Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6: Same Price, Other Options

Could you do better with Rs 1.86 lakh? Here’s what else you could buy instead of the Himalayan BS6

Royal Enfield’s Himalayan is finally available in its BS6 avatar at a starting price of Rs 1,86,811. A premium of about 6,000 over the outgoing model. It gets a greener engine, switchable ABS and hazard lights but weighs 5kg more than the BS4 model. Is it really worth it? Could you do better with that kind of money? If you’re still sceptical about buying the updated Himalayan, here are a couple of other options you could look at around the same price tag. 

Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 MotoGP - Rs 170,655

Love faired motorcycles? The Gixxer SF 250 might just be the perfect fit for you. It gets a lively 249cc, single-cylinder motor with a unique oil cooler that keeps the engine running at optimal temperatures even during stop and go traffic. There’s plenty of power to zip around traffic or cruise on highways. What also helps its case is its full fairing which helps prevent windblasts, although, we would have liked to see a bigger windscreen. Compared to the Himalayan which features a semi-digital instrument console, spoked wheels and dual-purpose tyres, the Gixxer SF 250 comes with a full-digital console and alloy wheels wrapped in radial tyres. For around Rs 800 more, you can even get a special MotoGP livery. On the downside, you can’t really take the Gixxer SF 250 off-roading. 

Dominar 400 - Rs 1,90,002

Granted, the first-gen Dominar was quite disappointing for motoring enthusiasts. However, Bajaj turned things around with the Dominar 400, and how! It gets minor design tweaks, a new double-barrel exhaust, upside-down forks, a bigger front disc brake, a retuned rear shock and much more! But most importantly, the engine produces 5PS more and features a DOHC configuration. That’s more power, better touring capabilities and looks that’ll get you the attention you want. We’d suggest you stick to the road though, something the Himalayan isn’t restricted to.  

Jawa Perak - Rs 1,94,500

A bobber for 1.94 lakh sounds like a steal right? But Jawa has made it possible with the Perak. We haven’t ridden it yet, so there isn’t much to talk about when it comes to its real-world performance. However, there’s a lot in terms of styling. For starters, you have a typical hardtail look with a single-seat that makes you the centre of attention. Then you have the charcoal black paint scheme that brings out the bike’s notorious character while staying in line with its classic styling. In the midst of it all is a 334cc single-cylinder motor that puts out 30.41PS and 31Nm of torque. The best part, it gets a low seat height of just 750mm, making it perfect for short riders.

KTM 250 Duke ABS Rs 1,96,672

Last but not least, you have the KTM 250 Duke for just Rs 9,861 more. That’s more power, better features, stunning looks, and the orange livery to swear by. It’s still a brilliant handler which means you’ll love carving corners with this machine. But what it lacks is character, something the Himalayan offers in abundance.