232 km, one tank of smiles and a very short list of complaints. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 finally got its first real ride on European roads, and it felt like riding an old friend.
If you missed the story of why this bike ended up in our garage, start with Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – bought with the heart. This post is what happened next: the first proper day in the saddle.
First impressions
From the first kilometres the Himalayan felt familiar. It is not trying to be a race bike or a rolling computer. It is calm, honest and easy to live with, and that is exactly why I bought it. After 232 km the only thing I would really change is the wind protection.
That sound
The 452 cc Sherpa engine has a pleasant, deep note straight out of the box. No aftermarket exhaust needed to enjoy it, at least not for now.
Handling, traffic and suspension
In town it is surprisingly flickable – as nimble through traffic as our KTM 390 Adventure. Out on the bad roads the suspension simply soaks up the bumps, and you arrive without feeling beaten up. For a bike that is so often overlooked, it is a real underdog.
Torque and gearbox
There is useful torque low down, so you are not constantly chasing revs, and the gearbox shifts smoothly and precisely. Relaxed touring is where this engine feels most at home.
One thing to sort: a slight pull to the right
On this first ride the bike pulled slightly to the right. I have a few possible fixes to try, and I will report back in a future video and here on the blog once I know what it was.
The plan: as stock as possible
With the KTM I modified a lot. With the Himalayan I want to keep it close to stock and only change what really matters: comfort, wind protection and luggage. First on the list is a taller windscreen, then a rear rack. I am also testing the original comfort seats two-up with my wife before deciding whether anything else is needed. You can follow every change on the bike’s page in our garage.
Meeting a Tiger 1200 rider
At a stop I met a rider on a Triumph Tiger 1200. He walked around the Himalayan, had a good look and gave it a simple verdict: “fainer” – nicer. Coming from someone on a big premium adventure bike, that made my day.
If you turn around one more time to look at it in the parking, you have a winner.
Want to ride like this?
New to adventure riding? Our free beginner’s guide to ADV riding covers gear, bikes and your first trips. And before you buy anything for your own bike, check our discount codes.
It was good to be back motovlogging. More kilometres, the windscreen upgrade and the fix for the pull are coming next – subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss them.
