2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan Review | First Ride

The popular lightweight adventure bike got a total makeover, including a liquid-cooled 452cc Single

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan has undergone a complete makeover, with a larger engine, a more robust chassis, and updated styling and features. (Photos courtesy Royal Enfield)

You can drink a Tecate in Tecate, you can take a bath in Bath, and you can wear a fez in Fez. One of most intriguing eponymous pairings a moto-loving person can imagine is riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan in the Himalayas. The popular adventure bike has gotten a complete makeover for 2024. The question is: Can the new version bring the Himalayan into the technological present and still retain the character and charisma of the original?

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan is more modern than its predecessor, yet it still retains its rugged and retro character.

Royal Enfield, the oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production, launched the Himalayan in 2016, but we didn’t get our first ride on one until 2018.

Powered by an air-cooled 411cc Single, it has been a favorite of riders seeking a simple, versatile, and affordable motorcycle. Royal Enfield is a decidedly and intentionally retro manufacturer, so the company was meticulous, even plodding, in its development of an upgraded Himalayan. But the wait is over.

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2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
Where better to test the new Himalayan than in the Himalayas of northern India?

Royal Enfield Himalayan: What’s New

It is not hyperbole to say that everything about the 2024 Himalayan is new. Starting at the heart, the air-cooled 411cc Single has been replaced with a liquid-cooled 452cc Single with DOHC and 4 valves. The claimed 39.5 hp (up from a barely adequate 24) is reached at 8,000 rpm, and 29.5 lb-ft of torque (up from 24) arrives at 5,500 rpm. The new Himalayan’s entire power curve surpasses that of its predecessor, and the engine revs out farther.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The Himalayan’s new engine is a major upgrade over its predecessor, with liquid cooling, more displacement, a big boost in horsepower, unit construction, and a new 6-speed gearbox.

The forward-canted cylinder is a visual and technological departure from the previous model’s vertical air-cooled powerplant. The engine is now a stressed member of the frame, and a new gearbox has six speeds instead of five and is part of the unit-construction, semi-dry sump engine case. Located under the fuel tank is a new airbox that provides a pleasing intake growl. Exhaust gasses run through an under-frame catalytic converter that also muffles sound, which allows for an attractively short silencer.

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Suspension and braking changes are just as substantial as those to the engine. The previous conventional 41mm fork has been replaced with a Showa cartridge-type inverted fork with 43mm tubes, and the rear shock is now a linkage type with adjustable preload. Suspension travel is 7.9 inches front and rear, keeping front travel the same but bumping up from 7.1 inches of previous rear travel.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
As a go-anywhere, do-anything adventure bike, the Himalayan has a large 21-inch front wheel, spoked rims, and generous ground clearance and suspension travel.

As before, the Himalayan rolls on spoked wheels with tube-type rims, 21-inch front (90/90-21) and 17-inch rear (140/80-17). Royal Enfield reps said certain up-spec models will be offered with tubeless spoked wheels, but details have not yet been finalized. There are still single disc brakes front and rear, but the 2-piston front caliper now squeezes a 320mm disc (up from 300) and the 1-piston rear caliper squeezes a 270mm disc (up from 240). ABS is standard and can be disabled at the rear wheel for off-road duty.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The Himalayan’s round TFT display blends old-school style with modern functionality.

Front and center, the Himalayan has a new 4-inch TFT display that combines a multitude of innovative and modern features in a retro-style round gauge. It offers Bluetooth connectivity to a rider’s smartphone for music and navigation. The latter is powered by Google Maps and is the first of its kind for the display type and shape. On-the-fly toggling between screens is actuated by an easily accessible hand control. The Himalayan features LED lighting all around, and the tail lighting is innovatively integrated into both rear turnsignals. A USB-C port keeps a smartphone charged.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The rider portion of the two-up seat is height adjustable, and a low seat is available as an accessory. The luggage rack is standard equipment.

