Royal Enfield Himalayan Unveiled: Launch by Mid-March

After much hide-n-seek, Eicher Motors CEO and MD Siddhartha Lal on Tuesday unveiled the Royal Enfield Himalayan, the company’s first adventure tourer motorcycle with the aim of capturing an as-yet untapped market in the country, while also making clear the company’s intentions of eyeing the global market. At the event in Delhi, Lal, however, did not disclose the price of the model, saving that detail for mid-March, when the motorcycle will be officially launched across the country. 

The Himalayan is based on a completely new platform, developed in conjunction with UK-based Harris Performance, after the latter was taken over by Eicher Motors. It sports an all-new 411cc single-cylinder engine, named the LS410, where the ‘LS’ stands for Long-Stroke - almost a tradition with Royal Enfield engines. The bike, built for adventure, will also have practical optional accessories including metal luggage panniers as well as front guard which will also be able to hold plastic jerry cans. The rider will hence be able to carry luggage safely as well as extra fuel or water on long journeys.

Speaking about the company’s plans, Siddhartha Lal, CEO & MD, Eicher Motors said, "We are looking to open more stores across the nation and further plans are to expand the Royal Enfield in the global market." He further added, "Presently, we are focusing on approaching South East Asia and Latin America." During its development, the Himalayan has gone through various reliability and durability tests that also includes some proper off-roading trials by CS Santosh, India’s finest endurance rally rider. All these strict tests and high-end development process at the facility of Harris Performance in the UK has resulted in what appears to be a thoroughly adventure-ready machine.

Further, The Himalayan is the first Royal Enfield motorcycle to sport a mono-shock suspension at the rear that has been matched with strong front telescopic forks. In combination with a highly durable frame, this long travel suspension set-up makes the motorcycle capable of taking on any type of terrain. The bike runs on spoked wheels - 21” front and 18” rear - shod with on and off-road compatible CEAT tyres. Both the wheels have been equipped with a disc brake system to ensure better control in tricky situations.

Powering the Royal Enfield Himalayan is the new 411cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine that makes 24.5bhp of max power. The motor employs an oil cooler to maintain the level of performance at various temperature ranges. Unlike other adventure motorcycles, the Royal Enfield Himalayan features a manageable seat height of 800 mm, without compromising on the high ground clearance and suspension travel needs of its class.Its upswept exhaust is another adventure-biased feature that will ensure less scraping while also enhancing the bike’s water-wading capabilities.

Watch Showcase Video of Royal Enfield Himalayan

Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan: Pictures & Details Straight From the Venue