Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a similar design as the previous version although some additions have been made. The Tripper screen is now a part of the motorcycle and Royal Enfield has tweaked the windscreen as a result. This is taller and wider and offers improved protection as well. The metal frame that runs with the fuel tank has also been revamped and does not hinder the rider’s knees any longer. The company has also made use of new seat foam while the seat height has been smartly kept at 800mm. The rear rack is now shorter with a metal plate on the top which should keep your things safer. Fit and finish remains top-notch as expected although there are some low-quality components. There are three new color options including the Mirage Silver, Granite Black, and Pine Green. The Himalayan may also be customized by choosing from multiple accessories.
 

The Royal Enfield Himalayan offers the air cooled two-valve 411 cc engine that makes 24 hp of power and 32 Nm of maximum torque. The bike is still refined and smooth and you will get the vibrations coming only when you get towards 7,500 RPM and those are also negligible. Put it into 80 kmph mode on the highway and it will cruise smoothly as well. Even 100 kmph feels more planted and relaxing and the bike, with its power on tap, can easily get to 120 kmph. However, anything above this speed threshold will feel slightly cumbersome. The engine can hold its gears when you are riding at lower speeds although there is a certain flatness to the engine once you go lower than 2,000 RPM. It has quick acceleration on offer once you cross this mark. There is also some heat that you can visibly feel under the seat when you are riding in congested city conditions.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan offers a good riding experience overall, with its capacity to tackle poor roads neatly. However, the engine does feel low on power at times and needs a good push to keep chugging along powerfully. Higher speeds may not always inspire confidence on poor roads although the bike can cruise smoothly. The brakes have been improved although the dull feedback still remains. One also has to pull the lever in front for swift braking. You also get dual channel ABS with a deactivation option for the rear setup through a button. Despite the CEAT tyres and 21-inch wheel in front, the Himalayan rides reasonably well. It is excellent in off-roading conditions with its neat responses and lower seating position.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan offers reasonable riding comfort with its good chassis and the ride is a little firm but quite comfortable, with the bike capable of handling of bad roads and potholes with aplomb. There is 220 mm of ground clearance along with a long travel suspension setup. However, the bike does feel heavy at approximately 199 kg and this is where maneuverability becomes tough in certain scenarios.

The Tripper navigation screen is now available for the uniquely designed digital-analogue instrument cluster. The screen is similar to the one in the Meteor 350 model with its color and circular display setup which also reads out navigation instructions alongside. The display unit functions through Bluetooth and you should link up your smartphone to the Royal Enfield application. There are no phone notifications shown on the screen though.

The mileage of the Royal Enfield Himalayan is around 30-36.2 kmpl.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan offers decent value for money at its price point, since it offers the durability and toughness required to navigate difficult terrains, coming with decent tech ad features, while the design grows on you as well. The overall performance is worth the money.

The service interval for the Royal Enfield Himalayan is 12 months or 1,000 kilometres, whichever is earlier.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan competes with the KTM 250 Adventure and the BMW G 310 GS in its segment. The KTM 250 Adventure makes 30 hp and 24 Nm of maximum torque and has the smallest engine in the category. The Himalayan offers the highest torque figures here. The BMW offers high power figures and the lowest kerb weight. The power-to-weight ratio is the highest for this model in this category. The Royal Enfield Himalayan get a five-speed gearbox and regular clutch while the other two rivals come with slipper clutch and six-speed gearbox units. The KTM 250 Adventure has lower features this time including no full-LED lighting, a missing TFT (only an LCD display) and so on. All motorcycles in the category come with dual-channel ABS and the rear deactivation option. The BMW G 310 GS comes with an LED headlight and the segment first ride-by-wire technology. It also has an LCD display setup. The Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with the Tripper navigation screen and a whole host of added features. The KTM and BMW models are costlier although they also get some added features. The Royal Enfield Himalayan makes for an attractive option at its price point.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is a value proposition at its price point, especially if you consider the segment dynamics. It has decent features and a rugged design, along with being tailored for long-distance cruising and rough roads.