411. Although the use of 17-inch alloy wheels instead of 19-inch front / 17-inch rear wirespoke units of the Scram 411 eliminates any lingering “scrambler” elements, so a different name might make more sense. Royal Enfield has a hoard of unused trademarks including Constellation, Flea, Flying Flea, Sherpa, Roadster and Shotgun (given the standard look of this bike, the simple “Roadster” might suit it).