Royal Enfield's 650cc platform seems like it'll support quite a few models in its lifetime, but a Himalayan on this platform was looking unlikely, as an off-road oriented machine has never been on the cards- until now. The brand has just trademarked the name "Scram", hinting at the possibility of a 650cc scrambler.
Expected to be a soft-roader rather than a hardcore adventure bike
Could use the engine from the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650
But there is a chance it could also be based on the 350cc J-platform
While all we have at the moment is a name, it's one that definitely hints towards an off-road focused machine. Royal Enfield is currently investing, rather heavily, in two platforms- the 350cc J-platform and the 650cc twins. So, the upcoming Scrambler will most likely be based on either of these two. That being said, the erstwhile single-cylinder Bullet Trials models got a rather tepid reaction while they were around, so a 650cc twin-cylinder scrambler certainly seems like the more probable scenario.
Royal Enfield's 650cc lineup is rather 'inspired' by Triumph, to say the least, and a twin-cylinder scrambler would make RE's model range resemble that of the iconic British manufacturer's even more closely. There's no lack of demand either, you'll find someone hoping for a 650cc Himalayan on every street corner. While any RE scrambler probably won't be as hardcore an off-roader as the Himalayan, it'll certainly have more go-anywhere capability than something like the Interceptor 650.
So, while all signs point towards a 650cc scrambler being in the works, RE has been known to throw us curve balls in the past, so don't rule out the possibility of a 350cc J-platform scrambler either. Whatever the brand throws up, you can be sure that interesting times lie ahead.
ZARAN MODY
Also See
Royal Enfield Meteor, Bullet and Classic 350 recalled
Royal Enfield Shotgun name trademarked