Royal Enfield Himalayan Long Term Review, September 2024 Report

The onset of monsoons have brought my enthusiasm for daily motorcycle commutes to a grinding halt. With increased traffic, unpredictable rainfall and floods, I’ve not used the Himalayan as much as I would have liked. Admittedly, the Himalayan is definitely the best option I have in my garage for Delhi-NCR’s present day road conditions but I’ve put my hands up and admitted defeat. However, the Himalayan isn’t just lying unused in the Mathur household, instead, it has actually gotten even more popular. With the monsoon rendering roads around our society unusable, my father has taken over the keys and seen the brighter side of ADV life. And just to put his experience into perspective, he’s a tad overweight and reached the fine age of 63.

The biggest highlight for him is the comfort and performance, in fact the combination of two in one great package is what he can’t stop harping about. When I say comfort, I’m actually referring to the ergonomics and seat height. Despite a ground clearance of 230mm, Royal Enfield has outfitted the Himalayan with an accessible seat height that is even adjustable. At its lowest setting, the seat is just 805mm off the ground and makes it quite easy for his 5’9” stature to reach the ground with both feet. Remember, this was his first taste of big ADVs in Indian road conditions and the convenience of reaching the ground can make the world of a difference. Over that, he loved the fact that you sit in the motorcycle rather than over it, with the handlebar reaching perfectly to his shoulder level.

The next highlight was the performance from the 450cc Sherpa motor, and tractability that it offered for daily and slow, controlled riding through the aforementioned flooded conditions. During his time of use, what he noticed was just how easy the bike felt in most city-riding conditions. Whether it be crawling at single-digit speeds in peak rush-hour traffic or catching the NH8 for a quick blast down to Delhi for his personal work. According to him, the Himalayan felt natural to ride when you put it through any of these scenarios. He was mighty surprised by how refined RE motors have gotten, recalling childhood anecdotes of mighty Bullets that ‘separate the men from the boys.’ Unfortunately, it is now time for him to say goodbye to the Himalayan but I’m guessing, he is now contemplating getting one for himself. You’re welcome, RE.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan Long Term Review, August 2024 Report
Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan Long Term Review, July 2024 Report