FYI: The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a game-changer, offering advanced adventure capabilities at an affordable price, even in the toughest terrains.
Rainy Trails and Testing Times: The Unforeseen Challenges
As we traversed the rain-soaked backcountry trails of Utah, we couldn’t avoid recalling the discomfort of a muddy Monday. Unpredictable weather greeted us with raindrops the size of tears, turning the sandy clay soil into a slippery mess. Even seasoned riders lost their grip and a bit of their sanity, struggling with terrain as slick as used engine oil.
Despite the challenges, riding an adventure bike remains more appealing than being confined to an office desk. This sentiment held strong among our group of rugged riders as we forded water, navigated slippery paths, and dealt with the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
An Invitation from Royal Enfield
Full disclosure: Royal Enfield invited us to test ride their completely redesigned Himalayan 450 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They generously covered our travel expenses, provided sumptuous meals, and housed us in a comfortable hotel.
Weather Woes on the Himalayan 450
Our journey was as tough as they come, thanks largely to the relentless rain. Compared to a dry trail, where a bike with knobby tires would dominate, the wet conditions made riding particularly challenging. Nevertheless, we wrapped up the expedition sore, stiff, and muddy but with a sense of accomplishment.
The Evolution of the Himalayan
Royal Enfield’s original Himalayan was their first courageous step into the affordable adventure bike market, and despite being underpowered, it offered remarkable capability at a budget-friendly price. In crafting its successor, Royal Enfield went back to the drawing board, creating a bike from the ground up. The result is a machine featuring a brand new single-cylinder, water-cooled engine with more power, an improved chassis, and engineering that remains budget-conscious yet highly functional.
Performance and Power
The new 450cc Sherpa engine, producing 39.5 horsepower, significantly outperforms its predecessor’s 28 horsepower. This engine enables the Himalayan 450 to reach up to 105 mph, overcoming the previous model’s struggles to maintain highway speeds. Even at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, the bike demonstrated sufficient power to ascend steep inclines with almost 300 pounds of rider and gear.
Simplicity Meets Modernity
While the Himalayan has adopted a slightly more complex aesthetic, it retains its core spirit of straightforward reliability. Royal Enfield designed this bike to handle the world’s most remote locations with simple steel construction, prioritizing rugged dependability over advanced materials. It’s a bike designed to kick straight down the road, ensuring even in the harshest conditions, you keep moving.
Lightweight and User-Friendly
At just over 400 pounds, the Himalayan is almost 200 pounds lighter than some leading adventure tourers like the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. Its lighter weight makes it easier to handle on trails and requires less effort to pick up after a fall, especially in muddy conditions.
This bike caters to riders of all sizes with three seat height options and a narrower waist for better standover height. Practical engineering tweaks, like raising the air filter above the engine and integrating brake lights into the side markers, enhance functionality without complicating maintenance.
Personal Riding Experience
Standing tall at 6’2" with an American build, I found the Himalayan surprisingly comfortable. Although I wished for taller handlebars and wider pegs to accommodate my size 13 boots, the bike proved rideable for an entire day with just minor adjustments.
Tech-Savvy Features
The addition of the Tripper Dash—a large round TFT digital display—enhances connectivity by mirroring your phone via the RE app. Riders can control music, run navigation, and manage calls without draining their smartphone battery, thanks to practical screen mirroring rather than an expensive built-in computer.
Final Verdict
While the Himalayan’s road tires are suitable for mixed-use, opting for more aggressive knobby tires improves off-road performance, particularly in challenging weather. Priced between $5,799 and $5,999, the Himalayan 450 offers unmatched value. In terms of versatility and affordability, it outshines competitors like the Kawasaki KLR650 and Suzuki DR650, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious adventure seekers.
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Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
