The motorcycle may be tall but comes with a fairly lower saddle height making it easily maneuverable.” So also in the case of this motorcycle. Adding to that bold stance fairly wide handle bar flanked by a mid size fly screen.
Look and feel Indeed the design team at Royal enfield took to the clean design concept with no room for tackiness. A split seat, minimalist Kaza Brown paint scheme, single pot digital cluster topped off with Ceat dual sport tyres, what else could one ask for? Yes, I know the wire-spoked tubeless kit. Added to this are four ride modes easily controlled and backed by the ride by wire system.
The PRE “Test Ride” I wanted to get a feel of the bike here in Pune, before the ride I dropped by a Royal Enfield dealership for a quick spin. Yes, the bike feels bulky at first but then again, like my friend mentioned the 450 is NOT as tall as it looks. All I needed to do was settle in to the throttle response. Since I ride a MOJO which is almost similar in weight and stance it took about 5 minutes to settle in to similar ergonomics.
Yes, the ride modes can be quite tempting and since it was a fairly busy week day morning I did manage to get a feel of a RE engine that was like no other. Indeed the Ceat tyres while are the widest set I’ve ridden on, at the same time they offer the same confidence as the sportrads. So without further ado let get to the premise of this review.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – An Enfield Like no other: The Premise
As part of a giveaway contest for the Chefs Ride 2025, the company purchased a brand new Kaza Brown motorcycle. Added accessories like a crash guard, saddle stay etc. and even a luggage solution system too! In order to prep for the mega ride and complete the run in period of 1,000 kilometers a ride was curated.
The ride starting at Mapusa, Goa would take the riders to Bangalore via the coastal route passing tourist attractions like Marvanthe Beach and Murudeshwar and then into the Coffee cultivating towns of Belanoor and Chikmagalur. Then, via Hassan highway conclude the ride at Bengaluru. The return ride would be a solo ride with a night halt en-route via the scenic anmod ghat. Thereafter making a descent to border town of Mollem in Goa to conclude at Mapusa via NH11, the Mumbai Mangalore highway.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: The Ride – First Gear at the dawn of twilight
Our ambitious plan to reach Gokarna was thwarted by the Christmas rush, leaving us with a delightful stay just south of Canacona. After a lazy dinner in this tranquil coastal town, we began our journey towards Bengaluru at sunrise.
The familiar route along brought back a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of my first motorcycle adventure on this very highway back in the monsoon of 2014. The iconic Maravanthe beach, where the road hugs the coast while a river gracefully flows alongside, is always a delight to stop and admire. We soaked in the breathtaking scenery and captured some content to add to out journal for this ride.
As we ascended into the verdant hills of Belanoor and Chikmagalur, the landscape transformed dramatically. Lush green coffee plantations and winding roads provided the perfect playground for the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. While the “no roads” marketing claim was put to the test by bad patches and ongoing road construction work, the bike handled the terrain without a fuss to reach Chikmagalur.
We then headed to Hassan for an evening pitstop over tea. While the journey began with diversions due to road widening, within the next 30 minutes the 450 was sprinting from toll gate to tollgate. Finally, we reached Nelamangala for a much-needed dinner break. Filled with memories and adventures, we arrived at our Indiranagar hotel around 12:30 am, exhausted yet energized by the day’s adventure.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: The Solo Sprint to Goa – 1350+ kms and a desire to ride again!
On the last sunday of 2024 , I embarked on my first night ride in ages. Departing Bangalore at 6:15 pm from Vivekananda Road. The challenge? Navigating Bangalore’s infamous Sunday traffic while avoiding wrong turns. To make matters worse, Yeshwantpur, a notorious bottleneck, brought traffic to a standstill and sent the bike’s temperature soaring, almost 80% to the finish line.
Breaking free of Bangalore’s urban maze, I headed towards Tumkur. The road presented a new set of challenges: diversions, poorly lit stretches, and dust clouds whipped up by the evening winds. Despite the limited visibility, I soon reached well-marked roads and picked up the pace. However, the unexpected cold caused by the previous day’s rain almost got the better of me. Finally, I reached our chosen overnight halt in Davangere.
