After decades of expeditions, thousands of kilometers of traversing a variety of terrain and years of evolving with a machine that responds to the mountains, the renowned Indian motorcycle brand Royal Enfield launched their first dual-purpose motorcycle in the year 2016, the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Like its name suggests, even though the Himalayan was built to be able to ride in the Himalayas, its tough and versatile nature has made it adaptable to all kinds of terrain, making it the companion of many adventurous riders around the world, for both on and off-roads.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is now one of the most popular motorcycles in Sri Lanka, and is quite extortionate compared to many others. Costing approximately 1,800,000 LKR, it’s equipped with a 411 cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which is simply perfect for adventure touring. The Himalayan is an adventure tourer with upright riding position, and it stands out from the crowd by delivering a sleek, classic look, gentle driving, and great off-road capabilities, which make it an all-around adventure motorbike.
This 411cc single-cylinder engine produces 24.5 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, a radical change to Royal Enfield brand, which had thus far limited itself to the small single-cylinders that we have all been familiar with for almost 60 years. The beautiful Himalayan is a Pure-Dirt bike, and its proportions are more or less the same as the Himalayan BS4.
The Himalayan 411 and the Bullet are poles apart! The Himalayan is a different bike altogether, in more than one way. A lot of work has been put into the quality and finish of the materials. The engine and running gears inspire confidence with more powerful, modern mechanics. With this new motor, we dream about long-distance rides both on and off-road, going just that little bit further and little bit faster than on the Bullet, while maintaining that classic motorbike feel. Royal Enfield set itself a new challenge by focusing on middleweight engines and all eyes were on the Indian brand, but it has clearly proved itself with this new motor.
It felt like I was riding a strong bike, which I am not really used to anymore. Ever since I have been riding other Indian bikes which are extremely less expensive compared to RE-Himalayan, I have spent my time on a RTR (Racing Throttle Response) or a NS (Naked Sports) bike. I immediately found the engine to be very smooth and easy to handle. Royal Enfield has kept in line with its tradition of classic, light and deafening exhaust note. Even though you can’t expect to go at lightning speed with less than 50 horsepower, its engine is smooth and its BS6 crankshaft gives it the most delightful rumble-typical of dirt racers, adventurers and off-road travelers. This bike amazed me with its on-road precision, its powerful disc brakes, steering radius and just how easy it is to handle.
This type of bike is a dream to ride. It is not ergonomic, but anyone can ride it. Its upright riding stance makes it ideal for both on and off road riders. Therefore, I can confidently say that the RE-Hymalayan is a great option for emerging riders to gain an ultimate driving experience.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is the perfect on or off-road means of transportation for those with a daily commute with slightly underdeveloped roads (rural areas) or someone who is full on wilderness bound; this versatility is vital. It gives riders a secure and comfortable way to tour the country while enjoying nature.
Written by: Rtr. Niflaz Nuhuman
Edited by: Rtr. Kalani Siriwardena
Editor