Abandoned Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 Development Bikes Raise Questions About End-of-Life Cycle

A group of Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 development bikes has been found abandoned at a scrapyard, raising questions about the end-of-life cycle for test mules.

The bikes, which are believed to have been left near Royal Enfield's R&D centre in the UK, are likely to have been part of the company's testing process for the new Himalayan 750 model.

The new adventure model is currently being developed by members of Royal Enfield's engineering teams in both India and the UK, and is expected to form part of a brand-new range for the company.

## New Models on the Horizon

The Himalayan 750 will be joined by a new Continental GT 750, and it is likely that more models from Royal Enfield's current 650 range will gain a 750 variant in the future.

| Model | 650cc | 750cc | | --- | --- | --- | | Himalayan | Yes | Yes | | Continental GT | Yes | Yes | | Bullet | Yes | (expected) | | Interceptor | Yes | (expected) |

Royal Enfield has not revealed when the new Himalayan 750 and Continental GT 750 will make their global debuts, although it is possible that at least one of the new bikes will be launched at EICMA, which takes place on November 5-8.

## The End of the Road for Test Mules

The discovery of the abandoned development bikes has sparked debate about whether there is a better solution for what happens to bikes used for development purposes only.

While the arrival of the production-ready Himalayan 750 is edging closer, the sight of the abandoned bikes is a sad reminder of the fate that awaits many test mules.

It remains to be seen whether Royal Enfield will adopt a more sustainable approach to dealing with its development bikes, but for now, the abandoned Himalayan 750s serve as a poignant reminder of the end-of-life cycle for many test mules.