Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: 3 reasons to buy and 2 to skip

Since its launch, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has been quite a popular ADV motorcycle among enthusiasts. It was the first Royal Enfield motorcycle to get a powerful, liquid-cooled engine and proves to be ideal for those looking for a long-distance touring machine on a budget.

3 reasons why you should consider the Himalayan 450

Powerful, liquid-cooled engine.

The 452cc, liquid-cooled engine puts out 40hp at 8,000rpm and 40Nm at 5,500rpm. It offers potent performance and, in our tests, was able to do the 0-100kph sprint in 6.35 seconds. The engine is also tractable and easily able to handle lower speeds in higher gears.

Excellent ride quality and cornering abilities.

The Himalayan 450 uses Showa suspension, which works really well over undulations, bad roads, and off-road trails. It has ample suspension travel to get past unknown terrain and always manages to make easy work of it. Its capabilities are enhanced in off-road conditions, thanks to the 21-inch front wheel. 

You would think that the Himalayan is a slouch while cornering, but it is surprisingly fun through a set of twisties. All that is required from a rider is a little effort to tip it over from one side to another when changing direction.

Tubeless spoked wheels.

Riders can opt to get the Himalayan 450 with tubeless spoked wheels, which will make life easier in case of a puncture. It is advisable to get these wheels equipped on the motorcycle upon purchase, as they are expensive when bought separately. Customers can add them through the Royal Enfield configurator for Rs 11,000 at the time of purchase because Royal Enfield has now increased the price of the cross-spoke wheels to Rs 40,645.

2 reasons to look elsewhere

Hefty weight.

While the Himalayan 450 is a very capable motorcycle, it has a heavy kerb weight (196kg), and this might intimidate newer riders. The weight is not felt much once the bike is one the go, but at a standstill and while making U-turns, it is clearly felt. Experienced riders will not mind the weight but beginners will take some time to get used to it.

Vibrations and no quickshifter.

While the engine is powerful, there are noticeable vibrations creeping in between 5,000rpm and 6,000rpm. These vibrations on the pegs and the handlebars can get annoying when travelling long distances.

The Himalayan 450 misses out on a quickshifter, something I feel would really enhance the entire riding experience, as the clutch action is on the heavier side, which can get troublesome when stuck in stop-go traffic.