P124
COMPARISON I LIGHTWEIGHT ADVENTURE BIKES
(Right) The
Himalayan 450
can let loose in the
dirt. However, it's
more comfortable
and capable at
a mellower pace
to match its chill
vibe. (Left) Fitting
with the rest of
the Royal Enfield's
style, the analog-
like dash gives the
basic info, for a
fairly basic ride.
ing bike to ride here, but it's not
in the way of itself anymore. In
a performance comparison, the
Himalayan will not win, but that's
probably okay since I've never met
a Himalayan owner or prospective
owner who couldn't care less about
how much power it spits out.
This bike is a culture and an
aesthetic purchase more than a
performance purchase. It works
exactly how it looks. And this bike's
appearance alone resonates with
a lot of people who don't need
aggressive racing looks or thrills
on their ride. When you sit on the
Royal Enfield, you're not expecting
it to jump sand whoops, drag pegs
in the canyon or even be the least
bit exciting. You're expecting it to
be comfortable, rugged and fun.
And that's exactly what this bike is.
Nobody on our testing crew
doubts the Himalayan's durability or
robustness. You can take this bike
to the top of the world if you wish,
dogpaddling with your feet along
the way thanks to the lowest seat
height in this test (31.7 inches with
the low-seat option installed, 32.5
inches in low setting as tested). Or
you can just cruise around town
