New Royal Enfield Himalayan BS-IV review: One bike many avatars

Back in 2016, Royal Enfield came up with a new motorcycle that surprised most of Indian biking enthusiasts. Riders who would earlier have to get their bikes modified to tackle the challenges on the treacherous mountain routes of Himalayas, finally, got a ready-made machine off the factory.
Thus, the Royal Enfield Himalayan became the first affordable adventure tourer of India. The bike, however, was powered by a BS-III engine and was discontinued in April 2017 after BS-IV emission norms came into effect.

After a long waiting period, riders who had their eyes on the Himalayan can finally realise their dreams of owning one.Royal Enfield relaunched the Himalayan with an updated, BS-IV compliant engine, a few months back. We spent a week with the new version to test out the changes in the updated machine.
DESIGN AND STYLING
There are absolutely no changes in the design of the Himalayan and it continues to look like a completely practical, non-cosmetic tourer from its head to the tail. The tall, aggressive stance of the motorcycle appears purpose-built and ready to take challenges of various terrains. The all-metal body looks raw and minimum use of panels ensures fewer worries if the bike drops.

The large 21-inch wire-spokes front wheel goes well with the raw styling while an LED tail lamp is probably the only modern looking element on the bike. The utility based design features a front cage that can be used to mount jerrycans and the rear also gets a setup for mounting side and top boxes.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
While the Himalayan doesn't look new, it has had a major heart surgery. The Royal Enfield's most advanced 400cc single has been reworked to match the requirements of the BSIV norms. And the biggest update in the new version is a fuel injection system which works with more precision, replacing the old-school carburettor from the fuel system.

The engine on the new the Himalayan feels more refined thanks to the fueling being better than before. The delivery has become more linear and responsive but on the sacrifice of its previously punchy nature. Still, it has sufficient low - mid-range torque for steep climbs and you won't feel any lack of power there.
The gearbox has been reworked too and the shiftings are smoother than before. The problem of false neutrals has also been almost eliminated from the gearbox and the experience is a lot better with the updated unit.

The on-road performance of the Himalayan is decent but not the most impressive. The bike takes over 10 seconds to score a three digit speed from standstill and getting to the top speed of 160kmph isn't easy and there is a fair bit of lag. The sweet spot for cruising, however, is between 90-110kmph as the motor sets the bike on noticeable vibrations after that.
RIDE EXPERIENCE
While most adventure motorcycles come with a high mounted seat, the Himalayan's has been positioned at just 800mm from the ground which makes it easily accessible for most riders.

The seats are well cushioned to ensure your posterior doesn't get sore on long rides and the bike offers a comfortable upright riding position as well.
The long travel suspension feels plush while riding in both on- and off-road conditions. The large front wheel further makes the ride smoother and provides the rider with the confidence to cross uneven terrains easily. Moreover, the knobby tyres won't make you run out of traction on loose surfaces.

The motorcycle comes with dirt bike-like foot pegs which ensure a confident grip on it. The specially designed fuel tank also doesn't create any problem in standing on the pegs while going off-road.
Royal Enfield hasn't worked on the braking part and the front disc unit still lacks the stopping power. The rear braking unit, however, performs well.
VERDICT
We can't say the Himalayan is an ideal fit for everyone. It has its share of shortcomings, along with a few things which need tinkering for it to get closer to perfection.

But, as it turns out, this is the only option in the adventure category under Rs 2 lakh. And this machine is capable of doing a lot of things which are rather difficult or nearly impossible to do with other bikes available at this price point.
The updated engine and transmission have definitely improved the riding experience. So, in our book, the Himalayan offers those set of wheels which can put your adventure bike dreams into motion -- to an extent at least -- without burning a big hole in your pocket. And, the tourer can be a good practice tool for those who wish to graduate to riding big adventure bikes such as the BMW GS, Ducati Multistrada or the Triumph Tiger, in the future.