Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: A new generation of adventure riding

They’re not the most powerful, not always the most beautiful, and certainly not the most technological. But there’s something about Royal Enfield machines that makes you develop an emotional connection to them. Ask any of their riders - anyone who has experienced India on two wheels with this long-standing local brand.

The Himalayan 450 has already been here for a while. It’s an important model, especially for the Israeli market, and here are impressions from a ride on it. In an era of buyers who love adventure bikes, this is Enfield’s most important motorcycle in its portfolio. It also hints at what we can expect from the upcoming Himalayan 650 or even 750.

As someone who completed a long journey across Namibia in Africa on the first-generation Himalayan, the 410, I had a solid basis for comparing the significant leap forward made by the new model. The 410 was a true workhorse - a simple, rugged machine, not particularly fast to say the least, but above all, nearly indestructible. It was the kind of bike you could rely on out there in the Namib desert.

It was a very friendly motorcycle, but one I constantly rode at full throttle - a machine you wished had a few more horses. The new 450 is more than just an improvement over the previous model - it’s an entirely new motorcycle, from the first bolt to the frame. It’s built to genuinely compete in the increasingly crowded mid-size adventure segment (A1 category), which already includes models like the KTM Adventure 390 and CFMOTO 450MT, with the Kawasaki KLE and BMW GS450F expected soon.

Design-wise, if the previous model looked like a World War veteran, the new one is far more modern. The lines are rounder and more fluid, the “teardrop” fuel tank has grown by two liters, and there’s a round LED headlight (instead of halogen). A clever touch replaces the traditional rear light - the rear turn signals also function as running lights and brake lights.

Instead of the long exhaust, there’s now a shorter, more stylish tip. The inverted gold front fork replaces the outdated one with rubber gaiters, and the two front fenders above the wheel have been redesigned. If you plan to spend a lot of time off-road, we recommend removing the fender attached close to the wheel, as it could clog with mud.

There’s a completely new engine here - the Sherpa 450 - which marks a milestone for Enfield: For the first time in the company’s history, a liquid-cooled engine with a double overhead camshaft. It’s a lively engine with pleasant torque, one that also enjoys revving, with a redline at 8,000 rpm. Combined with light wind protection and an upright seating position, it’s easy to cover long distances. It cruises comfortably at 120–130 km/h and can reach speeds of over 150 km/h.

There are six smooth-shifting gears, a new rigid frame, and high-quality Showa suspension (inverted at the front), making it very stable on the road and in corners. It’s genuinely fun to lean into turns.

The entire motorcycle radiates rider-friendliness - whether for beginners or those returning to riding. The seat is adjustable (825 to 845 mm), making it accessible for shorter riders, and there’s a nice round 4-inch TFT display that connects to a smartphone and includes navigation.

The previous Himalayan was already capable off-road, but the new one improves in that area as well. With 200 mm of suspension travel front and rear, an impressive 230 mm of ground clearance, and most importantly, a 21-inch front wheel, the new Himalayan lives up to its name.

You can easily disable the rear ABS, and together with the relatively short first gear, it’s fun to hop through technical terrain like a Tibetan goat. Afterwards, it’s easy to clean off the mud and maintain the bike thanks to the center stand. On the other hand, I was less impressed with the short/over-angled side stand, which leaves the bike leaning too much when parked - if I owned one, that would be the first thing I’d fix.

The somewhat hefty weight of 196 kg (wet) is mainly noticeable if the bike falls and you need to pick it up. Most of the time, however, it’s hardly felt thanks to a relatively low center of gravity and a fuel tank that keeps the bike feeling slim between the legs.

Other areas for improvement: It’s still a single-cylinder engine, which leads to vibrations at high rpm, and at higher speeds, the wind moves the mirrors.

Royal Enfield has made a significant leap forward here with a true, modern adventure bike that competes on equal footing with others in the category. It brings genuine touring and off-road capability, relatively low costs for maintenance, accessories, and parts, structural toughness - and plenty of character.

A true adventure motorcycle that suits both beginner and experienced riders alike.