The overall aesthetic of the bike was crafted to retain core design elements of the original while projecting a more modern look. The midsection is narrower, and the bike has a lower center of gravity. There is an easily adjustable dual-height seat (32.5/33.3 inches; an optional low seat adjusts from 31.7 to 32.5 inches), and a beefier handlebar is adjustable fore and aft in two positions.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Hanle Black

The new model’s wheelbase is just over 2 inches longer than the original at 59.5 inches, and ground clearance is right at 9 inches. The redesigned fuel tank holds 4.5 gallons (up from 4.0), and Royal Enfield claims a range of more than 280 miles, which translates to about 62 mpg. The Himalayan is available in five colors inspired by its namesake region: Hanle Black, Kamet White, Kaza Brown, Slate Poppy Blue, and Slate Himalayan Salt.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Kamet White
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Kaza Brown
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Slate Poppy Blue
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Slate Himalayan Salt

No adventure bike is complete without a few farkles, and the Himalayan accessory list includes handguards; a taller windscreen; touring mirrors; protectors for the engine, radiator, and headlight; aluminum panniers and top box; and a rally kit that includes a rally-style seat and tailsection and a higher aluminum exhaust can.

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Royal Enfield Himalayan: Riding Impressions

Before I get into the nitty gritty, you must understand that riding in northern India is like a schizophrenic dance. When traffic is light and the tarmac is intact, it is a sweeping and graceful waltz. The ballroom is stunning in the shadows of the towering Himalayas. At other times, the dance is a frenetic mosh pit of activity with the soundtrack of blaring horns. Colorfully adorned and bedazzled commercial trucks use the tarmac dance floor in any lane they choose. Small-displacement motorcycles and scooters weave and maneuver, carrying passengers and payloads in clear excess of their design limits. Cows wander and sometimes sleep in the road as if they are fully aware of their spiritual significance in Indian culture. The “dance floor” is a constantly changing platform that varies from intact to fractured to nonexistent with no warning at all. This is exactly the dance for which the new Himalayan is designed.

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2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The roads in northern India are as unpredictable as the scenery is breathtaking.

After a briefing on how to handle riding in the region, our test ride took us up into the mountains on a crisp late October morning. The Himalayan proved to be an easy bike to adjust to. The controls are user-friendly, the shifting is precise, and response from the new throttle-by-wire is smooth and controllable. Braking, while not exemplary, was predictable, and the ABS performed well. Predictability was particularly important as I negotiated the ever-changing conditions of the northern Indian roadways.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
Siddhartha Lal (on the bike) is the managing director of Royal Enfield. He’s a diehard motorcycle enthusiast and is intimately involved in the development of each model. Here he consults with the team on the new Himalayan’s ergonomics.

The work that Royal Enfield engineers put into the new model’s ergonomics is obvious. The seating position is natural and neutral with a comfortable reach to the bar, and there is ample leg room to the footpegs. What impressed me most about the new ergos is how comfortable the bike feels in a standing position. I’m 6-foot-3 with a 34-inch inseam, and some smaller bikes force me into a semi-crouch when standing. As the conditions constantly changed on our ride, it was easy to shift around on the bike and stand over its narrow midsection.

Climbing to more than 10,000 feet in elevation, it was crucial to keep the 40-hp Single in the appropriate gear. Exiting a corner in a rev range that was even slightly too low required quick downshifting to find acceleration. To that end, the new slip/assist clutch made gear changes nearly seamless. When in the right gear, the engine performed remarkably well. I wonder what kind of performance boost the engine would realize at sea level.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
Weighing only 452 lb, the Himalayan is agile and confidence-inspiring on pavement.

Gear Up

The Himalayan is a very competent bike on pavement. The chassis is notably stiff in its new configuration with the engine as a stressed member. Cornering on the serpentine sections of Himalayan tarmac proved to be stable and confidence inspiring. I repeatedly dragged the pegs and felt comfortable doing so. Wind protection from the small screen was adequate, keeping some of the blast off my torso. However, I would opt for the accessory tall windscreen for touring.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
Even with our 6-foot-3 tester aboard, the Himalayan was comfortable for stand-up riding.

