Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a completely new bike with significant changes throughout, compared to the older Himalayan 411. It gets a brand-new 452cc liquid-cooled engine, modern tech, and better ride quality. But more importantly, this bike can still take you anywhere: city, highways, or the toughest mountain trails.

We had the chance to ride it through a mix of Indian highways, narrow ghats, and even some rough off-road patches. It looks big, rides strong, and feels like a step forward for Royal Enfield in many ways. Here’s what we found after spending some time with this motorcycle.
 

• The Himalayan 450 looks like a proper adventure bike. It has a tall stance, a big fuel tank, and that rugged frame, which makes it stand out on the road.

• We really liked the front end with the round LED headlamp, tall windscreen, and 21-inch front wheel. It gives off a proper off-roader vibe.

• When we parked it during our test ride, the bike grabbed a lot of attention. People even asked if it was a foreign ADV.
• The side profile is muscular and clean, and the rear with LED indicators that double as brake lights is a cool touch.

• The only thing missing from the design is the knuckle guards, which really should have come as standard for a bike like this.
• The upright riding posture, raised handlebars, and wide seat make it a very comfortable bike for long rides.
• The split seats are well-cushioned. We rode it for nearly 320km in a day and never felt any pain or discomfort.
• The seat height is adjustable between 825mm and 845mm, which is helpful if you’re shorter or taller.

• Our rider was 5'8" and was able to get both feet down easily, which made it easier to handle in slow traffic.

• The circular 4-inch TFT screen is very informative and easy to read. It shows speed, fuel, temperature, and even Google Maps-based navigation.

• You can switch between analogue and digital layouts, which is quite fun and useful depending on your mood or riding conditions.
• The bike has four ride modes: Eco and Performance, each with ABS ON and OFF. These modes change how the bike feels while riding.
• In Eco mode, the bike saves fuel and is great for city rides. The performance mode gives you full power, and that’s when the bike comes alive.
• Ride-by-wire throttle, USB Type-C charging port, and hazard lights add practicality. These features make it feel modern without going overboard.

• The Himalayan 450 gets a 452cc liquid-cooled engine that makes 39.47bhp of power and 40 Nm of torque. It’s a big upgrade from the old 411.
• We rode this bike in the ghats and on the highway, and the engine felt smooth and strong. It doesn’t feel rough or buzzy at all.
• At 100-120 kmph, the bike was very stable and didn’t feel stressed. It’s happy cruising all day long.

• In the city, the engine heats up a bit in traffic, but once you hit open roads, it cools down and performs beautifully.
• We got around 26 kmpl in the city and about 27-28 kmpl on highways, which is pretty good for a bike this size.

• For a tall ADV, the Himalayan 450 handles corners really well. We took it through winding ghat roads and it felt stable and fun.
• The CEAT Gripp tyres offer good traction. Even when the road was slightly wet, we didn’t lose confidence.

• The Showa suspension with 200mm travel front and rear does a great job on bumpy roads. It soaks up potholes without throwing you off.

• However, the rear brake lever feels a bit tight and could use more play. Especially with riding boots, it sometimes gets triggered unintentionally.

• This bike is built to go off-road. We tried it on loose gravel, broken roads, and even climbed over a few rocks.
• It’s made for serious adventure with 230mm of ground clearance and switchable ABS at the rear.
• The bike never felt unsettled, even during some quick direction changes or while tackling rough paths.
• After hours of off-road riding, it didn’t rattle or show signs of stress. It’s a tough machine!

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 offers a great mix of power, comfort, and off-road ability. Additionally, it looks and feels like a big adventure bike but is still easy enough to handle every day.

There are a few small misses, like the tight rear brake lever and lack of standard knuckle guards. The rest of the package is very solid. If that sounds like your kind of fun, this one’s for you.