Cycle News

Cycle News 2024 Issue 35 September 4

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1526211

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 110 of 135

P110 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN 450 good suspension. You also get what appears to be top-of-the- line navigation, which Royal Enfield demonstrated for us, and that good-looking updated dash. Royal Enfield also offers a range of accessories for the Himalayan 450. This is a genuine adven - ture bike, without question. It may be smaller and relatively simple compared to most of the other offerings in the market, but that gives it a big advantage in many situations, especially off-road, where low weight, low seat height and good agility are more impor - tant than raw power. However, if most of your ADV rides in- clude logging lots of Interstate miles, you will want something with more displacement. Royal Enfield's Himalayan is truly versatile. While it might not be the outright best in dirt or on the street, it's already proven to me to be a very com - petent adventure motorcycle for both. And the fact it's built in India shouldn't be a concern. We've reviewed several Royal Enfield models since 2016 and haven't experienced any qual - ity issues that would keep us away just because it's built in India. The Himalayan appears to be no different. Plus, Royal Enfield's dealer network is rapidly growing, which should make owning the Himalayan even easier. And here's the cherry on top—not only does the Himala - yan sell for under six grand, but it also comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty! It just keeps getting better. CN it has no fairing, has no expen- sive plastic parts to break, is covered in crash guards, and is "easy" to pick up. Remember all those get-offs I was telling you about earlier? Not one bike that I saw suffered any significant damage. Disengaging the rear ABS and changing engine modes is very simple, especially the rear ABS. You just press a button on the right handlebar a few times, and you're done. The rear ABS resets itself whenever you turn the bike off via the key, but controlling the ABS system is so easy that it's not a problem or annoying. Other manufactur - ers should take note. We rode well over 100 miles on the Himalayan, including many miles of throttle-to-the- stop riding, and didn't even think about refueling. It'll go farther than you will on a tank of gas; Royal Enfield says it can cover up to 280 miles on a tank. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed riding the Himalayan 450. It performed far above my expec - tations, and I anxiously await another opportunity to ride it again, perhaps closer to sea level, to feel how the engine performs there. It should be even better. FINAL THOUGHTS The Himalayan 450 must be considered one of the best values in adventure motorcy- cling, if not the best. The bike will accommodate riders of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. It's powered by a modern engine mated to a solid chassis with 2024 ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN 450 ($5799) ENGINE 4-stroke, single DISPLACEMENT 452cc VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4-valve BORE X STROKE 84.0 x 81.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 COOLING SYSTEM Liquid TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE 6-speed/ chain CLAIMED HORSEPOWER 40 hp @ 8000 rpm CLAIMED TORQUE 29.5 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm FUEL SYSTEM Fuel injection w/ 42mm throttle body CLUTCH Wet, multiplate slipper/assist ENGINE MANAGEMENT/IGNITION Ride- by-wire/electronic FRAME Steel twin-spar tubular FRONT SUSPENSION 43mm Showa SFF inverted fork REAR SUSPENSION Showa monoshock, preload adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 7.9 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 7.9 in. FRONT BRAKE ByBre 2-piston caliper, 320mm disc w/ switchable ABS REAR BRAKE ByBre 1-piston caliper, 270mm disc w/ switchable ABS WHEELS, FRONT/REAR 21 in./17 in. TIRES, FRONT/REAR 90/90-21 / 140/80-17 RAKE/TRAIL 26.5°/5.0 in. WHEELBASE 59.4 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 9.0 in. SEAT HEIGHT 32.5 to 33.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.5 gal. CLAIMED WET WEIGHT 432 lb. COLORS Kaza Brown ($5799), Slate Himalayan Salt ($5899), Slate Poppy Blue ($5899), Hanie Black($5999) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN India S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Cycle News 2024 Issue 35 September 4