The Final Leg
Wasting no time, I set off at 8:30 am the next morning, fueled by a quick cup of tea at Chalageri toll plaza. A fuel stop near Ranebennur preceded another stretch of riding. While the roads were mostly empty, there were diversions, pockets of traffic, and an accident that nearly brought the ride to a standstill. Thankfully, here the Himalayans’ off-road form factor came handy allowing me to follow some locals who cut through the service road to avoid the chaos.
Dharwad and Beyond
Finally, after navigating the New Year’s Eve traffic, it was time for our next pit stop – Dharwad. A familiar landmark emerged – the single-lane road without dividers, a constant feature of this route for over a decade. The 450’s sharp handling and responsiveness helped get to the Goa exit in a breeze. On this warm December morning, the road was a welcome change, calmer than the main highway, adorned with small hamlets and quaint eateries. Keeping the throttle steady and my focus sharp, I began the descent, enjoying the corners without compromising on time. The landscape transformed dramatically, transitioning from rural villages to a dense, sun-dappled forest.
The cool shade of the trees provided a much-needed respite from the scorching sun. Navigating through a few rough patches, I finally reached a railway crossing after a thrilling 100+ kilometer run. This unexpected pit stop proved time saving, allowing me to rehydrate and let the Sherpa 450 cool down.
The road leading to Anmod Ghat was slightly rough, but for the two of us being dirt aficionados we dashed through it with glee in the revnotes and dust in the RVMs. Descending the ghat after an eight-year hiatus evoked a wave of nostalgia. The steep slopes, sharp corners, and the noticeable drop in temperature demanded a refreshing break. By noon, I reached Mollem, the border town of Goa. Followed by lunch and meeting old friends and new I concluded the ride with a Kodak moment thanks to the complex’s security guard.
Reasons to buy Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
(During the entire course of the ride the bike was in “Eco mode with ABS on”)
Tall motorcycle with low seat height offers best in class handling.
Upright posture, comfortable seat and wide handlebar allows for more kilometers and lesser stops.
Overall the motorcycle returned an average of 28 kmpl (as per console readout).
Be it slower speeds or triple digit figures the mile didn’t seem to drop below 28 kmpl.
Super agile handling on dirt patches and off-road stretches.
The motorcycle takes on corners like a pro!
During sudden downshifts the motorcycle doesn’t wobble or fish tail, it stays spot on.
Easy to toggle HUD with automatically changing backlight to suit lighting.
The hazard light function are a blessing in disguise during low visibility times.
Hyper responsive throttle backed by a seamless braking and suspension makes it as light as a fighter jet to maneuver.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – What can be better
Lighting, the high beam orientations needs to be set so the bike is ready for night rides.
Horn – while the stock horn is ok, we upgraded to louder sounding horns given that it will be used for extensive highway use, louder twins even as an option would be great to have.
The motorcycle does not like bottlenecks. But again, most high revving engines don’t
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 – What’s in store for a non RE Fanboy?
To begin with, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is one of those motorcycles that grows on you. The RE nomenclature stops short the badging and branding. The Sherpa 450’s idling is reminiscent of an orange beast fuelled by premium petrol and pick-up that give that very beast a run for its scalpel. Even at 40 ps the motorcycle laps up triple digits while being steadfast on point.
The Showa suspension system, seating and ride triangle make you want to ride “fuel to refuel ” non-stop. While the motorcycle did have accessories and luggage systems in place. The setup gives the rider a luggage free riding experience. Last but not the least the cluster is clutter free and as precise as can be. For those who believe in the Maval warrior way of travel and those looking for a no-nonsense tourer, not just a flashy Adventure motorcycle the New Himalayan is a force worth reckoning with.
Acknowledgements: Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 -Chefs Ride 2025
Chefs Ride 2025 – A ride to raise support + funds for financially weak culinary students. Win a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in our lucky draw. To know more about the Chefs Ride 2025:
Visit them them at – https://www.chefsride.in/
Stay updated with the ride related activities click here
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The Upshifters
