Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Himalayan looks nothing like any other Royal Enfield. This is because it was designed by Pierre Terblanche who is better known for designing iconic bikes like the Ducati Hypermotard among many others. The faint family resemblance also goes to show how focused the Himalayan is in its pursuit for off-roading adventure. There is an all-new split cradle frame that peeks through the side panels. The front is tall to accommodate the high mounted body color fender on top of another more conventional one. The tail section is missing any body panels while there are multiple easily accessible mounting points for whatever hard or soft luggage you might want to carry. Even on the front that also works as tank guards. The headlight sits high above the fuel tank and everything else, except for the very useful fly screen. This headlight is still a halogen unit but does its job well enough. The instrument console is where RE decided to bring in some modernity with the use of a small LCD screen sharing space in the analog speedometer dial for displaying the odometer, trip meters, gear indicator, clock, engine temperature. There is even a digital compass next to the analog fuel gauge which is something missing from more expensive adventure tourers. The tachometer has its own separate analog dial. This setup is very comprehensive not just compared to other RE bikes but adventure tourers in general. Other adventure tourer features include a high mounted upswept exhaust and a 220 mm high ground clearance for better off-road ability, an enduro style tank with a deep seat and a larger 21” wheel for the front with a 17” spoked wheel for the rear with 90/90 front and 120/90 rear knobby tires. The bike looks industrial and military in a good way with its blackened mechanicals and three color options – graphite, sleet, and snow – with the Himalayan logo stenciled on the fenders and the side panel in the name of graphics. The bike is 2190 mm long, 840 mm wide and 1360 mm tall.

The Himalayan uses an all-new half duplex split cradle frame with 41 mm telescopic front forks with 200 mm of travel and a monoshock in the rear with 180 mm of travel. The suspension is soft and absorbs road imperfections very well. It might even be a little too soft for the road but it really shines on the trail. The footpegs allow the rider to stand up for better control. Except for some deep muddy or slippery terrain, this bike feels right at home. The ride also remains very stable at highway speeds if a little tricky to maneuver in slow moving tight traffic possibly due to its weight of 194 kg. The seat height of 800 mm is manageable for most riders and the bike comes with enough protection in the undercarriage to protect it from stray rocks.

Power comes from a single cylinder air-cooled and fuel-injected SOHC 411cc engine that produces 24.5 hp at 6500 rpm and 32 Nm of torque between 4250 and 4500 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed transmission. It comes with a counterbalancer to reduce vibrations which certainly does its job. The transmission is smooth with no missing gears. The engine is as torquey as ever and provides plenty of it from the low end to get over obstacles. The power band is wide and makes for easy cruising on any kind of surface. It will glide over gravel and muddy roads just as easily as cruising down the highway at 120 kmph. It is not the fastest and will top out at 130-140 kmph. But it will do whatever you demand of it if at a more unhurried pace. The fuel tank has a 15 L capacity and with 22-25 kmpl fuel economy, it gives you decent range.

The bike comes with adequate braking power. The front is provided with a 300 mm disc with a twin-piston floating caliper. The rear is provided with a 240 mm disc and a single piston floating caliper. There is also dual channel ABS.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is a lot of bike for its price. Not just that, it is a very accomplished ADV bike that will satisfy the most veteran adventure rider as well as a total noob. It marks not just a big departure for the company but also a revolution in the adventure tourer segment with small capacity ADV bikes.