On our way into the mountains, I got intermittent hints about how the bike would handle off-road. There were many sections where the ravages of the Himalayan environment had washed away the pavement, leaving dusty and rocky stretches. I often encountered these sections at high speeds, and the bike handled the changes in footing admirably. In the villages, the bike’s predictability was crucial as I negotiated that aforementioned dance – braking, weaving, and accelerating through the traffic frenzy.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The Himalayan is well-suited to off-road riding. It’s a tough little bike that’s ready for anything.

After several hours of riding into the mountains, we were given the opportunity to hit the dirt. The conditions offered up sandy and rocky sections as well as some heavily rutted inclines. The updated suspension, stout frame, and 21-inch front wheel negotiated these conditions well. The front suspension felt more sorted than the rear, but I bottomed out the rear shock only once. Cranking up the rear preload a bit would have helped. The off-road capability of the bike is enhanced by the overall light feel and relaxed ergos. It felt stable and planted in the dirt even on the road-biased tires.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
At 10,000 feet in October, water crossings in the Himalayas are cold! The new Himalayan took them in stride.

Later in the day, I had the chance to ride some icy declines and limited water sections. Again, the Himalayan was up to the task. I felt fully in control of the bike on the slick sections, and switching off rear ABS negated any unsettling freewheeling sensation from the rear brake. All in all, the new Himalayan handled everything admirably. The bike was stable at speed on the tarmac, predictable in the dirt, and controllable on dodgy surfaces. What else can you ask of a lightweight ADV?

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The Himalayan has LED lighting all around.

If adventure bikes are the Swiss Army knives of the motorcycling world, then the light, versatile Himalayan resides comfortably in that pocket. The new model is a marked upgrade from its already popular predecessor. This is not a bike intended to wow your riding buddies with power numbers or cutting-edge technology. Rather, it’s a reliable, comfortable, competent all-around motorcycle available at a reasonable price (U.S. pricing is not yet available, but it shouldn’t be drastically higher than the $5,449 base price of the 2023 model). If the Himalayan can handle the extremity of the conditions in the region after which it is named, it should continue to be a popular choice worldwide.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan review
The 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan in its element.

The answer to the question posed earlier is a resounding “yes” – the new Himalayan brings the model into the present and still emits its fair share of character and charisma.

Check out more new/updated bikes in Rider’s 2024 Motorcycle Buyers Guide

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan Specifications

  • Base Price: N/A
  • Website: RoyalEnfield.com
  • Warranty: 3 yrs., unltd. miles w/ roadside assistance
  • Engine Type: Liquid-cooled Single, DOHC w/ 4 valves
  • Displacement: 452cc
  • Bore x Stroke: 84 × 81.5mm
  • Horsepower: 39.5 @ 8,000 rpm (factory claim)
  • Torque: 29.5 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm (factory claim)
  • Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch
  • Final Drive: Chain
  • Wheelbase: 59.4 in.
  • Rake/Trail: 26.5 degrees/5.0 in.
  • Seat Height: 32.5/33.3 in.
  • Wet Weight: 432 lb (factory claim w/ 90% fuel)
  • Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gal.
  • Fuel Consumption: 62 mpg (estimate)
  • Range: 280+ miles (factory claim)

5 COMMENTS

  1. “If adventure bikes are the Swiss Army knives of the motorcycling world, then the light, versatile Himalayan resides comfortably in that pocket. ”

    I’m not understanding that metaphor. Are Swiss Army knives pockets?

  2. I’m looking for a replacement for my well-worn DRZ400S and this bike really interests me. My main objection would be the weight … 100 pounds heavier than my DRZ. Not sure why it’s so heavy??

    • The biggest reason is likely the steel frame which is a must-have for the Indian market. They prioritize strength and easy repairs over light weight.

      Then there is the 4.5 gallon fuel tank, ABS, emission system that meets Euro V, steel crash bars, rear rack, windscreen, and a real rider and passenger seat instead of the dirt bike banana seat on the DR.

  3. It’s nice. But I’m thinking that the price will probably be significantly higher than the old bike. New frame, all new water cooled DOHC engine, Showa inverted forks, bigger brakes, ABS, all that stuff costs money. Expect a $1000 price hike. Still not a bad price for everything you get, and there isn’t a lot of direct competition out there.

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