When I first saw the Royal Enfield Himalayan at EICMA 2016 ho subito pensato che l’idea di una “adventure bike per tutti” fosse molto molto interessante e ho desiderato provarla. Mi sono detto: “è la moto che avrei voluto avere proprio sulle salite himalayane quando sono stato in Ladakh!”. But when I've been there in the 2013 the Himalayan was not even a sketch on a sheet of paper.
Over the past three years, many have written to me to ask for my impressions of her, a sign that with its competitive price and its declared ease it has managed to intrigue everyone. We had to wait a while, but finally here is the complete proof, so let's forget the preambles and let's analyze it.
Royal Enfield Himalayan: that motion is?
The Royal Enfield Himalayan debuts during the 2016 and it is a new important chapter for the Indian brand that for the first time designs a motorcycle starting from a blank sheet of paper. In short, the historic Bullet platform is put aside and for the Himalayan everything is done from scratch. For the design, Pierre Terblanche, who directs the operations, is even bothered and the group of Indian designers begins to study in the field how their customers use the bike in their adventures. Their aim is to give a practical answer to their needs.
And when it comes to adventure in India, there is talk of narrow streets in poor condition, important slopes, few petrol stations, long distances. If we usually focus on the Alps, for Indian centaurs, the destination is called the Himalaya.
This is the video I made in 2016 when they presented her at EICMA:
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is therefore a motorcycle designed to travel on any type of terrain, better if bumpy, offering convenience, robustness, practicality and low costs. Starting from the price that here in Italy is 4.950 Euro, a figure that entices all lovers of great travels. Competitive enough to even arouse some suspicion: it will be worth it? It meets our standards?
Long-time travelers know that with a single cylinder 400 you can do a lot of things. In this case it is precisely the engine of the Himalayan but it has aroused the first grumbles: the data sheet barely speaks 25 CV a 6500 giri and a more encouraging pair of 32 Nm a 4250 giri. Figures that sound very low compared to what we are used to hearing in the field of touring motorcycles. They will be enough?
How it is made?
Rustica. Needless to go around: compared to the standards of European and Japanese houses there is still an abyss in terms of quality of materials and assembly. That said, the question to ask is: what I really need when I travel?
Here, not a chapter but an entire book would open (che dici, maybe one day I'll write it?) because the needs can be the most disparate, certo, but the first thing to keep in mind is that I need practicality and the Royal Enfield Himalayan is the self-propelled praise of practicality.
Una moto essenziale come non se ne vedevano da molto tempo che sembra costruita al motto “ciò che non c’è non si rompe e ciò che c’è si deve poter aggiustare in fretta”. Which is exactly what you need when you are on the rock climbs of Ladakh!
So no electronics (except injection, display and the mandatory ABS) and no adjustments. Here you can download all the technical data on the Himalayan.
This spirit is also popular here, nonostante le nostre esigenze siano un po’ diverse. We have a lot more asphalt and the average speeds are much higher. But when we throw the wheels off-road? We are sure we want to have a bison in our hands 1200 cc or at least to always be able to drive it properly? It is not that it is finally too demanding and this makes us enjoy less of the landscape we are crossing?
Questions that, I believe, we all ask ourselves from time to time. Here I can say from the outset that with the Himalayan you fear nothing. The sense of freedom is exceptional because you feel that there is no obstacle that will put you in difficulty: you will get everywhere, as long as you want to get there calmly.
How you are riding?
Small and comfortable. Often the bikes with small dimensions, typically those designed in Asia, risultano un po’ scomode per noi europei. This is not the case with the Himalayan whose footpeg-saddle-handlebar triangulation is well proportioned. Certo le ginocchia stanno un po’ piegate quando si è seduti in sella ed è inevitabile perché la distanza dal suolo è ridotta a 800 mm, a record for an enduro. When you stand up, you can drive very well. The handlebar is quite high and so narrow it can be squeezed quite well between the legs. Here you can see how the tank is actually extremely narrow while the engine casings are quite wide between the ankles. It is not a real enduro and the focus is not on performance. The overall balance is good.
The saddle is well sized and made. Although the appearance is not the most luxurious, it is better than that of many other more expensive competitors.
As you drive?
As I anticipated, the Royal Enfield Himalayan has the enormous advantage of offering absolute freedom. Asphalt or dirt road you tackle everything with the same naturalness and simplicity. And also with practically the same speed. The gears are not pulled (anyway it is useless) but it never stops either: you can't wait to catch a glimpse of any small dirt detour to take it in search of the unknown. Il peso si fa un po’ sentire solo quando si deve spostare o alzare la moto, otherwise the good balance and the low seat help a lot and you are never in difficulty, you can really turn it into a handkerchief.
To travel by state highway, he has all the credentials: it's not lightning but it takes those quickly 70-90 km / h you need. Braking, on the other hand, both for incisiveness and for feeling, must be reviewed, with the front brake lever quickly becoming spongy.
What I like?
I like the concept in general, its ease and practicality, the military look from a small soldier to the great maneuvers.
What I do not like?
I don't like braking: in front it immediately becomes spongy and the power is rather reduced. Un po’ sottodimensionato anche il motore, not in terms of volume but of power. Probabilmente lavorandoci un po’ sù, especially on the exhaust, you can get something, but it would really take a few more horses.
To the council
To all those who never take the highway. To all those who obviously want to get up early in the morning, load a bag and leave aimlessly, calmly, to savor the territory inch by inch with a mild adventure companion. In short, to those who never want to stop and don't know what haste is.
FOTO: FILIPPO PANDIN
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