Royal Enfield Himalayan Long Term Review, April 2024 Report

It’s been six months since we first rode the new Himalayan in the Himalayas. While it really impressed us back then, we wanted to test it thoroughly for a longer duration in real-world conditions to see its suitability for the daily grind. So, after months of calling folks at Royal Enfield, we finally managed to convince them to lend us the new Himalayan for a couple of months.

Royal Enfield provided us with a Kamet White Himalayan, which was a bit of a disappointment for me as I was hoping for the Hanle Black version – I simply love it! However, as the days went by, the Kamet White kind of grew on me. And now, I think that the mountain green motifs with faded white background look kind of cool and rugged. Not to mention, it is easier to maintain, too – it doesn’t look dirty even when it is.

With our long-term bike having already clocked over 4,000km, we have started noticing some peculiar rattles at high speeds. However, the overall quality levels are on par with what we experienced in the early days. The only area where RE could improve – and this applies to all the RE models that we have tested extensively – is the flimsy mirrors. They come loose often, which can be quite annoying.

I’ve begun using the Himalayan for my daily commutes, and I must say that I absolutely love it! Sure, it’s a heavy ADV primarily designed for cruising on open roads or off-road adventures, but it proves to be quite enjoyable even in the city. I love how effortless and well-balanced it feels in traffic. While the engine does feel a little weak at low revs, it can easily be fixed with a spirited twist of the right wrist, resulting in a satisfying surge of speed. I must say that the engine’s mid-range is strong and quite addictive. However, it’s also worth noting that it does generate a fair amount of heat in slow-moving traffic.

Towards the end of the month, I embarked on a three-day road trip to Uttarakhand, and after spending those three days in the hills with the Himalayan, I became an even bigger fan of this motorcycle. Apart from the fact that the engine feels a bit too buzzy around the 100 – 110km/h mark, I can’t think of any other limitations in this package. The brakes, the handling – especially in the hills – and the overall balance of the new Himalayan are simply exemplary. All in all, the first month with the Himalayan was a breeze. Let’s see if it continues to fare this well in the coming months.