Hitchcocks Forum

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The Himalayan, RE's new bike for the mountain adventurers


Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I would love to have a go on one. No, it's not a traditional looking RE, but I have a feeling that it might well attract to trails and off road lovers. Here are a few photos and reports from the press!















The bike is speculated to have a 410cc, Single-Cylinder engine, which is expected to produce 27-30 BHP/30-32 Nm of torque. Morever, it is said to have a twin-cradle frame manufactured by UK-based Harris Performance.


Built wise, The Himalayan has a Round Headlamp, a Windshield and Metallic side-guards placed at the front and a fleet-carrier at the rear. It also has a Tubular Fork Suspension covered with Rubber at the front and may come up with a Single/Twin shocks at the rear. Other features include the usual Dual purpose tyres and solid Disc Brakes. A close look at the bike also reveals the crank bearing the Royal Enfield logo, while the side panel spells the “Himalayan” badge.
For Enfield lovers, this is going to be direct deviation from the company’s existing products. Hopefully, the Himalayan also starts a new trend for the adventure lovers & travellers













Himalayan looks like a promising adventure tourer, from the raised handle-bar, long front windscreen, meaty off-road tires, high suspension set-up and ergonomics of a hard-core adventure tourer it looks like Himalayan is surely made for kicking some serious butt. Though this is not the first time images of Himalayan are out and that too of a production ready model has sure left us drooling. It will be safe to assume that this project is coming at its final stages and Royal Enfield might launch the same by this year’s end or next year’s beginning. Himalayan is powered from a newly developed 410cc engine that would churn out about 28bhp or power. Few days back we reported that Royal Enfield is working to introduce its future models equipped with ABS and for time being it’s not certain if Himalayan will feature ABS or not.





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Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

Thanks Scaly, I'm off to India soon so I'll keep a look out! Don't you love the weird language those Indian bike journos use? A mangled combination of empty Americanisms and half understood technical terms, a bit like it's been through a Martian version of Google translate!

REgards, Mark

Looks good but why would you run the exhaust pipe lower than the engine, get it higher and fit a bash plate if your serious.

Going full circle, 1st we had Reditch parts sent to India, then India making the whole bike, now British parts and technology being exported to India.
Did you know its part Volvo too, Volvo is a partner in with Eicher.
A truly multi-racial motorcycle.
I think this new one looks like the H.D Rotax military bike, looks dated all ready, imho I think R.E. need to forget the 'historic' and bring their models up to date for a much wider audience, they need to appeal to younger people, us old farts who keep buying the present models wont be around for ever.
Sooner or later even their home market will demand more modern design, R.E. will get left behind again just as the did in Britain in the 60-70's.

What would you call "up to date" then Thunderbird? What do you think RE should be producing for the kids? A 125 stroker for the learners or perhaps something with a car size capacity engine that does an irrational and ridiculous 200 mph? Certainly neither would appeal to me but let's all kick around some ideas. A medium capacity (say 500cc to 750cc max) V-twin with desmodromic valves would be a starting point for me.

I love the RE retro style. Just need a faster engine to reliably keep up with guys on other bikes. As for the Himalayan it seems a good idea as every other make has a bike like that now. However, if I do a trip to Nepal I still want to do it on a classic RE as that the point. But I do have different taste. I actually also like the thunderbird and lightning and am dumbfounded why they are not sold in OZ, UK and USA. I have an iron barrel classic deluxe and a Lightning and if you put a better seat on the lightning it looks a lot like a 60/70's English bike rather than a 50's style. Now just need a twin or a single with more grunt.

Has anyone heard anything about the price of the new Himalaya? . I like the look of it and would suit my riding style. Just hope its not overpriced

Waz...... ,

Rumours of the new Continental GT WITH 750 twin?

RE will have to be very careful with their pricing of the Himalayan. The Honda cb500x which would probably be it's closest competitor retails at £5,499 and is a very competent machine. The new RE will presumbably marketed as a genuine adventure machine. Despite being a RE fan (and owner) myself if I was looking for a smaller adventure bike to ride to Morocco from England (for example) I would probably take a Honda unless the RE was significantly cheaper which I doubt it will be.

A twin connie GT. OOHHH YEEAAHH!