Royal Enfield does not miss the opportunity to make us participate in all the ideas it works on. One of them is this FT450, a prototype that he had already shown us previously, but this time he has shown us what he is capable of on a flat track circuit.
Although we are facing a preparation developed on the basis of the recently released Guerrilla 450, everything indicates that the Indo-British firm could end up bringing the model to the series.
Royal Enfield FT450 in detail
Last June, on the occasion of the Bike Shed Moto Show 2024, Royal Enfield surprised attendees with a prototype named under the acronym Flat Track 450. A mount that was initially said to be developed based on the new Himalayan 450, albeit with some significant changes regarding its philosophy and purpose.
The images published then by Mark Wellshead of Product Strategy and Industrial Design at Royal Enfield, showed us a frame equipped with top-level components, very similar to those used by their sports team in the DTRA Twins Flat Track.
Let us remember that the brand has been competing in this discipline for a few years, so it already has considerable experience to be able to develop a street model based on the motorcycle it uses in this competition.
In fact, perhaps they are already working on it, based on the latest images we have seen on this topic. In them we can see their new FT450, an evolution of the initial prototype from June, in full action at an event held at Motoverse 2024. Although it is still a current concept, it is clear that now the possibility of it arriving becoming a series model is even closer.
This theory gains strength when we discover that the FT450 uses the base of the Guerrilla 450, although lightened for the occasion and equipped with all those essential accessories that are used for the practice of Flat Track. Furthermore, as a significant fact, as detailed by the Argentine colleagues of La Moto:
“It incorporates Powertronic Fuel air, as well as external weather conditions and altitude.”
Mechanically, it has the well-known 452 cc Sherpa single-cylinder engine associated with a 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch. We have a final power of 40 HP at 8,000 rpm and 40 Nm of maximum torque at 5,500 rpm. On the other hand, the FT450 is equipped with 17” radial wheels shod with mixed tires, an exhaust system tailored for the occasion or a single disc brake on the rear wheel, something characteristic of Flat Track models.
The body stands out for its minimalist design with number plates on the front and sides, getting rid of all those elements not necessary on a dirt track.
Now we can only wonder if Royal Enfield is already considering the idea of launching a street model of this FT450 on the market. There would also be the possibility of having two versions; one for the street and one for the track. However, we will only discover all this later, when the brand makes an official statement on the subject.
