In the world of motoring, the spirit of adventure is a different one. While going out in search of the most desolate vistas, the purpose of an overland vehicle is quite the contrary of anything else in motoring. Where machines that stick to paved tarmac weigh their advantages in terms of sheer outright power and cornering speeds, the overland world is a slightly different one. Here, it is the ability of the vehicle to overcome the path laid out by nature and keep hammering on where others fail. It is the vehicle’s ability to endeavour the harshest of terrains with the spirit of exploration, and not a one of reaching a set destination.

To achieve this, a overlander has to be built in such a way that it completes the journey both ways. It has to be as reliable as a piece of furniture that is used everyday for years. Something that gracefully weathers with time, and its ageing appeal is where its youth lies in. While there are many advancement in the way components are manufactured today, ultimately reliability comes from simplicity. A road-sensing semi-active suspension on a motorcycle is of no use if the ride-by-wire (or any other vehicle management) sensor fails, and that is what matters when one is miles away from the closes known civilisation.

In the past decade, since the time electronics started to make way into motorcycles, things have started getting rather complicated. Manufacturers are putting more and more power into their motorcycles making it more of an handful. And the only way to keep things at bay are the electronic. The dreaded, overly complicated, over engineered electronics. Imagine a modern day flagship adventure touring motorcycle that produces close to 150 bhp with no riding aids. It would be impossible to manage, suicidal even. Unless one is a professional rider, who can actually toy around with such power, it would be a case of rock meet face and so forth. And thats where the one starts to understand the beauty of simplicity. An adventure is never about the sheer power and technical advancements in machinery. On the contrary, it is the getting back to a our most mechanical basics, only as aid to get us through the uncompromising wild carrying only the essentials needed for survival.

So going by the above analogy, the best motorcycle that will go over any terrain, carry one’s gear and get them over to the other side should be something low-maintenance and uncomplicated, something that can take the brunt of a fall or two, or maybe more without rendering itself useless and one stranded. It needs to be a motorcycle that does away with plastics and turns to a faithfully strong and sturdy metal construction. This minimalistic approach is the very thing that lies in the core philosophy of the British-now-Indian Royal Enfield, a brand that has stayed strong through more than 120 years in the middle of world’s changing economy. From it’s early days till today, Royal Enfield has kept it’s name high with their cult of motorcyclists world by offering machines that are brutally rugged and simple to fix. Not only that, but Royal Enfield has always offered motorcycle that are true to the spirit of motorcycling and have their own bespoke sensory experience that no one else can bring to the table. But today is a different day in the history of the more-than-a-century old company who now is ready to boldly step on a path that they have never treaded before with their new adventure tourer – The Himalayan.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is the first motorcycle to come from the manufacturer that bids farewell to the pushrod engines that have been the identity of Royal Enfield for all these years in favour of an overhead cam driven engine. The rear monoshock is also a first for the brand. But what isn’t first for the motorcycle is its “Made like A Gun” approach. Every panel, from the tank to the minimalist bodywork screams rugged build quality. A glance at the side profile with minimal body panels communicates that the motorcycle is built to take on the harshness of the outdoors. While it’s new 411 cc engine that makes 24.5 bhp of power and 32 Nm of torque might not sound groundbreaking, it is certainly quite a punch when handling tight trails and undulated terrain. Like some say ‘its more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast, rather than a fast motorcycle slow’… the Himalayan has all the provisions to fit itself in this slot. Its 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels are perfectly suitable for giving it the handling that it needs over rough terrain while the 41 mm telescopic front fork brings in a gorgeous 200 mm of suspension travel, indicating that it can be quite a capable motorcycle when thrown at the rough stuff. In some ways, the Royal Enfield Himalayan feels like functional engineering unplugged.



So when it comes to the survival of the fittest out there the open, the Royal Enfield Himalayan makes a strong case for itself. It has the equipment that is needed to go over brutal terrain while keeping its core elements of simplicity and serviceability high, just like any other motorcycle in the company’s arsenal of tough machines. While it currently has no competition in India as well as in the overall global scenario of small-displacement adventure touring motorcycles, the Royal Enfield Himalayan might soon open eyes of a lot of motorcycle manufacturers who are now understanding the importance of a versatile smaller displacement motorcycle. But when it comes to having a true, undiluted experience of adventure, it is highly unlikely that anything else could match the Royal Enfield Himalayan’s $2,300 (in-India) price.

Tech Specs

Engine: 411cc, Singe-Cylinder air-cooled SOHC

Performance: 24.5bhp @ 6500Nm power. 32 Nm @4500Nm torque.

Transmission: 5-speed

Fuelling: Carburettor with Throttle Positioning Sensor.

Chassis: Front – 41mm telescopic forks with 200mm travel. Rear – monoshock with linkage with 180mm travel.