Royal Enfield Himalayan, Tourism and Adventure marry with Urban [INTERVIEW]

Royal Enfield Himalayan – The oldest motorcycle brand in the world was one of the great protagonists of EICMA 2016. With over 50% annual growth in the last 5 years, the brand is rapidly becoming a very important reality in the global motorcycle market of medium-sized motorcycles.

When we talk about Royal Enfield we talk about the Bullet, the Classic and the Rumbler in the 350 and 500cc displacements and the Continental GT 535cc Café Racer. This year the Indian brand presents the new Himalayan, a two-wheeler dedicated to adventure and tourism in the Himalayas, which was unveiled in Europe at EICMA 2016. It features a new LS 410 engine and is designed with off-road features, but is also capable of navigating urban jungles. The bike will be available in two colors, Granite and Snow.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan has understood that the best way to climb mountains is not to try to dominate them, but to be able to connect with them. The new model of the Indian brand is not like the others, it is not heavy, it is not complex, and above all it was designed for these types of environments. It's a simple, go-anywhere bike, a bike that could change the concept of adventure touring globally. “The new Himalayan can go anywhere, let's not take its name literally.” Arun Gopal, big boss of Royal Enfield, tells us at EICMA. “It is a motorcycle that is suitable for all lifestyles and all road surfaces. The name should not be confusing. I am sure that this model will be a global success and the first impressions are confirming our estimates."

The new Himalayan is suitable for the most expert pilots, but also for simple enthusiasts. It is suitable for long journeys on difficult terrain and, at the same time, is easy to drive in city traffic. The double cradle frame designed and developed by Harris Performance is robust, making the Himalayan stable and agile at the same time. A prominent rear mono shock with linkages allows for long travel and offers a smoother riding experience on all terrains. The ground clearance of the Himalayan, 220 mm, is a very important feature, because it guarantees the overcoming of any obstacle. While the dimensions of the wheels have been optimized in order to obtain better control over rocks and ditches.

Do you want to climb hills or get through traffic even more easily? Then, you must try the new LS 410 engine, which delivers high torque and power at lower rpm. The 15-litre tank offers a long range of around 450 kilometres. The attachment points for luggage are integrated into the design of the motorcycle. Simple instrumentation reports speed, direction, ambient temperature, travel time, maintenance intervals and multiple travel distances.

At EICMA 2016, there was not only the Himalayan. Royal Enfield also presented the range of Euro 4 motorcycles which includes the Bullet 500cc, the Classic 500cc and Classic Chrome retro-street models, and the Continental GT (535cc) café racer for the first time with ABS and in the Euro 4 version, now available for all European markets. "The brand is growing very.” adds Arun. “We are very satisfied with the work done up to this point. Especially in Italy, where we recorded a +160%. The future is bright and we are convinced that Royal Enfield can compete with the biggest European motorcycle brands. Thanks to our new range of iconic motorcycles. "