2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 | Dirt & Road Test

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 platform has been completely overhauled for 2024 after a strong 6-year run. With a new water-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC, 452cc ‘Sherpa’ single engine pumping out 39.5 horsepower and 24 ft-lbs of torque, combined with a new 6-speed transmission and new twin-spar steel frame using the engine as a stressed member, along with wider wheels and beefier axles, stiffened swing arm, revised longer-travel Showa suspension, and improved braking, the Indian manufacturer left no stone unturned in its quest to improve their charming little adventure tourer.

Royal Enfield is looking to become a major player in a growing middleweight ADV class. In this video, we give a rundown of its performance on both dirt and street after several days of testing the machine in the Himalayas. With its new-found horsepower, is it now a capable road machine? Is there a significant improvement off-road? Did the approachable, affordable, character-filled Himalayan really need this much change? Should you upgrade from your previous Himalayan 411? We have answers to all your burning questions and more on Royal Enfield's completely-revamped Himalayan.

You can also read our full review of the 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 at:

[mrspeigle]

About 50 lbs lighter than the klr 650 with similar power and tourq plus a 6 speed transmission?. Dam i think royal enfield hit it out of the park.

[revmaniac]

Fantastic review. Incredible how much this bike evolved!

[scottburghart]

Great review! And must have been really everyone gets to ride in the Himalayas. Thinking of downsizing my V Strom 650XT to one of these in a year or two.

[MCTeck]

I would pay extra for tubeless spoked wheels. I have been stuck on the trail or road with a flat tire, too many times. I had a flat on my Triumph Tiger .Cast tubeless wheels, I plugged tire and was back on the road in less than an hour. Tubes were good for the 1900's, but not now! I test rode the 2021 Himalayan and was amazed how smooth the motor was, and was able to hold 80mph on the highway. I will never buy a new motorcycle with tubes.

[shankyrocking]

Bought mine just day before yesterday (same colour ). Loving every bit of it.

[chrisraudys]

Your reviews always nail it Rob. Clear, concise, informative and interesting. I’ll be really interested to hear your thoughts re the vibes at highway speed and some sort of long term review when you get a chance. Thanks for your great content.

[adaptableadventurerider]

I really really wish they had updated and lightened the old 411, think there’s a lot of us ex 411 owners who would have liked to have seen the simple approach kept. That’s coming from someone who had one an had issues on a new e5 2022 bike.

[jirgis]

Looking to ride to Leh from Delhi in June, trying to decide between this or the 650, will need two bikes, my son and I are going, or should we get one of each and then swap? any thoughts, my current machine 1200gs, K1300s and my old trusty ducati 916.

[starseeddeluxe]

Where is the overdrive gear? Why is there no overdrive gear on the Himalayan in 2024? There are hundreds of reviews, and not one person mentioned the gear ratios and a lack of overdrive, but instead people have complained about engine vibration. Engine vibration at speed is caused by LACK OF AN OVERDRIVE gear. Where there is no load on the engine, it will buzz and cause unnecessary vibration. A tall overdrive would have fixed this problem.

[GroovyStyleUnbox]

Is there any clattering sound while doing off road?

[jimmydickson]

For the money and what this can do it’s good value speed is not every thing may be the lack of high speed May save your life, these sports bikes scare the bejeasus out of me

[gabrielkopp]

Switching the maps is not ride modes and being able to turn off the abs is not a ride mode. So please don't miss inform people.